Thursday, March 3, 2011

It's History, Baby!

**spoiler alert - that means you Matt Rush!**

I've had comments here and there from readers of my first fantasy novel who say that I shouldn't lead readers on with things such as the big war against the elves that threatens to break out during the first quarter of the book only to be overcome by bigger events, or the buildup of dread toward the eventual encounter with the horrible dragon only to find that it has died of old age. They say this is a letdown for readers. For me it is history.

I know that seems irrational. For you it is fiction, and thus the writer could simply change the plot. For me, my fantasy world has existed for around a quarter of a century. I know it almost as well as I know the real world. It is real for me. Its history is real for me. And like real history, events cannot simply be changed at a whim to be more appropriate to your needs (unless you are the FOX Propaganda Channel). History is messy, so I find it unbelievable when events in fantasy books always fall like dominos along a perfect plotline. Real stories should be messy (at least to a degree), just like real history.

The war with elves is something that almost happened and then didn't. Sorry, but that's the history. The prince tried to touch off that war, because he had designs on their land. The war would have happened if my main character hadn't acted to sabotage the prince's plans along with everyone learning about an impending invasion by a never-before-heard-of race. Some readers can call that a letdown. I call it realistic.

I suppose it is because I have been a historian by nature all of my life. The first book I ever asked for, when I was five, was the Illustrated History of the World. When I got into grade school, I read every history book in the library, and when I was done I reread them. I would have majored in history in college except that I have never wanted to be a teacher and I couldn't see any good careers available otherwise. I did still minor in history, though.

I fully understand why readers would be baffled by my attitude. I should be able to change anything and everything. I get it. I just can't do it. The history of my universe is as real to me as the Silmarillion for Middle Earth is for Tolkien. I can change the details revolving about the characters, but I can't change the events that have occurred within the world. If a publisher ever came to me and said my book was close, but I need to change this one event, well then I would have to think hard about it.

11 comments:

  1. A writer who drifts according the whims of others is not a writer. Stick to your guns. You're not cheating anyone and the history is the back story as well as being realistic.

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  2. I actually love the idea of the dragon having died of old age. I think it's a great fresh twist on a well used fantasy trope.

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  3. The dragon arrived in the lands eight centuries before and would come out of hibernation approximately every ten years to re-devestate the lands around her lair. At the time of my story the dragon has been in hibernation for just over ten years, so everyone is expecting her appearance at any moment.

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  4. I like that twist, too, that the dragon died of old age...

    My fantasy world is scarred with the events that took place in history (just ask Martin Willoughby above. He's a member of my writers' group and has been subjected to numerous pieces of my work). Sometimes, as is the case in reality, there is no explanation why these happened, or in your case, didn't. It just is...

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  5. I don't think there is anything wrong with surprising the reader just as they were expecting to discover that well ... things had gone as expected. I for one prefer when they don't.

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  6. What I got from some readers was that I had invested too much reader anticipation in these events only to pull the rug out on them. I am always open to the idea that I can do it my way, but do it better than I did.

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  7. Why'd you single Matt out for the spoiler alert!? NOW I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TOO! GAAAHHH!!!

    Erm...yes. *cough*

    I think you can sell this kind of thing to the reader. It just takes more work than the expected plot points, is all.

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  8. I think every author in every genre has to struggle to maintain the balance between believability and escalating tensions. It's not easy. As storytellers, we have to keep our audience excited and engaged, but as world builders we also have to uphold the integrity of our secondary worlds.

    I'm definitely with you in your approach. Since my goal is genuine sub-creation, in the tradition of Tolkien, I look at my world as a real, created thing with, to a certain extent, a life of it's own. Sometimes people think I'm crazy. ;)

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  9. "I am always open to the idea that I can do it my way, but do it better than I did"

    That's a good way to look at revision. You have to find the balance between maintaining your vision and meeting the needs of the reader. Some days it's tough.

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  10. Sorry Simon! I guess I figured you must have been past those parts by now.

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  11. Neither of those things bothered me in the LEAST (though it seems like I might have wanted the prince to have bigger consequences for trying to start that war--it's been quite a while since I read it) but the near missed elf war built the 'dark times' tension and showed the heart of the prince, and the action in the cave was pretty huge, even if the big dragon was already dead. I loved the cave stuff. Then again, I am not a frequent high fantasy reader, so genre readers may be more important to listen to.

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