Challenges

I like challenges in writing (although, being antiquated, I prefer the expression problem to solve). If I didn’t, I wouldn’t like mysteries, which are all about the main character being presented with a puzzle which they are expected to solve brilliantly. The other challenge for an author, especially with a series, is not to become terminally boring.

How many of us have given up on a series because the books have become predictable? I could (but won’t) name a few. The ones I’ve stuck with are inevitably those where the author always has a surprise for me, whether in style, resolution, character twist, or some amazing fact I didn’t know.

With mysteries, I don’t even care if I can figure out “whodunit” as long as something keeps me going in the book. I almost always figured out who the villain was in Ellis Peters’ books, but I was eager to see how Cadfael figured it out and what he would do with the knowledge. He was the element of surprise for me. In Alan Furst’s book, Night Soldiers, I was absolute positive that he had gotten it wrong when he mentioned the football teams called the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Giants who played at the Polo Grounds in 1941. In fact, I was unbearably smug about his error until I checked and realized he was not only right but that he must have been chuckling as he wrote it, just knowing how many of us would fall into his trap. He won me over instantly, and now I wait for moment in the book when he’ll “get me” again.

Each of us has a way of revving up the interest, and we gather readers who like the way we do it. Not that I am any guru of challenge solving, but I do believe in the writer going with their strengths. If you are best at character portrayal, make sure you have fascinating minor characters. If you enjoy researching for odd facts, make sure you put something surprising in each book. Change of emphasis from primary to secondary characters works to refresh a series. Ian Rankin did this beautifully as the Rebus series wound down. Siobhan, his sergeant, grew in plot importance. As a result, we did not have to concentrate as much on Rebus’ foibles which could easily have gotten very annoying toward the end.

Of course, none of this means we should not take on the challenge of improving in areas where we are weakest as writers. I vow annually to become more devious in hiding my murderers. In one book, however, where I had the greatest number of suspects (the magical five according to P.D. James), one reviewer damned me as “predictable”. So it looks like I’ve still got challenges in my writing. But if I didn’t, I might get bored—and little bores readers as much as an author who doesn’t stay fresh.

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

It is tricky to stay fresh and yet not veer off a course readers have come to expect. We have so many example of well-respected authors who are badly reviewed when they try something really new.

(Can you say "Misery"?)

[Susan C Shea]

So the Dame says five suspects is what we should strive for? I'll store the advice for the next book. I have enough challenges right now keeping all the balls in the air half way through the manuscript, and I know heavy lifting is ahead. I enjoy hearing how you tackle the challenges, Priscilla - with typical thoughtfulness and integrity, traits your readers admire.

[Mysti]

I didn't guess who did it in Valley of Dry Bones. I'd never consider you or your characters as predictable!!!!