MC 1 and 2
It's late (for me), and I've had a full conference day. I was at a session at 830 am, then came back to the room to write a paper, finished the paper and then went to an awards session while multi-tasking by reading some books I had brought about teacher professional development, and then had beers with my department chair and friends, then dinner and margaritas with same chair and same friends, and then back to the dorm room to play cards (same friends, minus the chair). I've been intending to blog about my MC 1 and 2 all day, but haven't had the chance to even think about it.
So, what I'm about to write is just coming off the top of my head.
MC 1 - what I like in novels
- complex characters, especially when you are not entirely sure of their motivation
- learning more about characters as you go along
- plot twists
- happy endings - in a satisfying way
- mysteries where you have enough information to figure it out
- feisty women
- queer people who aren't completely miserable
- people who have intelligent conversations about things but don't bog down the plot
- characters who are imperfect but you love them anyway, or at least like them
- either interesting and fun wordplay, or writing that fades into the background and isn't noticed too much
- triumph over adversity
- funny - but not mean
- observant details about the way people live
- one of my favorite novel heroines ever: Frances from Fall On Your Knees
MC 2 - what I don't like
- feeling like I'm being led on when there is some really heavy-handed foreshadowing at the beginning, and that is the only thing that keeps you reading, because you know that something exciting is eventually going to happen (Kathy Reichs and SM do this a lot)
- using the supernatural or magic to avoid having to make any sense. like, just making up your own nonsensical customs or rules for magic (or, for example, vampires)
- casual injustice - like people occasionally making racist comments but it's not really a part of the plot
- protagonists who are middle-aged men with nothing going for them at all, who are really self-important, and we have no reason to care about their pathetic lives
- too wacky
- one of my most hated heroines: Bella Swan
- feeling like nothing is happening for the first 100 pages
- main characters who are young girls with no self esteem
And with that, I should go to bed!
So, what I'm about to write is just coming off the top of my head.
MC 1 - what I like in novels
- complex characters, especially when you are not entirely sure of their motivation
- learning more about characters as you go along
- plot twists
- happy endings - in a satisfying way
- mysteries where you have enough information to figure it out
- feisty women
- queer people who aren't completely miserable
- people who have intelligent conversations about things but don't bog down the plot
- characters who are imperfect but you love them anyway, or at least like them
- either interesting and fun wordplay, or writing that fades into the background and isn't noticed too much
- triumph over adversity
- funny - but not mean
- observant details about the way people live
- one of my favorite novel heroines ever: Frances from Fall On Your Knees
MC 2 - what I don't like
- feeling like I'm being led on when there is some really heavy-handed foreshadowing at the beginning, and that is the only thing that keeps you reading, because you know that something exciting is eventually going to happen (Kathy Reichs and SM do this a lot)
- using the supernatural or magic to avoid having to make any sense. like, just making up your own nonsensical customs or rules for magic (or, for example, vampires)
- casual injustice - like people occasionally making racist comments but it's not really a part of the plot
- protagonists who are middle-aged men with nothing going for them at all, who are really self-important, and we have no reason to care about their pathetic lives
- too wacky
- one of my most hated heroines: Bella Swan
- feeling like nothing is happening for the first 100 pages
- main characters who are young girls with no self esteem
And with that, I should go to bed!
After reading your MC I, I trust that your book will be interesting! When I think about it, I like a lot of those things in novels too.
ReplyDeleteI also like that SM has really shaped our MC IIs.