Friday, June 12, 2015

Avoiding predictability in our writing

I am currently reading one of my favourite thriller writer’s novel. Many people told me that it was boring. But as he is my favourite writer I wanted to read the book. To be honest, I am not finding it boring but I am finding it predictable in places. I have realized that when a writer has written so many books, all in the same genre, it’s easy to fall into the predictable zone.

Though I am not yet half way in the book, I am finding that in many places, the writer has used the crutches of serendipity and co-incidences to make his main character get out of tight spots. Many times while reading I have kind of guessed what the writer or rather the main character will do next.

I have noticed this aspect in another thriller writer. More often than not, I have been able to guess the identity of the murderer half way through the book.

When it comes to avoiding predictability, one writer I have to mention, though her books fell in the fantasy genre and not the thriller category, is J.K. Rowling. In each of the seven Potter books she had loads of new stuff to offer, new characters were introduced who brought their unique sub-plots into the story, there were new spells, new story lines criss-crossing Harry’s own storyline. Every book felt new and interesting and readers read them again and again.

Granted, that one can’t read a thriller again as once the suspense is out, the book has shed its intrigue element. But still, the writers can do a lot to avoid following the well-trodden path and plunging into potholes.

That’s one thing I am trying to avoid in my writing. I hope my readers are taken by surprise at every turn and definitely shouldn't be able to guess what I or my main character will do next.

How do you all avoid predictability in your writing? What do you all do to keep the reader interest high? Have you read any book/s where you could guess what would happen next?




19 comments:

  1. I have read those kind of books too. The best are ones that you think you've figured out and then there's a surprise twist you didn't see coming.

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  2. Yet to read JK. Am not a fan of fantasy! Thrillers appealed to me when mixed with Sci-Fi like what Michael Creighton did. Nowadays, I find stand-alone thrillers not that interesting, esp. if not written well or if there is no new info to learn.

    Destination Infinity

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  3. I've read a few thrillers recently where I really didn't see the end coming. It felt wonderful. I almost knew what was going to happen, and then it didn't, instead I was hit over the head with a surprise ending that, on reflection, made perfect sense: I should have seen it coming but didn't. I love books like that. I hope I can do it in my own, but only time will tell.

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  4. I've found this problem pops up a lot when writers continue a series too long. It almost appears that they run out of ideas and just churn out the books to meet their contract obligations. I've stopped reading a few series for exactly this reason....and that's also why I decided not to stick to just one little group of series characters in my own writing. New characters and new settings lend themselves to new plots, twists, and surprises.

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  5. I haven't read many thrillers but yes, there is no fun if the reader can guess what's going to happen.
    Good luck with your writing Rachna.

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  6. I enjoy reading John Grisham even though he has the same character types in almost every book. I LIKE those characters and I always look for them. What keeps me interested even if the bad guy is obvious is how the good guy thinks and analyzes to ultimately save the day.

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  7. The books I have liked most are those that have unpredictable storyline and end:)

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  8. Hi Rachna,

    The way I avoid predictability in my writing is to try to avoid the obvious and stay well away from over-used expressions. Then again, I have a dog that writes on my behalf. That's totally unpredictable.

    Gary :)

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  9. I've noticed that in a lot of books by authors I like. And not just thrillers. I used to be a huge fan of Nora Roberts but now all of her books are like a retelling of other books, all of her characters basically her old characters with different names. It's frustrating because you like the sound of a book only to be disappointed with how predictable it is.

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  10. I've noticed that in a lot of books by authors I like. And not just thrillers. I used to be a huge fan of Nora Roberts but now all of her books are like a retelling of other books, all of her characters basically her old characters with different names. It's frustrating because you like the sound of a book only to be disappointed with how predictable it is.

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  11. Great subject--I'm reading the third of a four-part book series right now and I'm finding it to be just as you say, too predictable. I'm wishing for surprises that don't come. Debating whether or not to read the last one! So I hope I can take the hint in my work and not repeat the mistakes...

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  12. It can be a challenge to keep things fresh and entertaining. I think one of the marks of a good writer can be avoiding being predictable. It takes a lot of practice and creativity.

    Have a great week!

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  13. It can be hard to avoid the predictability trap, especially if you've done a lot of writing.

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  14. I've come across books like this. They tend to be mystery/suspense/thriller novels. It's important to throw new twists so the reader doesn't figure things out until the very end.

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  15. I love thrillers (and other genre books) that throw me for a loop. The worst thing for me is to know exactly what's coming next!

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  16. I decided to allow a few of my characters to get injured or die in my first novel - which isn't usually the case for fantasy fiction with big heroes and villains (unless it's The Game of Thrones). I also tried to add and take away secondary characters in each book in the trilogy so that way new plot arcs came and went alongside the larger plot arc of the MC.

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  17. We talk about that, the hubby and I, with certain TV shows. We can tell you exactly who-done-it on a few shows without fail, just because of their usual formula. It's definitely best to mix it up.

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  18. I think predictabiliy isn't always bad. Sometimes it's just a result of being authors ourselves. We start to see the machinery behind the text and it enables us to see where a story is going.

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  19. hello ma'am. Amrutha here. I was in your creative writing class at Mounts. Sorry that i had to contact you through this because i don't have your contact details. I have opened up a blog mself. The link is www.ayoungmindsramble.blogspot.in . please read and give me some feedback on how I could improve it

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