 For Authors: March 14, 2012 Issue [#4926] |
  For Authors
This week: What I Learn from TV Edited by: Vivian  
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I watch crime, detective, and police shows because I like the genre, write much in those areas, and can receive some writing lessons.
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What I Learn from Television
I watch many police, detective, and crime shows on television, often hoping to learn something I can use in my writing. Of course much of what I learn is what not to use, but all is part of learning.
From CIS (all versions), NCIS, Law and Order, The Mentalist, Castle, and other various show, I've learned that most law enforcement people and criminologists are manipulative, lying, promiscuous, immoral, corrupt, and over-all dysfunctional. I wonder how any crimes can be solved when the people supposedly solving the crimes use their time to commit their own crimes or to try to untangle their own twisted lives.
Ahh, you ask for examples. In at least three shows (CSI Miami, NCIS, and NCIS LA), the protagonists take the law into their own hands and murder some bad guys, in other countries of course. They might have some twinges of trouble as results, but nothing drastic happens to them because of their actions -- not realistic.
I'll admit NCIS is one of my favorite shows, but really! In real life, Tony would be up on charges of harassment and dismissed faster than I could spell harassment. He has become a caricature rather than a crime fighter. Enough is enough and really too much. If I had a protagonist in one of my novels like Tony, I would definitely not sell any copies. I'm a fan of Jethro Gibbs, usually, but, much as I would understand a character wanting to kill the murderer of my family, the writers really must be careful not to write when under the influence of whatever.
From CSI Miami, I've learned to use appropriate body actions. People do not normally look off somewhere else when talking to a person, as the main character does on this show. As a result, I try to make the actions of my characters believable and appropriate.
On all these shows, characters must play musical beds, apparently. What such behavior has to do with solving crimes, I have no idea. In this world of dissolving marriages, split families, people having trouble bonding with others, why do we need to see the lack of personal control extolled constantly on television? I could see an occasional incidence popping up, especially on the part of antagonists or red-herring characters, but according to television, all the protagonists, the heroes, are flawed to such a great extent that I don't know how they find the time or energy to do their jobs.
No, characters shouldn't be "perfect," because no one is perfect, but few successful, productive people are so imperfect, so flawed, so unappetizing. Therefore, I've learned from television shows to work extra hard to make my characters believable.
The same idea applies to plots: Plots should be believable enough that a reader can suspend belief enough to accept them. Television plots often are so unbelievable that anyone of a sound mind can't stretch his imagination that far.
Yes, I have learned much from TV shows. Mainly I've learned what to avoid, but I still enjoy, for the most part, the shows and do pick up some helpful ideas. |
Writing from W.Com
In my last issue I asked readers to write about love. Some sent links to items in their ports:
Other writings from the site:
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Words from Our Readers
billwilcox
Congrats on your 50th Anniversary Viv, and thanks for featuring "The Perfect Romance" .*Cool*
frankcraft
This poem is sampling of how much I loved my baby brother.
The link to this poem is in the section above.
Lisa Noe 
Lisa Noe
Kitties
colorful kitties capture my fancy
They bounce around the yard so free
Gray ones, black ones, white ones too
Patches,and stripes, calico coats
They swat the butterfly and chase the mice
I've eight of them roaming my grounds
I love to watch them play chase
They lie softly still upon my dog
My favorite, his name is Mingo and he's
Dark gray, a Russian Blue Breed
My love for him is like that of a child
for he is the baby God gave to me.
swanlakegrrl
Simply beautiful!
bertiebrite hoping for peace 
I am writing this because your anniversary, (congratulations) is on my birthday. Other than that fact, my husband and I have been together thirty seven years. When I look back it does not seem so very long. Yes, there were hard times, but not enough to make me feel the time pass. I think that is the true test of a relationship, when you can look back and say, "has it really been that long?" As far as Valentine's Day, we do not celebrate it. We would rather speak our love for one another than buy it in a card or box.
Light 
We love another the most for the qualities we admire in him or her that we are unable to express ourselves.
dmack
You're right. Flowers, candy, and pretty cards are nice but it's the things we do for each other throughout the year that really count. My husband and I married later in life and went straight to old-married couple.
MoJo
In a beginning poetry class, I wrote this piece "Forever Love" (link in section above) about the love of my life. My disclaimer here is that I am not much of a poet, but I will say that these few words accurately describe my best friend for life.
Shannon 
Viv, this is a beautiful NL. “'When the times come when you don’t think you love the other, act as if you do, think as if you do. In time, the love will show again and no pretending is necessary.' In other words, no matter what the circumstances, we continued to live in love." That is simply lovely. Thank you for sharing it, and happy 50th anniversary! 
Thanks for sharing your messages of love.
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