PaperBox Books

I started this post with a purpose. I was going to write a review of the book so far. As a publisher, like other publishers, I look at the beginning of the book and decide whether there’s enough promise to make it worth my time to read a whole manuscript.

 

Like most readers, I have read books that start out great then peter off into poor writing, bad character development and a plot that goes nowhere. And, books that don’t start out so great but are good enough to keep me reading until I hit the gold.

 

This book, Eat Pray Love isn’t the kind of book I usually read – it is however the type of movie I love to watch. And I fully intend to watch this one.

 

Why don’t I read these books? It’s the transition from rock bottom to whatever new state the heroine grows into. In the book, for me it takes for freaking ever for the character to let go of the whining and get on with the growing.

 

It’s not the writing, Elizabeth Gilbert has done a great job putting the story on the page, she did a great job of setting the scene, and I find her ‘rockbottomness’ believable. It’s the pace, I’m around 10% of the way in (by the little blue bar on my Kindle for iPod) and we haven’t yet started the journey.

 

When this kind of story is in a movie, they cut it to the smallest time possible because they have around 2 hours (at most for this type of movie) and they know the story is in the struggle.

 

So, if you are looking to write this kind of journey memoir, fictional or not, remember the reader needs to buy into the reason the character needs to change, but the story really starts when the journey starts.

 

This example, Neon Pilgrim, is a self published book that I happened along in Smashwords one day. It could use some editing but she keeps the “I’m in such a bad place I need to change drastically’ down to under six pages. Even hardhearted me can handle that.

 

How do you like your memoirs paced?

 

Happy writing

 

Perry

No Comments | In: Opinions | tags: movies, opinion. | #

I have seen three movies in the last short while and my reaction to them was very different. It made me think of what I expect in a movie – and wonder if I’m expecting too much. And, then, of course I took that to the concept of books.

So, here are the three movies, my reactions, and what I think a writer can learn from them.

Avatar, 3D Imax - really the only way to go for the special effects. I was impressed with the effects. I was not impressed with the story. All the money spent on the effects was so that the aliens couldn’t be men in rubber suits. But, the story had them acting as men in rubber suits. If only they had spent a few more dollars to get a story with some depth.

For the writer, I think the lesson is for you to create characters with depth and stories with complexity. Make sure your villain isn’t cardboard. Remember, they never know they are the villain. Make sure your protagonist isn’t pure. If they have no flaws, they aren’t interesting.

What would I have done – hey, what the heck, it’s my blog. I would have had more of the soldiers realize they were doing wrong. I would have had one of the scientists take the side of the soldiers. And, I would have had corporate guy try to stop the madness. And the blue aliens; come on, one of them should have been a traitor, one of the tribes should have refused to fight.

Alice in Wonderland, 3D – not sure why it was in 3D. The story was full of cool characters with quirks and brave hearts and evil plans. Actors gave great performances and the bandersnach and jabberwocky were cool. But, not the use of effects. I didn’t understand why the white queen needed to be such a ditz but it didn’t ruin the film for me. I was just disappointed.

For the writer, I think the lesson is to go for it. If you’ve put something in your book that is the printed equivalent of 3D – don’t just dip your toe, dive in over your head and struggle until you gasp for air.

What would I have done? The Jabberwocky’s head would have landed in the laps of the audience.

The Green Zone – regular D. A great story. Only predictable in hindsight (the sign of a great story). I won’t say too much because it opened yesterday and I don’t want to give spoilers. The flaw only affected me in the theatre so I can’t really say it was a problem. The camera jiggled so much I got seasick. There were no safe spaces in the film where I could relax my eyes. I had to leave the theatre twice.

What can the writer learn? OMG – if you can write a story like this you don’t need my advice. Even through the nausea I was engage with the characters – even the villains. I understood how people can get caught up in something and take a side which turns out to be wrong. I believed the ending, but I would have believed any one of three other endings.

What would I have done differently? Either steady the camera or make the seats move with the action.

Happy writing
Perry

No Comments | In: Writing Tips | tags: movies, Writing Tips. | #