Romancing the Reader

Every fiction story written is contrived, as in occurring deliberately instead of spontaneously or naturally.

The nuance between good fiction and bad is if you can see the contrivance. 

The ebb and flow of a novel is key to keeping a reader interested. Always best to end a chapter on a cliff so the reader will want to continue to read the next chapter. Clever. 

A writer must also be a magician. A bit of sleight of hand, and the reader doesn't realize they've been directed to see or hear something germane to the story. It's only when the reader is putting together the pieces at the end do they realize they were given the important piece earlier in such a smooth way. There's an art to the craft.

I've read books that feel like all knees and elbows. I feel constantly bumped and pushed in odd directions because the author doesn't know how to direct traffic yet. And so it's a bumpy ride. I've read books that feel as though are neon signs above the places the reader should be allowed to pick up, themselves. I don't like obvious in books. 

I'm still reading Fairy Tale by the most-talented Mr. King. Normally, I would have gobbled it up in about three days, but we were out of town last Thursday through this past Monday. I'm not sure if this is considered a spoiler...but if it is..*SPOILER*

Hardback page 186:  "In a fantasy story, the author would invent some way the young hero or heroine could explore that world I was starting to think of as the Other. The author, might, for instance, invent a retreat his parent, or parents had to attend for several days, thus clearing the way for the young hero to visit the other world without provoking a bunch of questions he couldn't answer."

Our Mr. King is cheeky as hell. This is exactly what he's done in this book. He takes our hero's father and sends him on a retreat so Charlie is able to visit the Other without all those pesky questions. It's smooth and sly. A wink wink nudge nudge, if you will. 

Being able to connect with readers subtly without knocking them about is finesse. It's an author's love letter to the reader. This is my offering to you, with all my love. 

It's a beautiful thing.

Always writing*