Which part of your novel is the most important? The beginning? The end? The plot? The characters? Well if you are a reader you likely already know the answer is "all of the above". As a fiction reader you want to be entertained by believable characters and a thrilling plot. Popular books require good characters and a beginning that grabs our attention. The ending is not as critical, since it could be delayed over a series of books. But eventually the writer is going to have to consider an ending that satisfies the reader. The longer we wait for an ending, the better it needs to be.
As a side note: just because the world is moving to online books and online reading, where readers can discover free books online does not mean we can ignore the fundamental need for good writing. If you want to read a novel, whether it is online fiction or in a book; you want your time to be well spent.
Romance fiction may not need to rely on a plot as much as a science fiction story, but the reverse could be said for good character development. Each genre has it's strengths and weaknesses, but if we focus on writing a well-rounded story with good characters then we can be sure we will entertain the reader.
The first sentence. Unless you know you have an amazing first line, be assured yours will change by the time the book is complete. Research "fiction first line" on the web and see what I mean. There are some great first lines from amazing novels. A first line grabs attention and makes the reader want to keep reading. Or maybe it is intentionally misleading, or prophetic. Perhaps all you have is a great first line - well that may be enough to get you to create great literature. Write that great first sentence and then see what happens.
Develop the characters. Real people are difficult to describe in words. The author needs to visualize them and know them, know how they will respond to outside influences and emotions. How do we describe our character in the novel? I gave this assignment to some students once and got very two-dimensional descriptions like tall, fat, ugly, nice, mean. It does not good to describe your character as tall. How tall is she? Is she taller than every boy she ever danced with? Was she self-conscious about her height, and this made her shrug a little? How do we know the boy is nice? Do we have evidence of it shown in some action? Making the reader infer qualities rather than telling them makes the difference between a children's book and a real novel.
Literature is an art and creating it makes the author an artist. There is certainly no way to say this is for sure the right way to do things and that is the wrong way. Focus on creating a great first sentence. Have a plot that makes sense an can be followed logically. Create characters that are believable and that our reader can identify with - so that they cheer for the character (or cheer against him is good too). You are on your way to writing a great novel.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Overcoming Writers Block
Tap, tap, tap. That is the sound of your fingers idling over your computer keys trying to think of the next thing to write in your novel. Have you experienced writers block? You're not alone. Taking a moment and reflecting on why you are blocked will be most beneficial. Let's consider a few possible reasons and also look at some ways that we can overcome this problem.
Are you finding that you had a great idea and once you started writing you began to lack inspiration. If we take too long and analyze every little detail you can easily begin to feel less inspired by your once-great idea. So instead of going at a snail's pace, try writing fast. Soon you will feel invigorated and the ideas will bounce onto the page. Remember, you can always go back after and read your novel to make needed changes. The key is to get your thoughts down quickly and you will be happy to see that, as you do, spontaneous ideas will flow.
When we believe we have a great idea and have jotted down our ideas for our novel we can be blocked by how to start or how to continue the flow of what we started. Our indecision can alter our progress. Don't get blocked by what each scenario should be. Again just start writing. If you are having trouble with how to start an idea, write out a sample. You know what you want to happen so just write a practice run, read it over, and then expand on it. Get your ideas down so you don't lose the momentum. If we allow ourselves to be stuck on how to start the conversation we can just be sitting there drumming away at the keys but not be accomplishing anything in the way of creating literature.
We also don't want to worry about what we write at the beginning. Getting all our ideas written and expressed is key. Don't worry about if it is good or not. Caring too much about every little detail being perfect will slow the process down considerably. Remember you have a first draft, a second draft, and probably a third, fourth and fifth draft. If we are expecting perfection from the beginning, this will definitely slow us down and lead to writers block. Do you think great mystery authors have the complete idea in their head when they start writing? Think about some great science fiction and all the details involved. Those were likely built on over many drafts and concepts. When you read novels, try to appreciate the effort put in and the time taken to create fiction worth reading.
