Addendum

This will be quick...not a regular entry. But on the same topic of sex and violence in stories...I want to make one thing very clear. If anyone is coming here from the fan fiction site...if I read your story and took time to comment on it, then there was nothing that offended me. You know who you are! :)

Sex, Violence, and Good Story Crafting

I got an interesting review at the end of my story, Flashback. The reviewer had several nice things to say, but the one thing that really stuck out was that she liked the fact it wasn’t at all smutty. I really liked reading that particular compliment, because it told me my story was able to stand on its own two feet. I didn’t need to add cheap sexual scenes to keep a reader interested. And that brings me to the point of this particular entry.

I am of the opinion that good writing does not need graphic sex, gratuitous violence, or even curses every other word. In fact, I’m offended when a good story has that stuff thrown in there, "just because." A truly good story does not need sex and violence "just because" to keep it going. If it needs that stuff to be interesting, then the story isn’t very good. I believe a simple kiss, if written right and at the right moment, can be more romantic, or even more sensual than graphic descriptions of body parts (which often become boringly cliche) and sexual acts. More important is keeping the "sexual tension" between the two characters by NOT letting them get together. Bring them close to a kiss, then cause an intrusion of some type. Or if they do kiss well before the end of the story, then make something happen that will pull them apart, at least emotionally, so that the next time they do kiss, it’s still an "ah...finally" moment.

If the plot of a story depends on either a sexual or violent act, then it is a different case. In such instances, the act can be alluded to rather than shown, or then shown with a minimum of descriptions. I firmly believe a sexual act can be simply alluded to, whereas violence might need to be shown, but without alot of gore. In my one published novel, I had a rape scene, and I think it was very effective without going into alot of detail. I concentrated on the fear of the character before anything happened, and then the thoughts and feelings after it was over.

Our society, particularly the media, has cheapened the sexual act so much that it’s no longer about love. It has become a purely animal instinct and a way for cheap thrills. And the violence...I don't think I need to even comment much.

I won’t write that, to begin with, because of my Bible-based moral convictions. But even if I could put those convictions aside, I would still not write that kind of nonsense, purely for story crafting reasons. If what I write is not holding the reader’s interest without graphic sex and overt violence, then my story crafting needs help. And writing is all about the story.

Note: Comments are welcome. If you choose to disagree with anything written here, that's fine. That is your right. I have freely expressed my opinion on the subject, and you are welcome to do so as well. I only ask that you be nice about how you answer.

Why is Jason hot?

A little off the topic of writing, but sort of still on the topic, all you readers of mine from the fanfiction site, tell me please, what is it about Jason Isaacs, especially as Colonel Tavington, that you love so much? From what I can tell, most of you young ladies are, well, young. Teens, or not far out of your teens. Mr. Isaacs is old enough to be father to most of you. (He’s only three years older than I.) So what is it about him? I’d really like to know. But please...let’s keep the responses rated PG. :)

Joy in writing

My story, Flashback, is coming along nicely. Quite nicely. Too nicely, in fact. It’s frustrating, how nicely. Why frustrating? Well, see, I have two other stories I’m working on, hopefully to submit for publication. With fan fiction, you can’t expect to ever get published. It’s just for fun, and I guess practice in the art of writing. That’s how I look at it. But as a serious writer, this has frustrated me. I have written 18 chapters, about 40,000 words in just 14 short days. I’ve averaged about a chapter a day, with a couple of days doing two. So why can’t my "real" writing go so fast? And so easily?

I’m drawing this conclusion from the experience: Writing should be fun, even when it’s serious writing. I’ve found that this story has been flowing because it’s NOT my serious writing. I always try to do my best, of course, but since this is just for fun I’m not bogging myself down with all those annoying rules. Can’t use was. Can’t jump out of POV. Can’t use adverbs (why the heck not? Are they not parts of the English language? ...sigh...). Can’t...can’t...can’t...

Those rules are necessary. Don’t for a minute think I’m bashing the rules. I know they have to be established to ensure quality writing. But at the creative stage of the process, those rules can really stifle. The fact that I’m doing this story for the fun of it, knowing it will never be seen by a real publisher (I hope!), has freed me to just write. And write. If this were a real novel, I’d be finished in a month or less, then I’d be able to go back and polish...and cut...and rework the plot if need be. But at least the main story would be finished. For me, it’s a lot easier to rework a story, tweak the wording, worry about POV purity...etc...once the creative part is over.

This has been a valuable lesson. I didn't think it was true of me, but I suppose I'm not much different from other writer friends of mine who can't turn off the internal editor even during the creative process. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just press a button and start off in create mode, then press again when finished, and automatically move into edit mode? Ah...well.

I have rediscovered the joy of writing. It’s been fun. It’s been fast. And I’m getting great reviews! Too bad those folks on the fanfiction site aren’t editors at, say, Tyndale or Bethany, or...

Have a great day.

Hooks, Numbers and Readers

Readers are a curious lot. Grabbing them is one thing, then holding on to them is quite another. I’ve been pondering the meaning of some numbers. Since I’ve been writing my FanFiction story, Flashback, I’ve been having a lot of fun, interacting with readers and it’s been a good experience. Today, I decided to check out the stats. I have a handful of folks who have been reviewing, but I know there are "lurkers" just like on email lists. You know, those folks who read but don’t comment. I figured there were probably more hits to my story than there were actual reviews. And of course, I was right. When I saw the number of hits, 1880, I almost did the Snoopy Dance. But then, my glee was dampened. The first chapter got a total 594 hits. Yowser! Pretty cool, huh? Am I good or what? So the title and my one line blurb drew them in. (Or maybe they were just interested in reading another Patriot fanfic. Whatever. I thought my one liner was pretty lame, actually.) But this is where it gets sad. Chapter two. 126 hits. Wha?? That’s less than half. I mean, that’s quite a drop. Chapter three lost another three readers, down to 123. The numbers have fluctuated since then, dropping to 96, going back up to 104...Steady for a bit, then steadily dropping until at chapter 16 I have only 29 hits. Hm. So what does this say to me?

1. I wrote a pretty darn awful first chapter.

Come on, now. It wasn’t that bad. Had to introduce the character and give the reader a glimpse into what she was like. 594 to 126. But there is just no fighting with those numbers...the facts. Out of 594 people, only 126 returned for the second chapter. I guess I need to get those hooks out and start sharpening them a little more.

2. It's the weekend and everyone is out having fun. Next week the numbers will go up on those last chapters.

Um...that would be nice. But we can't deal in "what ifs". So what do I have to suppose here? Looking at it through very critical, writerly eyes, I'd say I might have had one of those sagging middles. Time for a tummy-tuck! If this were a regular novel, then I'd have to go back and see what's the problem. Maybe those intervening chapters are too slow, or too boring. So I've upped the tension in chapter 16, turned up the burner on the romance part (on low heat, of course) and hopefully some of those readers who have fallen by the wayside will come running back. Then again, maybe it's too late. Maybe I've lost them forever. <>

So...tell me, if you are a writer, what are your techniques for hooking readers in the first chapter...and keeping them reading? If you're a reader, what keeps you reading?

Wanna go check out my Fan Fiction story, Flashback, based on the movie, The Patriot? You can find it here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2865546/1/

Have a great day!

LBL