from best to worst
For this prompt I'm taking a tip from NaNoWriMo founder, Chris Baty. I've been reading his hip, funny new book, No Plot? No Problem, and slowly planning my foray into novel writing. I'm not sure if I'm up to the 30 day challenge of NaNoWriMo, but I did really enjoy the following activity Baty shares in his book.Baty suggests that, before you begin your novel writing adventure, you make two lists:
- What, to you, makes a good novel?
AND
- What bores or depresses you in a novel?
Obviously, you needn't limit your lists to novel writing--apply them to whatever genre you wish to explore. I've included my own response to this activity in the first comment to this entry.
posted by lit lover at
8:32 AM
1 comment(s):
coming of age stories;
first person pov;
misunderstood characters;
intelligent characters;
focus on relationships (not necessarily romantic ones);
dilemma with no "right" choice;
second chances;
short chapters;
small cast of characters;
contemporary settings;
fresh metaphor;
inspirational characters;
complex moral issues;
thoughtful, analytical protagonist;
dynamic characters;
humor;
spunky, feisty characters;
heroic choices;
Things I (usually) HATE in novels:
flowery prose;
multi-generational sagas;
large, complex casts of characters
lengthy descriptive passages (especially of setting);
pointless dialogue;
pointless "funny" scenes;
contrived plot that seems too coincidental or that breaks/conflicts with character;
lengthy exposition;
unreliable protagonist;
stereotypes;
"fluff";
unclear or confusing shifts in time or pov;
unbelievable characters or dialogue;
fantasy;
By
lit lover, at
8:47 AM
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