If we take into consideration what others will think of our writing we can become preoccupied with pleasing others. This too will slow us down and could create writers block to the extent that you are not writing to the best of your ability. Worrying about others and how they will perceive your novel isn't conducive to getting your novel written. Nor is it beneficial in producing something authentic to you.
We may face rejections and criticism. We may be scared of this. Don't allow this to hinder you from writing your novel. And learn to grow from the experience if it is not well received. Possibly you will just need to make a few changes. The important thing to remember is continue to write.
Are you finding that you had a great idea and once you started writing you began to lack inspiration. If we take too long and analyze every little detail you can easily begin to feel less inspired by your once-great idea. So instead of going at a snail's pace, try writing fast. Soon you will feel invigorated and the ideas will bounce onto the page. Remember, you can always go back after and read your novel to make needed changes. The key is to get your thoughts down quickly and you will be happy to see that, as you do, spontaneous ideas will flow.
When we believe we have a great idea and have jotted down our ideas for our novel we can be blocked by how to start or how to continue the flow of what we started. Our indecision can alter our progress. Don't get blocked by what each scenario should be. Again just start writing. If you are having trouble with how to start an idea, write out a sample. You know what you want to happen so just write a practice run, read it over, and then expand on it. Get your ideas down so you don't lose the momentum. If we allow ourselves to be stuck on how to start the conversation we can just be sitting there drumming away at the keys but not be accomplishing anything in the way of creating literature.
We also don't want to worry about what we write at the beginning. Getting all our ideas written and expressed is key. Don't worry about if it is good or not. Caring too much about every little detail being perfect will slow the process down considerably. Remember you have a first draft, a second draft, and probably a third, fourth and fifth draft. If we are expecting perfection from the beginning, this will definitely slow us down and lead to writers block. Do you think great mystery authors have the complete idea in their head when they start writing? Think about some great science fiction and all the details involved. Those were likely built on over many drafts and concepts. When you read novels, try to appreciate the effort put in and the time taken to create fiction worth reading.
If we take into consideration what others will think of our writing we can become preoccupied with pleasing others. This too will slow us down and could create writers block to the extent that you are not writing to the best of your ability. Worrying about others and how they will perceive your novel isn't conducive to getting your novel written. Nor is it beneficial in producing something authentic to you.
We may face rejections and criticism. We may be scared of this. Don't allow this to hinder you from writing your novel. And learn to grow from the experience if it is not well received. Possibly you will just need to make a few changes. The important thing to remember is continue to write.
Are you an observant person?
All of us may want to reply to that question in the affirmative, but the truth is that all of us, after self-examination, would have to admit that no matter how observant we are already, this is something we can still improve upon.
This is a great skill for writers to have as the more observant we are, the more it will come across in the books or stories that we write. We can describe a scene with better detail; we can make our characters more appealing and real. This is true, no matter the kind of fiction you write: crime fiction, horror fiction, suspense fiction, romantic fiction, or mystery fiction.
Thankfully, even if we are not that observant now, it is a skill that can be improved!
There is a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt”. However, familiarity with something or someone can also lead to taking it or them for granted, which in turns leads to being less observant.
I remember one work colleague arriving at work one day saying that he had just driven his car to work and had no idea how he had arrived. He had driven the same route every day to and from work for so long, that now he could do it on “auto-pilot”. He had become so familiar with the route he took that he did not have to think about what to do or where to go. He just did it! Just think of all the interesting details of each journey that he would miss out on if that continued to happen!
I can also remember when I was young traveling with my family to the wedding of some friends. I had played chess and other games with my sister to while away the time of the journey. At the wedding reception, I was enthusiastically greeted by an old family friend that I had not seen for a while. Eventually, she asked me if my sister was also at the reception, to which I replied, “yes”.
She told me that she would go to find my sister and then asked me, “what is she wearing?”
Though I had earlier spent more than two hours next to my sister, for the life of me, I did not know the answer to that question. That incident certainly taught me a lesson!
