Surprise Me!
My son doesn’t like watching mystery/suspense/thriller movies or TV shows with me because I’m always looking for the clues or props that the story teller is weaving into the story and trying to figure out how they’ll be used later.
OK, maybe it isn’t just that I’m looking for clues that my son doesn’t like, it’s my sharing of them during the show when I see them that really makes him mad.
For example, we were watching one of the newer Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr.
In one scene, Sherlock grabs an underwater breathing device off the desk of a person they’re visiting. Hmm, I wondered, why did he grab that? Later in the movie, Sherlock appears to sacrifice himself by falling off a ledge with his nemisis into water far below. I whispered to my son, “the breathing device”. Those are the moments he doesn’t like. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Sometimes I wait until after the movie to see if he caught the clues I did, but sometimes I have to share them when I see them)
What movies do we remember? Those that thrill us, make us think, surprise us. One that did that for me was THE GAME.
The story unfolded in front of us and we could follow along, but each step along the way was a surprise, all the way to the end.
As a long time consumer of thrillers, I still come back for more, but I want to be surprised. I want to be surprised and it has to make sense and fit with the story that’s being told. If the story isn’t interesting I’ll quit reading and pick up another. But, if I find that thrilling story, I’ll read late into the night and want to read another by the author. (You know what I’m talking about)
As a creator of thrilling fiction I keep trying to learn and one lesson I heard recently was, don’t go with the first thing that pops into your head, that’s what the reader will probably be thinking or expecting. They’ll find your story uninteresting and boring. And don’t go with the second or third, instead go with the fourth. The fourth idea you think of will still fit with the story, but it will be unexpected both by you and the reader and that will make your writing more interesting and keep the reader engaged.
If I can surprise myself as I’m writing the story, I can surprise the reader and we’ll both enjoy the thrill. My goal in my writing is to have fun, and to thrill and surprise myself. If I can surprise me, I know I can surprise you.
Keep reading and enjoy the thrill. What thriller writers surprise you?
OK, maybe it isn’t just that I’m looking for clues that my son doesn’t like, it’s my sharing of them during the show when I see them that really makes him mad.
For example, we were watching one of the newer Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr.
In one scene, Sherlock grabs an underwater breathing device off the desk of a person they’re visiting. Hmm, I wondered, why did he grab that? Later in the movie, Sherlock appears to sacrifice himself by falling off a ledge with his nemisis into water far below. I whispered to my son, “the breathing device”. Those are the moments he doesn’t like. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Sometimes I wait until after the movie to see if he caught the clues I did, but sometimes I have to share them when I see them)
What movies do we remember? Those that thrill us, make us think, surprise us. One that did that for me was THE GAME.
The story unfolded in front of us and we could follow along, but each step along the way was a surprise, all the way to the end.
As a long time consumer of thrillers, I still come back for more, but I want to be surprised. I want to be surprised and it has to make sense and fit with the story that’s being told. If the story isn’t interesting I’ll quit reading and pick up another. But, if I find that thrilling story, I’ll read late into the night and want to read another by the author. (You know what I’m talking about)
As a creator of thrilling fiction I keep trying to learn and one lesson I heard recently was, don’t go with the first thing that pops into your head, that’s what the reader will probably be thinking or expecting. They’ll find your story uninteresting and boring. And don’t go with the second or third, instead go with the fourth. The fourth idea you think of will still fit with the story, but it will be unexpected both by you and the reader and that will make your writing more interesting and keep the reader engaged.
If I can surprise myself as I’m writing the story, I can surprise the reader and we’ll both enjoy the thrill. My goal in my writing is to have fun, and to thrill and surprise myself. If I can surprise me, I know I can surprise you.
Keep reading and enjoy the thrill. What thriller writers surprise you?
date
newest »
newest »
This morning I started two books that I had downloaded and after a few chapters I deleted them from my Kindle. I could tell they weren't going to hold my attention.
As a new writer, I write mostly fluffy, fictional mystery. I don't write like the normal writer. I don't plot my books, I just start and see where it leads me and I do surprise myself. At times I can't believe that the story came from my mind. I like your idea about not going with the first and second ideas. I will have to remember that.
I have decided to write my way, if someone likes it, that is great, if not that is ok too. I publish them and see what happens. I like to write for the thrill of writing and for my own relaxation. Thank you for your blog and your thoughts.