 For Authors: November 22, 2011 Issue [#4725] |
  For Authors
This week: Action, Action, Too Much Action? Edited by: Vivian  
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I tried to watch a show on television the other night and finally turned it off. The action was too much and too unbelievable. I read one of a famous author's novels and haven't gotten another one of his since. Why? Too much, overdone, and unbelievable action.
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Action! Action! Too Much Action!
Action is needed in most writings so that the reader will stay interested. However, what if the author includes too much or impossible action? Any mature, discriminate reader will laugh or frown and leave the book or story or show. Let's look at the plot of the show I tried to watch recently. In the twenty minutes I endured:
The hero fought four bad guys and was winning, until another villain whacked him in the head with a 2 by 4, knocking the hero partially unconscious. As he lay on the ground, dazed, the other men left him with the prints of their shoes in his side and on his back. The man fought unconsciousness, crawled to a dumpster, and pulled himself to his feet.
As the protagonist struggled toward his car, a shot rang out, and the poor man slammed against the fender, a hole in his shoulder and blood pouring from the wound. He dodged behind the car, held his hand over the gunshot hole, and closed his eyes. "Wish I had my gun," he muttered.
When no other shots came his way, the hero managed to get behind the wheel and drive to his girlfriend's, who just happened to be a doctor. As she removed the bullet and bandaged his wounds, girl-doctor told him he had to take care, that he wasn't invincible.
The glass windows to the balcony crashed inward, and a man, clothed in black from his head to his feet, faced the couple, a knife in hand. The doctor screamed and scurried behind the couch (at least she had sense enough to take her cell phone with her and to call for help). The hero stumbled to his feet, grabbed a pillow from the couch, and prepared to meet the antagonist with the knife. During the fight, our wounded hero was stabbed, but he still managed to disarm the attacker and knock him to the floor. He sat on the villain until the police arrive.
Huh? That was just too much. I changed channels.
In the novel I read, the hero flew to a foreign country, broke at least a thousand laws, was imprisoned, escaped, nearly died at least four times, battled many villains and, unless they cheated, beat them. Impossible, unbelievable, and too much.
When is too much too much? I could take any of the scenes I saw and read and suspend belief enough to accept them in a plot, but all of them, one on top of the other? Please. Too much of anything, no matter how good, becomes bad.
When we write anything with action, we need to be sure that readers can accept our plot and subplots as possible. Maybe they aren't exactly plausible, but they need to be at least possible. Hmm ... that advice is good advice to follow with any type writing. |
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Words from Our Readers
Most of the comments below concern the article about reviewing. One refers back to an earlier issue about writing tips.
Korynn Falls 
Thanks for the subject and verb agreement lesson, Viv.
I'm glad it was helpful.
Sweethonesty 
I can not begin to tell how much better I am writing since my reviews by my fellow writers. Their review and polish have improved my work tenfold. I am eternally grateful for the input.
Philip Roberts
I wonder to what extent revising is done as much as it should be when writers have no intention of sending to editors, merely to publish on sites like writing.com, Booksie, Triond, etc? None are paying sites (despite what Triond claims) and you can get away with writing for just yourself on these sites. To what extent is writing for just yourself good or bad from a literary point of view? Especially for those of us who have given up on thoughts of making a living at the game, and now are just writing for posterity?
I am a specialist novella writer, who has been writing since 1970, and I no longer revise anywhere near as much as I used to, since writing for myself means I am happy with a lusher, fuller feel, which would horrify most editors.
Writing for one's self is fine, as long as that person doesn't inflict unrevised material on others. Posting on a site such as this one invites reviews, unless the author has it set for comments only.
billwilcox
"And here in ends the lesson..." *Smile*
Oldwarrior 
Loved the part about printing out what you've written and correcting it with a pen. I do that with all my writing, especially my novels.
Also the part about making story revisions and changes to add reader interest. I did that several times, after reading the entire book I realized that I needed to insert a tickler way back at the beginning to draw the reader in.
Thanks, this letter was well done and a jewel for all writers to think about.
Oldwarrior
Leger~ 
Excellent advice Viv! There's no point in continuing to write if you know the beginning is already faulty. Better to repair and then move on. Love your newsletters!
Danger Mouse
Some very good advice. Thanks
Zeke
I have found that when you have completed the final revision, the manuscript should be put aside for a couple of weeks and then reviewed again. It surprising what you find.
dean
great advice. I found it very helpful. dean
JACE 
This was one very useful newsletter, Miss Viv. Thanks for sharing; actually thanks for supporting my stance with a couple of local writer's group folk. *Smile* And thank you to J. A. Buxton for that errors link. Between the two of you, this newsletter topped my list this week.
TKWaite
That was an amazing article  I've just started a new novel, and those were some helpful hints that I'll be trying to use to the full. Thanks!
atwhatcost
I tried revising while I wrote my draft for my first novel. It didn't work. I found myself forever revising and getting nowhere fast. When I wrote it all the way through, I changed the that-doesn't-sound-right words to red to remind me to futz when I went back. I also wrote a list of "Fix This Stuff" when I caught myself writing something I knew didn't gel with early chapters. Now, I'm just smoothing out the whole story, but I find myself writing another "Fix This Stuff" list, because I know it doesn't gel with what comes later. I'm only on my second draft, but it's the first time I've ever finished writing the novel. I do know, once I smooth it out, then comes the hardest part - revising that sucker to perfection understanding I can't do "perfect." I will aim for it though. And then? Then comes the grammar stuff, because there's no point fixing grammar, if that part will be ripped out by then. Grammar is not my friend, but we will make peace (if it kills me.)
Thank you for all your comments.
May all people of the United States have a very good Thanksgiving, for we all have much for which to be thankful.
Thanks for joining me again. See you again in four weeks.
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