BORED TO DEATH: Where stories go wrong

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I generally read several books simultaneously, usually 5 pages, per book, per time. It helps me retain more of what I read. To each his own.

But I noticed something that's significant: stories often go wrong and suddenly become tedious and constipated and viscous and boring. I also recognized a few of the problems for it.

STOPPING TO SMELL THE ROSES.
The rich guys wife is murdered and he is charged with the killing. He hires a private detective to find the real killer. The private eye takes the case then his semi-famous lawyer girlfriend comes to town for a visit and the story takes a break for them to sight-see and cuddle & coo and eat out and walk hand-in-hand on the beach at sunset, etc. His partner takes the womans kid for a trip to Disneyland so the couple can be alone.

Two books later the author has to kill the woman off as she's killing sales.

What do you notice?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF.

The writer's tale is similar to a cat chasing a laser pointer. Its hugely interesting to readers with lotsa hemp stowed aboard, and boring to the rest.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF.

The writer's tale is similar to a cat chasing a laser pointer. Its hugely interesting to readers with lotsa hemp stowed aboard, and boring to the rest.

I don't know, James. I took it as the story was about the rekindled romance between private dick and his lawyer gf. A nice play on the old film noirs with the dick's secretary being hot for him. The rich guy and his dead wife were only the device to get the PI and Attn together again for some steamy sex. After all, any sex between the rich guy and his dead wife would only steam with decomp gases and be of interest to a very few readers.

 

[PayDay]

I generally read several books simultaneously, usually 5 pages, per book, per time. It helps me retain more of what I read. To each his own.

But I noticed something that's significant: stories often go wrong and suddenly become tedious and constipated and viscous and boring. I also recognized a few of the problems for it.

STOPPING TO SMELL THE ROSES.
The rich guys wife is murdered and he is charged with the killing. He hires a private detective to find the real killer. The private eye takes the case then his semi-famous lawyer girlfriend comes to town for a visit and the story takes a break for them to sight-see and cuddle & coo and eat out and walk hand-in-hand on the beach at sunset, etc. His partner takes the womans kid for a trip to Disneyland so the couple can be alone.

Two books later the author has to kill the woman off as she's killing sales.

What do you notice?

It is for this same reason that I couod never read an Anne Rice novel, even if I wanted to.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It is for this same reason that I couod never read an Anne Rice novel, even if I wanted to.

Romance has its readers they aren't noir readers.

 

[PayDay]

Romance has its readers they aren't noir readers.

Sure sure. But her constant re-explainations of setting and character in as many words a possible becomes almost like work to keep reading. A 'too much romance, not enough human killing' moment.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Sure sure. But her constant re-explainations of setting and character in as many words a possible becomes almost like work to keep reading. A 'too much romance, not enough human killing' moment.

I haven't scratched my Anne Rice itch, I don't have one. Did I luck out or what!

 

[lovecraft68]

It is for this same reason that I couod never read an Anne Rice novel, even if I wanted to.

She does seem to distract herself doesn't she?

In Mayfair witches/taltos she couldn't even decide who was evil and who wasn't, it all changed on her whims

 

[PayDay]

She does seem to distract herself doesn't she?

In Mayfair witches/taltos she couldn't even decide who was evil and who wasn't, it all changed on her whims

Thanks for that, it was a good laugh

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Sure sure. But her constant re-explainations of setting and character in as many words a possible becomes almost like work to keep reading. A 'too much romance, not enough human killing' moment.

I call THAT distraction: 'Cooking with Paula Deen." Or 'lets assemble a swing-set'.