What can we do to improve? Well, if you type “how to be more observant” in an Internet search engine, you will get a wealth of suggestions, but I will add a favorite of mine that I have found useful through the years.
Learn from comedians! What does that mean? Have you ever listened to a comedian and found yourself laughing at how they can take certain people behaviors or conversations and show you the humor in them? Comedians are great observers as that is how they can get the source for much of their material.
One comedian, actor, writer and film director I enjoyed was the late Jacques Tati. Once, when describing how he got ideas for his material, he said he got it from watching people around him. People walking, driving their cars, people stuck in traffic in their cars. People acting naturally, completely unaware that others might be watching them.
Become a people watcher. Don’t take others for granted. Notice how they dress, how they walk, their posture, what gestures they use and so forth. Then take notes of what you have seen. Try to get new and more in depth details every time you do this. Notice their emotions; notice the humor in what they do. This will not just help you become more observant, but you will also get more details for characters for the next novel or story that you write!
This is a great skill for writers to have as the more observant we are, the more it will come across in the books or stories that we write. We can describe a scene with better detail; we can make our characters more appealing and real. This is true, no matter the kind of fiction you write: crime fiction, horror fiction, suspense fiction, romantic fiction, or mystery fiction.
Thankfully, even if we are not that observant now, it is a skill that can be improved!
There is a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt”. However, familiarity with something or someone can also lead to taking it or them for granted, which in turns leads to being less observant.
I remember one work colleague arriving at work one day saying that he had just driven his car to work and had no idea how he had arrived. He had driven the same route every day to and from work for so long, that now he could do it on “auto-pilot”. He had become so familiar with the route he took that he did not have to think about what to do or where to go. He just did it! Just think of all the interesting details of each journey that he would miss out on if that continued to happen!
I can also remember when I was young traveling with my family to the wedding of some friends. I had played chess and other games with my sister to while away the time of the journey. At the wedding reception, I was enthusiastically greeted by an old family friend that I had not seen for a while. Eventually, she asked me if my sister was also at the reception, to which I replied, “yes”.
She told me that she would go to find my sister and then asked me, “what is she wearing?”
Though I had earlier spent more than two hours next to my sister, for the life of me, I did not know the answer to that question. That incident certainly taught me a lesson!
What can we do to improve? Well, if you type “how to be more observant” in an Internet search engine, you will get a wealth of suggestions, but I will add a favorite of mine that I have found useful through the years.
Learn from comedians! What does that mean? Have you ever listened to a comedian and found yourself laughing at how they can take certain people behaviors or conversations and show you the humor in them? Comedians are great observers as that is how they can get the source for much of their material.
One comedian, actor, writer and film director I enjoyed was the late Jacques Tati. Once, when describing how he got ideas for his material, he said he got it from watching people around him. People walking, driving their cars, people stuck in traffic in their cars. People acting naturally, completely unaware that others might be watching them.
Become a people watcher. Don’t take others for granted. Notice how they dress, how they walk, their posture, what gestures they use and so forth. Then take notes of what you have seen. Try to get new and more in depth details every time you do this. Notice their emotions; notice the humor in what they do. This will not just help you become more observant, but you will also get more details for characters for the next novel or story that you write!
Tips on Writing Proper English
Fiction writers have a lot of choices to make with every line they write. Whether it is science fiction, romance fiction, or suspense fiction the rules of the English language have to be followed. There are of course some exceptions. We want our characters to be realistic and authentic. Let's take these issues one at a time and try to accomplish some great literature when we write.
Novels require a great deal of thought. Suddenly you come to the word OK and you have to decide whether to write it as O.K. or okay or OK. It certainly may seem to be an insignificant detail but this type of thing can stall the writing process and make a good writer stumble. What is the rule? I will tell you what I think but any popular book may contradict me. I asked this question to three people and got three answers. If it was me writing, I would simply write "okay" in any normal passage in a novel. Now, this may not be true if someone was speaking - I could easily see the use of O.K. in a quick response to a question.
