Good Reads, Bad Reads

I have read some pretty bad books this year. Normally if I'm not into by page 75 I ditch it. But lately I've decided that even reading poorly written novels is important. Why?

Because I can see what's wrong with it. You know how you read a book and you know it's not good but you don't know why . . . . I've started to figure out why. This is all in hopes of improving my own writing.

What I've discovered is that most books that I want to put down are lacking the inclusion factor. I want to be drawn into the world. I want to love the characters. I want to feel what they feel and see what they see. This isn't just one flaw in all the novels but different missing elements.

So my hope to avoid this fate:

1) Backstory: Whether I use it or not, create deep back story for all important characters. This will round them out.

2) Infuse Emotion through language: If a scene should be happy or sad, I should feel it. I should laugh or cry.

3)  Ground story: The story needs to be based on some sort of fact or truth. Even in fiction the audience should be able to relate on some level.

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars is a series based on Alice in Wonderland. It is supposed to be the true story of Wonderland. Is is such a great concept. Really creative with elements that are entertaining and well-thought out. All the favorite characters appear: Alice, The Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, although they may not be in the capacity you expect.

I finished the first novel and started the second, but I couldn't quite overcome the fatal flaw of being told the story instead of shown. I never felt like I entered the world of Alyss Hart and the Wonderlanders. I always felt like I was kept an arms distant length from characters that I truly would have liked to get to know. Unfortunately it didn't happen, so I couldn't bring myself to finish the book. Not when there are others out there calling my name.