tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post6288627007515331002..comments2024-03-05T13:51:24.898-07:00Comments on Spacefreighters Lounge : WHEN I STOP READING--AND WHYUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-35734460374000490872014-02-25T14:50:24.574-07:002014-02-25T14:50:24.574-07:00Yeah, I relate to this. I'm a decently fast re...Yeah, I relate to this. I'm a decently fast reader and sometimes have trouble justifying not finishing a book since it wouldn't take much for me to do so (and I want to have gotten the whole picture before I say negative things about it in a review, which I very well may do), but everything you've mentioned is what makes me want to stop reading too. Especially the backstory. Usually the author seems to think the backstory is really important and they choose a time to drop it on us that distracts us and distances us. Backstory should never feel like backstory. You shouldn't feel like you are humoring the author, you know?Julie Sondra Deckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-24523459069979516762014-02-24T15:37:34.862-07:002014-02-24T15:37:34.862-07:00I totally agree on the length issue and especially...I totally agree on the length issue and especially for SFR where alien cultures and sometimes entire universes need to be crafted. I think the trend toward shorter lengths are partly due to declining attention spans brought on by popular media and partly due to a lack of patience when reading e-books when the reader can't physically see their progress.<br /><br />It would seem the success of The Last Hour of Gann proves that a lengthy novel with detailed storytelling and world-building still appeals to a large audience when done well.L. A. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198035351359321392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-38896151683913465592014-02-24T15:18:04.037-07:002014-02-24T15:18:04.037-07:00You hit all my points too! My biggest gripe is why...You hit all my points too! My biggest gripe is why the heck are so many ebooks--where cost of production is not a factor--so damn short? I'm looking for a read to last me longer than a leisurely meal. I like meat in my stories, rich worlds, complex plots. You can't do that in sub-50K. <br /><br />I've never been a reader of category-length fiction because it's too short. I wish people would stop being so afraid of length and put out a decent sized book. There is so much SFR I pass over because it's too short. I'm the kind of reader who isn't the least bit intimidated by the length of a George R.R. Martin book, and the kind of reader who devours a 700+ page romance in four days then reads it AGAIN.Rachel Leigh Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16004728242824462126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-64411127711028380302014-02-24T13:38:11.640-07:002014-02-24T13:38:11.640-07:00Loved your take, Donna, and I enjoyed reading all ...Loved your take, Donna, and I enjoyed reading all the comments, in particular Sharon's editor's POV. <br /><br />Okay, you've inspired me to write a follow-up. I think it's good for a writer to look at things from a readers' perspective. It certainly helps me put my own work under a microscope.L. A. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198035351359321392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-27725523580358648592014-02-24T12:19:30.665-07:002014-02-24T12:19:30.665-07:00It used to be that maybe 7 out of 10 books I read,...It used to be that maybe 7 out of 10 books I read, I liked. Now I'm down to 2 or 3! For me, that says it all. Barbara Elsborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825994197656747262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-63394952001229508702014-02-24T11:50:44.651-07:002014-02-24T11:50:44.651-07:00Great points, Donna.
I actually don't agree ...Great points, Donna. <br /><br />I actually don't agree the story is the most important thing. I have read MANY books where I was so enamored of the author's voice I really didn't much care what the "story" was up to. <br /><br />For me it comes down to a tipping point. (I'm speaking not just of leisure time (HA!) reading, but also of the submissions I review for SilkWords. When I start reading a story, I WANT to fall in love with it. If the writing is strong, my little heart pounds. The characters are interesting too? Squeeeee! Wait, this plot point doesn't work at all. Do I reject on the basis of that? For a story with a great voice and interesting characters, no way. <br /><br />On the other hand, if I can see the writing will need a lot of tightening, I'm not sure I like the heroine, and then all of a sudden the plot takes a hard-to-believe twist -- well, that's a story I probably don't have time to work with the author on. (OR to read, if it's something I've bought for myself.)Sharon Lynn Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11886205665048406062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-48534142376927683492014-02-24T07:22:17.300-07:002014-02-24T07:22:17.300-07:00Donna,
I am schooled! Seriously, thanks as a read...Donna,<br /><br />I am schooled! Seriously, thanks as a reader for pointing out some of the basic 'must haves' and 'please don'ts' for sci fi rom authors. <br /><br />We all have our perfect shade of the trope, and there are a few quazillion more than fifty, but good world-building and characterization should always be in play.<br /><br />The problem is it's all in our authorly heads, but it takes a good editor and often beta readers to remind us we either forgot to get that bit out onto the paper or we dumped it all in one page.<br /><br />My sci fi is heavy on character and romance as that's what I enjoy. Brave new worlds, similar to Earth but with new and even humorous possibilities for getting into trouble and then struggling back out of it.<br /><br />Viva la difference, but let us do it well!<br /><br />best,<br />Cathryn CadeCathryn Cadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714037225684245673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808733415551134993.post-57841861389427802392014-02-21T09:52:48.090-07:002014-02-21T09:52:48.090-07:00Donna, I think you pretty much hit all the points ...Donna, I think you pretty much hit all the points that turn me off a book, aside from one I came across recently. The only bit of SciFi was some tech the hero had implanted, and other than that it was all about the characters having sex as quickly and as often as possible, and for no other reason than each character found the other hot. Sorry, that's not enough story for me. While I don't mind reading sex, there really needs to be more to it.Pippa Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146591827060731958noreply@blogger.com