Fiction Is in the Eye of the Beholder

To some degree, good fiction is in the mind of the reader.

If you haven’t figured out yet, I’m a bit of a book snob with ardent opinions on what is and isn’t worth my time. Except in the case of Fifty Shades of Grey. Saying that it’s a contrived piece of trash isn’t opinion; it’s fact.

For that matter, I’m going to stand by most of my criticisms. And just for the record, I set the same standards I hold for other books on my own head, hence the reason why I was so annoyed with myself for finding two dozen (largely little) mistakes in one of my own 300+ page books.

No excuses whatsoever.

Yet I realized after looking through GoodReads that perhaps my positive opinions are much more subject to personal taste than I previously realized. For example, I found out there are fantasy readers who don’t like Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series.

With four of those books on my shelf already and full intention to buy the rest, I’m a definite fan. Sure, I’ve nitpicked (largely little) details, but the characters are compelling, the plots leave me craving more and the writing style is overall solid.

At least according to me. So you can imagine how shocked I was to read the following not-so-impressed comments about the first book, Rosemary and Rue:

·         “This started off strong, but it lost a whooooole bunch of steam as it went. The story never really felt like it was driving forward, just sort of meandering onward.” – R.

·         “I never cared about Toby, I never cared about her friends, the murder or the investigation. I kept reading trying to summon an ounce of interest and I just couldn't.” – Alexa

·         “Rosemary and Rue really isn't bad. I can't complain about the writing, the action, the mystery or the protagonist, October ‘Toby’ Daye. But somehow, this book just never got a hold of my interest.” – Megan

What!!!?!

At first, I’ll admit, I brushed off their opinions as crazy. Yet when I started thinking about it, I had to acknowledge that readers are individuals, and individuals have different turn-ons and turn-offs. What works for me, therefore, doesn’t have to make every other fiction connoisseur out there go “Ooh!”

Really, that’s a lesson that all authors – or maybe all people – should take to heart. You really can’t please everyone. You’re not supposed to please everyone. You’re just supposed to strive to be the absolute best you can be and let it go from there.

When Reality Is Too Unrealistic for Fiction

I’ve read plenty of books I’ve found unrealistic. Sure, they’re novels and therefore not reality, but there are just certain plot points I roll my eyes at and go, “Yeah, that would never happen.”

Like, I don’t know… say… everything about Fifty Shades of Grey.

Contrived setting, dialogue, plots and characters are something to be avoided at almost all cost. I say almost, because sometimes life itself gets unbelievable, prompting writers to go, “That did not just happen!” and then, “I wonder if that could fit into one of my books?”

Off the top of my head, I can think of a few absolute caricatures of real people. Like a best friend’s father who gets into angry arguments with her about whether or not there’s caffeine in Vitamin Water. In front of me. For five minutes straight.

Awkward!

Or there’s the time I was the only one in my four-apartment building for a month until the night someone moved in above me. I met his brother that evening, and then I met my new neighbor Josh the next day, upon which point he asked me out. Yet when I went to knock on his door at the agreed upon date and time (which was fine by me), he wasn’t there, leaving me to tape a note for him. Two hours later, I found a response on my own door saying what a nice idea the date sounded and how he’d love to meet me.  

Confused? I certainly was… until I figured out I had two neighbors move in the same day.

Oops!

Completely ridiculous, right? If I read that in a book, I would probably roll my eyes.

And speaking of unbelievable, I know some of my friends have thought I was taking creative license with stories about my workplace, where sexual harassment is overlooked, lying to customers is encouraged and raises/bonuses are withheld without any reason given even when the company had a banner year. Worse yet, I can’t even completely blame them for their skepticism when, the stories I tell really are so unprofessional as to be a bad joke.

Yet they’re still 100% true.

So what happens when you want to borrow from your stranger-than-fiction real life for your novels? It’s actually quite doable.

Have your characters admit how unrealistic their situation is. Make them wonder how they fell down such a rabbit hole, or let them joke about where they went wrong to be in such a mess.

When writers acknowledge how Ripley’s Believe It or Not it is, readers are much more likely to buy their tale.

Switching From Fantasy to Thrillers – Why Do I Write Across Genres?

I might be working on Faerietales 4, but I’m done publishing fantasy fiction for the year. I’m now switching over to the world of thrillers. Political thrillers, to be precise.

Which means that as of the 24th of May, I will have published Christian fiction, historical fiction, fantasy and modern fiction.

All I need to do is add in some mystery, chick-lit, young adult and sci-fi, and maybe the next “Fifty Shades of Grey,” and I’ll be a mini Barnes & Noble.

Just kidding about “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I have soooooo much more dignity than that. Not to mention talent.

I also don’t have plans to plot out mysteries, not because I don’t like them but because I’m not sure if I have the right type of mind to write that way. More power to those authors who do though.

But other than those two genres, I’m open to whatever the muse strikes me with. And since my particular muse likes to strike me with a whole lot of randomness, that means, in some ways, she’s a lousy one to have.

You see, most authors make a living for themselves by building up an audience. And how do you build up an audience? You appeal to the same people over and over and over again so that they keep buying up each new book that you debut.

Most people do have a particular genre they consistently turn to. Hence the reason why fantasy writers stick to writing fantasy.

Christian fiction writers don’t write anything but Christian fiction.

Historical fiction writers and thriller writers? Yeah… It’s usually the same thing.

My muse, however, apparently isn’t a capitalist. Or maybe she is, but just isn’t the brightest entrepreneurial spirit in the box.

Go figure I’d get a flighty one.

With that said, I cannot wait to tell you more about Dirty Politics 1: “The Politician’s Pawn” next month.

Because as inconsistent as my muse is, she sure can come up with one heck of a story line…