And when we have to write a number, do we write "five" or 5? I always prefer to write the words rather than the numbers - up to a certain point. Personally once we reach one hundred it seems silly to keep using words. But up to that point I always write the words of the numbers rather than the numbers themselves. It's my personal preference. A writing teacher taught me that way in high school and it always stuck with me.
What about mixing reality with fantasy? That seems to be a silly point to consider, since we have to base things in reality if we want the reader to see things as probable. Even Star Wars and Star Trek have kept basic laws of physics based in reality. A new language can be invented and it can be completely fictional and made up. Anything is possible in writing.
How do we create a character that is realistic and believable? I think the key is to have each character clear in the mind of the writer. Even fiction requires consistency. When someone wants to read a novel, they want to be whisked away to an alternate reality and do not want distractions like inconsistent writing to distract them. Get your character clear in mind and make notes of their physical characteristics. What are they like? Honest? Reserved? Outgoing and gregarious? Tall, broad, slim, short, or fat? Facial hair? Slender arms and long legs? What is remarkable about your character? What makes them memorable? What does their voice sound like when they talk, and do people listen to them? How do they dress and comport themselves? Once you make a list of all these details it might do you well to write them down someplace convenient so you can refer to them when you need. Each character will bring a new description and depending on their use, you may need to remember details for later. Develop a character that is memorable and realistic. Think of people you know and what is remarkable about each of them. Use real qualities and personality traits; and exaggerate them as needed.
English is a very specific language and readers of books need to focus on the story and not on the use of language. It will require more work from the author but will be work that is worth the effort.
Novels require a great deal of thought. Suddenly you come to the word OK and you have to decide whether to write it as O.K. or okay or OK. It certainly may seem to be an insignificant detail but this type of thing can stall the writing process and make a good writer stumble. What is the rule? I will tell you what I think but any popular book may contradict me. I asked this question to three people and got three answers. If it was me writing, I would simply write "okay" in any normal passage in a novel. Now, this may not be true if someone was speaking - I could easily see the use of O.K. in a quick response to a question.
And when we have to write a number, do we write "five" or 5? I always prefer to write the words rather than the numbers - up to a certain point. Personally once we reach one hundred it seems silly to keep using words. But up to that point I always write the words of the numbers rather than the numbers themselves. It's my personal preference. A writing teacher taught me that way in high school and it always stuck with me.
What about mixing reality with fantasy? That seems to be a silly point to consider, since we have to base things in reality if we want the reader to see things as probable. Even Star Wars and Star Trek have kept basic laws of physics based in reality. A new language can be invented and it can be completely fictional and made up. Anything is possible in writing.
How do we create a character that is realistic and believable? I think the key is to have each character clear in the mind of the writer. Even fiction requires consistency. When someone wants to read a novel, they want to be whisked away to an alternate reality and do not want distractions like inconsistent writing to distract them. Get your character clear in mind and make notes of their physical characteristics. What are they like? Honest? Reserved? Outgoing and gregarious? Tall, broad, slim, short, or fat? Facial hair? Slender arms and long legs? What is remarkable about your character? What makes them memorable? What does their voice sound like when they talk, and do people listen to them? How do they dress and comport themselves? Once you make a list of all these details it might do you well to write them down someplace convenient so you can refer to them when you need. Each character will bring a new description and depending on their use, you may need to remember details for later. Develop a character that is memorable and realistic. Think of people you know and what is remarkable about each of them. Use real qualities and personality traits; and exaggerate them as needed.
English is a very specific language and readers of books need to focus on the story and not on the use of language. It will require more work from the author but will be work that is worth the effort.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Write with a Purpose
When you are first developing the main plot idea in your novel you may have an idea what the ending will be. So then you need to fill in the storyline with details that will accomplish your purpose - getting to the end.
Writing with a purpose will help you to keep everything in order and keep you on track. That doesn't mean what your write needs to be boring or predictable. Writing with a purpose helps to focus on getting to the ending in an appropriate way. Leaving you plenty of room to add twists and turns in your literature writing.
