tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post8856375707738612657..comments2024-03-28T01:11:53.559-07:00Comments on Electric Spec Editor Blog: Handicapping Devices and Structureslesleylsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-17692523165621570632009-04-20T14:23:00.000-07:002009-04-20T14:23:00.000-07:00Good point Keith. I pretty well hate stories in w...Good point Keith. I pretty well hate stories in which the protag dies in the end. Cop-out!!<br /><br />Of course there are exceptions to every rule, Dave. I think letters and memos <I>can</I> work in stories. But I more often see stories in which narrative form would tell the story better.ssashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527483283426518167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-70853778024130378352009-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:002009-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:00I have always argued that it a story can be made m...I have always argued that it a story can be made much better if the protagonist does not die at the end of the story. Killing off the hero is a convenient way to end a story. It is harder to write a good ending where the hero lives.<br /><br />I usually get an argument complete with a list of great stories where the protag is killed off. I am sorry, but I think that a story must involve a sea change in the life of the main character and death is just an ending.<br /><br />I also have a rule about "No Nazis", but that is primarily about bad TV and movies.<br /><br />See my list of SF no-nos at: <A HREF="http://www.cthreepo.com/laws.shtml" REL="nofollow">Keith's laws</A>Most people hate at least one of the rules on my list. Some people hate all of them.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215176294238619193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-70217697798319630902009-04-20T12:00:00.000-07:002009-04-20T12:00:00.000-07:00I'll be a bit of a dissenter here. I like stories ...I'll be a bit of a dissenter here. I like stories with letters, e-mails, diaries, or other alternative narrative devices. In fact, I think we've published a few (one of them being mine) in our 'zine. <br /><br />However, I agree that these devices can also result in a boring story by keeping the reader too distant from the POV character. The keys to using alternative form is (1) having a good reason for doing it; (2)remember keep the POV as close as possible.David E. Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15562347731539228314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-28628274431303492742009-04-20T10:52:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:52:00.000-07:00For a good example of why phone calls don't work, ...For a good example of why phone calls don't work, see the movie Phone Booth. Well, don't see it, really. Even with Colin Farrell starring, I couldn't get through it.Deb Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-63650219653172880072009-04-20T10:14:00.001-07:002009-04-20T10:14:00.001-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.ssashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527483283426518167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-29651619763900392072009-04-20T10:14:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:14:00.000-07:00re: Phone calls--where do you think I got the idea...re: Phone calls--where do you think I got the idea? :)ssashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527483283426518167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-59222535164046562462009-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:00I pretty much agree with Editor Betsy here. You g...I pretty much agree with Editor Betsy here. You go, girl! :) Of course, I already mentioned phone calls earlier.<br />IMHO, multiple povs and flashbacks can work, but they're more tricky. <br />Letters and their ilk are <B>d-u-l-l</B>. Talk about a tell-fest. :(<br />As for violence...suspense works better than gore. Think the <I>threat</I> of violence for Electric Spec, rather than the actual violence. :)lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.com