Comments on: Abrupt Endings and how to piss off this reader http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/ Romance Writer & Urban Fantasy Novelist Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:21:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Tracy Sharp http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7618 Tracy Sharp Wed, 05 Jul 2006 17:32:34 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7618 I'm with May. I've put books aside never to pick them up again because of words the author has used over and over and over and over again. That is really distracting. Yanks me right out of the story. I’m with May. I’ve put books aside never to pick them up again because of words the author has used over and over and over and over again. That is really distracting. Yanks me right out of the story.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7617 Jordan Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:01:21 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7617 Ursula, Those are all really good points and I agree. Books are a lot like movies. There are so many things that can potentially go wrong that could ruin the experience. Ursula, Those are all really good points and I agree. Books are a lot like movies. There are so many things that can potentially go wrong that could ruin the experience.

]]> By: Ursula http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7616 Ursula Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:58:58 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7616 Good topic, Jordan! First on my list is confusing dark with psychotic (or any other psych disorder). Next, you have a hero and heroine, make them HEROIC. This is a story, let them have at it and rise to the occasion. Heroism can be manifest in small and great acts. Another: Continually restating the same damn information. I read a horror/thriller novel where one character lived with two women. This was an obvious fantasy of the author, because he harped on it in EVERY one of the chapters. Using nearly the same words. But said relationship had NOTHING to do with the story line in any way, shape or form, and was only about a minor character. Weird and annoying. If you restate info because it's part of story, where your character is communicating and the restate is crucial to who the character is (like women, just after delivery, tend to redescribe - it's a psych thing) I'm cool with it. Last: obvious author contrivance. Yes, the book itself is contrived, however, when it's so heavy handed you feel clubbed whilst reading, man, that just sucks. Especially if you really like the characters. You feel bad for them. Good topic, Jordan! First on my list is confusing dark with psychotic (or any other psych disorder). Next, you have a hero and heroine, make them HEROIC. This is a story, let them have at it and rise to the occasion. Heroism can be manifest in small and great acts. Another: Continually restating the same damn information. I read a horror/thriller novel where one character lived with two women. This was an obvious fantasy of the author, because he harped on it in EVERY one of the chapters. Using nearly the same words. But said relationship had NOTHING to do with the story line in any way, shape or form, and was only about a minor character. Weird and annoying. If you restate info because it’s part of story, where your character is communicating and the restate is crucial to who the character is (like women, just after delivery, tend to redescribe - it’s a psych thing) I’m cool with it. Last: obvious author contrivance. Yes, the book itself is contrived, however, when it’s so heavy handed you feel clubbed whilst reading, man, that just sucks. Especially if you really like the characters. You feel bad for them.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7615 Jordan Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:48:12 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7615 Cece, I don't like a lot of narrative either. It's like the author assumes the reader can't remember what they've already read. I think it comes from the rule of three that so many subscribe to. Cece, I don’t like a lot of narrative either. It’s like the author assumes the reader can’t remember what they’ve already read. I think it comes from the rule of three that so many subscribe to.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7614 Jordan Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:46:59 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7614 PBW, It makes perfect sense. I don't think writers should ever forget that their work is for the reader to consume. I mean you have to write the book for yourself, but it's imperative that you never forget that the reader is along for the ride. PBW, It makes perfect sense. I don’t think writers should ever forget that their work is for the reader to consume. I mean you have to write the book for yourself, but it’s imperative that you never forget that the reader is along for the ride.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7613 Jordan Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:44:02 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7613 EJ, I skim a lot of description too, which is why I have to force myself to add it when I'm writing. I want just enough to let the imagination take over. Other than that, forget it. :) EJ, I skim a lot of description too, which is why I have to force myself to add it when I’m writing. I want just enough to let the imagination take over. Other than that, forget it. :)

]]> By: cece http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7612 cece Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:39:09 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7612 I have to weigh in on the abrupt ending too. Repetitiveness, esp if it smacks of a lazy way to fill pages just burns my a$$ and too much narrative especially if it's navel gazing. I have to weigh in on the abrupt ending too. Repetitiveness, esp if it smacks of a lazy way to fill pages just burns my a$$ and too much narrative especially if it’s navel gazing.

]]> By: PBW http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7611 PBW Sun, 02 Jul 2006 19:01:15 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7611 A lot of things make me put aside books; poor writing, poor plotting, no plot, too much plot, etc. The only thing that makes me put aside an author forever is the "literary" ending.<br> <br> I can handle depressing endings, death endings, and endings that make me want to climb on the next Mars rover and hightail it off this planet. I'm a big girl and I don't believe in HEA anyway. But if an author serves up an ending that has nothing to do with the story, is illogical in the extreme, and was obviously written in order to stick it to the reader while showing how cool the author is, that author's books will never touch my shelves again.<br> <br> I have more authors that I don't know if I can read anymore, notably: Charles Frazier, David Lindsey, Thomas Harris, China Mieville, and John Steinbeck. I think they're all extremely talented, and I should read them again, but I took their books too personally, if that makes any sense. A lot of things make me put aside books; poor writing, poor plotting, no plot, too much plot, etc. The only thing that makes me put aside an author forever is the “literary” ending.

I can handle depressing endings, death endings, and endings that make me want to climb on the next Mars rover and hightail it off this planet. I’m a big girl and I don’t believe in HEA anyway. But if an author serves up an ending that has nothing to do with the story, is illogical in the extreme, and was obviously written in order to stick it to the reader while showing how cool the author is, that author’s books will never touch my shelves again.

I have more authors that I don’t know if I can read anymore, notably: Charles Frazier, David Lindsey, Thomas Harris, China Mieville, and John Steinbeck. I think they’re all extremely talented, and I should read them again, but I took their books too personally, if that makes any sense.

]]> By: EJ http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7610 EJ Sun, 02 Jul 2006 18:51:49 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7610 Details for details' sake drives me crazy. I'm all for description in scenes but I don't need to know how many hairs are on the Hobbitt's foot, or the color and consistency of the mud between his toes. Leave something for my imagination, for pity's sake! Details for details’ sake drives me crazy. I’m all for description in scenes but I don’t need to know how many hairs are on the Hobbitt’s foot, or the color and consistency of the mud between his toes. Leave something for my imagination, for pity’s sake!

]]> By: Jordan http://www.jordansummers.com/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7609 Jordan Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:33:15 +0000 http://208.73.34.214/~jordansu/2006/06/30/abrupt-endings-and-how-to-piss-off-this-reader/#comment-7609 Sharon, (((Hugs))) Good luck with fixing it. I think it's an easy thing to do, especially if you're ready to see the backside of a story. Sharon, (((Hugs))) Good luck with fixing it. I think it’s an easy thing to do, especially if you’re ready to see the backside of a story.

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