Keeping our focus or purpose while writing helps keep everything cohesive and will allow our reader to enjoy our novel. So what can be our purpose?
Type of Novels
If we are writing popular books such as science fiction or romance fiction remember to do proper research on details added to your story. For science fiction it is good to consider your audience, they enjoy reading novels that are detailed enough so that it can be believable. But making something believable means having a great imagination. Romance fiction is always great if there is some drama but, again, it needs to be believable.
Not everything has to be a happy ending
When we write our novel considering your ending before you start will definitely keep you focused. That being said we do not necessarily need to write a happy ending. Possibly the main character has lost love, someone dies or if you want to write a sequel we could leave a cliff-hanger. So depending on your purpose you will need to determine how the story will end. Either all wrapped up in a perfect package or leaving your readers with more questions.
If you are considering a sequel or a series, then developing your characters is important. We want to keep our readers interested in each character. We could have a series with each novel dedicated to a certain character. Keeping our purpose in focus will enable us to develop one character's story while adding tidbits about the others so our readers will want to continue reading your future novels. And as you write future novels you can add tidbits about previous characters to keep their story going.
Or you could write about one character who has different adventures in each new novel. If that is your purpose then over the course of your novels you could introduce parts of the characters past that has developed their personality. Or as different circumstances happen develops who they are or why they make certain decisions.
As you make a point to consider all the details in your novel take the time to see if they truly follow a clear line to your purpose. Keep on track as you write, stopping from time to time to see if you are staying true to your purpose. As you do this you will find the writing process enjoyable and will develop a novel that will be enjoyed by many. Great literature has many good examples for us to learn from. A good writer is a good reader. Read novels and pay attention to how that author got from the beginning to the end. Enjoy!
Writing with a purpose will help you to keep everything in order and keep you on track. That doesn't mean what your write needs to be boring or predictable. Writing with a purpose helps to focus on getting to the ending in an appropriate way. Leaving you plenty of room to add twists and turns in your literature writing.
Keeping our focus or purpose while writing helps keep everything cohesive and will allow our reader to enjoy our novel. So what can be our purpose?
Type of Novels
If we are writing popular books such as science fiction or romance fiction remember to do proper research on details added to your story. For science fiction it is good to consider your audience, they enjoy reading novels that are detailed enough so that it can be believable. But making something believable means having a great imagination. Romance fiction is always great if there is some drama but, again, it needs to be believable.
Not everything has to be a happy ending
When we write our novel considering your ending before you start will definitely keep you focused. That being said we do not necessarily need to write a happy ending. Possibly the main character has lost love, someone dies or if you want to write a sequel we could leave a cliff-hanger. So depending on your purpose you will need to determine how the story will end. Either all wrapped up in a perfect package or leaving your readers with more questions.
If you are considering a sequel or a series, then developing your characters is important. We want to keep our readers interested in each character. We could have a series with each novel dedicated to a certain character. Keeping our purpose in focus will enable us to develop one character's story while adding tidbits about the others so our readers will want to continue reading your future novels. And as you write future novels you can add tidbits about previous characters to keep their story going.
Or you could write about one character who has different adventures in each new novel. If that is your purpose then over the course of your novels you could introduce parts of the characters past that has developed their personality. Or as different circumstances happen develops who they are or why they make certain decisions.
As you make a point to consider all the details in your novel take the time to see if they truly follow a clear line to your purpose. Keep on track as you write, stopping from time to time to see if you are staying true to your purpose. As you do this you will find the writing process enjoyable and will develop a novel that will be enjoyed by many. Great literature has many good examples for us to learn from. A good writer is a good reader. Read novels and pay attention to how that author got from the beginning to the end. Enjoy!
Online Reading
Reading a novel has become increasingly easier with online reading. We are able to access novels and even great literature by means of the internet. This can be especially beneficial to new authors who want to introduce themselves.
Online fiction is very popular and there are a wide variety of subjects to look for. Any of our interests can be met, if we enjoy romance fiction, science fiction, suspense or detective series - all of this can be accessed through reading online.
For those who are trying to get their foot in the door and have their novel published; using an online service to showcase your works is a great way to accomplish this. Putting your novel online opens the world to you. People from all over can have the opportunity to read your work, and some online sites even have reader feedback. This can be helpful if you are new and trying to figure things out. Possibly you are making some grammatical errors that your audience would like fixed. Or you may be struggling with certain plot points and again help can be given through constructive criticism. Or you may receive positive feedback; which will give you the boost you need to continue writing.
Having your work posted online really does distribute your novel to people who may never have the chance to know about you. If your novel is well received the readers will want more and publishing companies may take notice. If your novel is not well received then this can help you to improve. Look at your feedback and make changes without losing your identity. What I mean to say is that you have your plot ideas and your own writing style and should stay true to your work. Yet listening and really analyzing what is commented on can be extremely helpful for first time writers. Best of all: it is free!
Writing communities online are another great avenue to showcase your novel. Generally these sites are filled with fellow authors that have the same passion for writing that you do. This online group can give writing tips, help you when you are stuck and most importantly encourage you to keep writing. Discussions with fellow writers are a great outlet to help get the writing flowing.
There are many websites available to post your novel so take the time and research popular sites. It is best to have your novel where you will get the most traffic. Also consider different countries. Posting your novel around the world can create many fans. Also, consider which group of people will be interested in your genre of writing. Some sites are solely for one genre and if you are a writer in that genre you can quickly get exposure to high numbers of readers.
Displaying your work online can pave the way to boundless opportunities and may even lead to having your work published. It is a great way to introduce yourself to the readers of the world and receive helpful feedback. This is great if you are new to writing and want to test out what people think of your work. So why not give it a try and see the world of online fiction.
Online fiction is very popular and there are a wide variety of subjects to look for. Any of our interests can be met, if we enjoy romance fiction, science fiction, suspense or detective series - all of this can be accessed through reading online.
For those who are trying to get their foot in the door and have their novel published; using an online service to showcase your works is a great way to accomplish this. Putting your novel online opens the world to you. People from all over can have the opportunity to read your work, and some online sites even have reader feedback. This can be helpful if you are new and trying to figure things out. Possibly you are making some grammatical errors that your audience would like fixed. Or you may be struggling with certain plot points and again help can be given through constructive criticism. Or you may receive positive feedback; which will give you the boost you need to continue writing.
Having your work posted online really does distribute your novel to people who may never have the chance to know about you. If your novel is well received the readers will want more and publishing companies may take notice. If your novel is not well received then this can help you to improve. Look at your feedback and make changes without losing your identity. What I mean to say is that you have your plot ideas and your own writing style and should stay true to your work. Yet listening and really analyzing what is commented on can be extremely helpful for first time writers. Best of all: it is free!
Writing communities online are another great avenue to showcase your novel. Generally these sites are filled with fellow authors that have the same passion for writing that you do. This online group can give writing tips, help you when you are stuck and most importantly encourage you to keep writing. Discussions with fellow writers are a great outlet to help get the writing flowing.
There are many websites available to post your novel so take the time and research popular sites. It is best to have your novel where you will get the most traffic. Also consider different countries. Posting your novel around the world can create many fans. Also, consider which group of people will be interested in your genre of writing. Some sites are solely for one genre and if you are a writer in that genre you can quickly get exposure to high numbers of readers.
Displaying your work online can pave the way to boundless opportunities and may even lead to having your work published. It is a great way to introduce yourself to the readers of the world and receive helpful feedback. This is great if you are new to writing and want to test out what people think of your work. So why not give it a try and see the world of online fiction.
What is the best bottle of wine that you can buy?
Is it a bottle that costs $10 or a bottle that costs $1,000? Would it be a French wine, Italian, South African, or from another country? There are so many possible answers to that question because there are so many to choose from. You can try a friend’s recommendation, or you might do research on what different wine experts say and try one of their choices. However, the best answer I heard to this question is that the best wine to buy is the one that you enjoy. That is logical, I am sure you will agree. People differ. Personal tastes differ. What you like, I might not like and vice versa.
The same kind of question can be asked about books. What is your favorite novel? What kind of fiction do you like to read? Do you prefer romance fiction, crime fiction, horror fiction, mystery fiction, fantasy books, or suspense fiction?
The answer might vary depending on how you or I feel at the moment. Yet, whatever genre of book that I might wish to read at any given moment, my preferences often have something in common. I like a novel or a story that stimulates my imagination and that draws me into the scene that the author is creating, while at the same time engaging my emotions and interest.
One author who has that effect on me is the late Georgette Heyer. Some of you might ask: “Georgette Who?” Georgette Heyer! Among other things she wrote romance fiction, crime fiction and historical novels often set in the 1700’s and early 1800’s in England and Europe. Though she may not be too well known to many modern-day lovers of fiction, one book-selling company said that she is one of their top 10 bestselling authors! Not bad for someone who died in 1974!
One reason why I like her books is her use of description. As mentioned, some, in fact, many of her books were set in the early 1800’s or to be more precise, what is known as the Regency period in England. Namely, the decade of 1811-1820 when then king of Great Britain, George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, later George IV, ruled as his proxy as the Prince Regent.
This period was about 100 years before Georgette Heyer lived and vastly different from her world and that of her readers; in language, in dress and customs. So to help her readers understand the setting and time period of her novels, she included a lot of detailed information in them. This information was also apparently very accurate as Heyer collected reference works and kept detailed notes on all aspects of Regency life.
Yet, despite the level of detail that she gave in her novels, it is the way she did it that makes me marvel at her as an author. As I read through such of her works as The Grand Sophy, Regency Buck, a collection of short stories Pistols For Two, I am not weighed down by an avalanche of detail, but I am fed just enough information at each moment to make me feel I am part of her scene, while being absorbed in her characters and her wit at storytelling.
If you have not read any of Georgette Heyer’s works, why not give them a try? You can find them well enough online. I may not be a literary expert, but she would be one of my recommendations!
The same kind of question can be asked about books. What is your favorite novel? What kind of fiction do you like to read? Do you prefer romance fiction, crime fiction, horror fiction, mystery fiction, fantasy books, or suspense fiction?
The answer might vary depending on how you or I feel at the moment. Yet, whatever genre of book that I might wish to read at any given moment, my preferences often have something in common. I like a novel or a story that stimulates my imagination and that draws me into the scene that the author is creating, while at the same time engaging my emotions and interest.
One author who has that effect on me is the late Georgette Heyer. Some of you might ask: “Georgette Who?” Georgette Heyer! Among other things she wrote romance fiction, crime fiction and historical novels often set in the 1700’s and early 1800’s in England and Europe. Though she may not be too well known to many modern-day lovers of fiction, one book-selling company said that she is one of their top 10 bestselling authors! Not bad for someone who died in 1974!
One reason why I like her books is her use of description. As mentioned, some, in fact, many of her books were set in the early 1800’s or to be more precise, what is known as the Regency period in England. Namely, the decade of 1811-1820 when then king of Great Britain, George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, later George IV, ruled as his proxy as the Prince Regent.
This period was about 100 years before Georgette Heyer lived and vastly different from her world and that of her readers; in language, in dress and customs. So to help her readers understand the setting and time period of her novels, she included a lot of detailed information in them. This information was also apparently very accurate as Heyer collected reference works and kept detailed notes on all aspects of Regency life.
Yet, despite the level of detail that she gave in her novels, it is the way she did it that makes me marvel at her as an author. As I read through such of her works as The Grand Sophy, Regency Buck, a collection of short stories Pistols For Two, I am not weighed down by an avalanche of detail, but I am fed just enough information at each moment to make me feel I am part of her scene, while being absorbed in her characters and her wit at storytelling.
If you have not read any of Georgette Heyer’s works, why not give them a try? You can find them well enough online. I may not be a literary expert, but she would be one of my recommendations!
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