Amount of action, would like opinions.

Reilly616 · Jun 26, 2008

I'm writing a novel featuring werewolves.

I'm 35,000 words in and these are the only werewolf parts thus far:

A 2 wolf fight with a guy being bitten, in the first few pages
A transformation scene (lengthy), one death
A fight without a transformation, 4 deaths

Plus about 3 or 4 werewolfy bits, eg: angry fangs etc.

I am happy with it so far. To me it is exciting, witty and engaging.

My question is, if you bought a "werewolf novel" would you feel cheated if this was the amount of werewolf action in the first 100 or so pages?
From here on, the werewolf action will increase exponentially.

Mumut · Jun 26, 2008

It would depend upon the interest of the story. If it is building to something great, and is exciting enough in itself, that would surfice. I mean, just because there is only one murder doesn't mean the who-done-it is not worth reading.

BfloGal · Jun 26, 2008

I don't know -- It seems okay to me. Your death count is stacking up 'nicely.' You've already killed five people. A lot depends on what else is happening. You can create a lot of suspense and apprehension in the lull times.

But you might need to consult a werewolf expert. I'm new here. Do we have any of those?

Gynn · Jun 26, 2008

I look for action to suplement a good story. As long as the story is strong --as well as the characters-- you can have only a few action scenes and still win the day.

Reilly616 · Jun 26, 2008

Thanks for the opinions guys.

Like I say, I'm happy with it. I have two intricate romances(?Love stories?) shaping up nicely already. Aswell as characters that hate each other, feel insecure, go AWOL (which I didn't know he would do! But I'm glad he did).

I think this amount fits, just wondering if others agree.

Matera the Mad · Jun 26, 2008

I would read a well-plotted story about interesting characters who happen to be werewolves, but toss an action-packed whirlwind that was almost nothing but fight scenes stuck in for their own sake. Be happy

Clarec · Jun 26, 2008

I like a lot of action when I read but it's got to make sense within the story. If we're just lumbering from fight to fight, the whole story loses it's edge, IMO. Only you can say whether you think the amount of action suits the story and if you say you are happy, then you've probably got your answer.

clare

Starwise · Jun 26, 2008

Any kind of creature action, to me, is like chocolate. It's sweet. But too much of it can make you sick.

From your description of the work so far, it looks like the perfect dosage, at least in my opinion. It all depends on the writing, I guess. Be careful on the increase of it as you write. Make the pace work for you. Don't be tempted to satisfy the pace by increasing it just because the novel is moving along.

Reilly616 · Jun 26, 2008

Starwise said:
Any kind of creature action, to me, is like chocolate. It's sweet. But too much of it can make you sick.

From your description of the work so far, it looks like the perfect dosage, at least in my opinion. It all depends on the writing, I guess. Be careful on the increase of it as you write. Make the pace work for you. Don't be tempted to satisfy the pace by increasing it just because the novel is moving along.

Thanks, I wont. I think the reason I'm taking it slowly is that it's set in the real world, no magic. I'm taking my time to convince the reader that this could happen.

Kalyke · Jun 26, 2008

Well what does the character want? What is the soul of the story? To become exponentially more violent? To me, killing even one person is too violent. I mean, literally.

Zoombie · Jun 27, 2008

Heck, once I wrote a werewolf book with aboslutely no werewolves.

You just think the MC is one. Then it turns out he isn't. Or is he? It ends on an ambiguous note.

I should really get that out of the trunk and re-write it then send it out...

So, either way, I just realized my post had nothing to do with anything!

I say...that sounds about right to me...

Too much action, it gets dull. Too little action, it gets dull. Read other werewolf books ((there are too few...friggen vampires are stinking up the market)) and see what they're like.

Bayley · Jun 27, 2008

I agree with Zoombie, do some research. Grab a couple of good werewolf books, read them and compare the amount of action to your book.

Also, action isn't just about violence, you can have a lot of action and a great book with one murder or little action and a boring book with twenty-three murders.

Reilly616 · Jun 27, 2008

Use Her Name said:
Well what does the character want? What is the soul of the story? To become exponentially more violent? To me, killing even one person is too violent. I mean, literally.

No, not the MC. There will be more confrontation between stronger werewolves.

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Reilly616 said:
I'm writing a novel featuring werewolves.

I'm 35,000 words in and these are the only werewolf parts thus far:

A 2 wolf fight with a guy being bitten, in the first few pages
A transformation scene (lengthy), one death
A fight without a transformation, 4 deaths

Plus about 3 or 4 werewolfy bits, eg: angry fangs etc.

I am happy with it so far. To me it is exciting, witty and engaging.

My question is, if you bought a "werewolf novel" would you feel cheated if this was the amount of werewolf action in the first 100 or so pages?
From here on, the werewolf action will increase exponentially.

All depends on your story. I would rather read a strong story with very little werewolf elements at first to build excitement. Then you drop the hammer so to speak.

My first completed novel is a werewolf tale. There are no deaths or major carnage in the first chapter, but when I do bring in the werewolf aspect it fits in perfectly.

The real question is your book pure horror or is it character driven?

Reilly616 · Jun 27, 2008

Wolvel said:
All depends on your story. I would rather read a strong story with very little werewolf elements at first to build excitement. Then you drop the hammer so to speak.

My first completed novel is a werewolf tale. There are no deaths or major carnage in the first chapter, but when I do bring in the werewolf aspect it fits in perfectly.

The real question is your book pure horror or is it character driven?

The answer is simple: Character driven. The horror is there to affect them.

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Reilly616 said:
The answer is simple: Character driven. The horror is there to affect them.

Then don't try to force too much at first, let the story flow and dictate how and when the horror element falls into place.

My own is character driven told mostly from the werewolf point of view. My part I tried the most to do was make the characters as real as possible to make the story stronger. Depth to your main characters even in a horror type of story makes it more believable to me.

Reilly616 · Jun 27, 2008

Wolvel said:
Then don't try to force too much at first, let the story flow and dictate how and when the horror element falls into place.

My own is character driven told mostly from the werewolf point of view. My part I tried the most to do was make the characters as real as possible to make the story stronger. Depth to your main characters even in a horror type of story makes it more believable to me.

I completely agree. I am trying to make it as believable as possible.

Quossum · Jun 27, 2008

Think of the movie Alien. Except for the nasty face-hugger, then the infamous breakfast scene, we didn't get to see the actual alien until the very end, but it was great.

What's implied can be even more creepy and disturbing than what is seen.

--Q

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Quossum said:
Think of the movie Alien. Except for the nasty face-hugger, then the infamous breakfast scene, we didn't get to see the actual alien until the very end, but it was great.

What's implied can be even more creepy and disturbing than what is seen.

--Q

+1

Scared the hell out of me when I first saw it in the 70's. The story was more intense due to the lack of knowing what they were about to face.

Esopha · Jun 27, 2008

I don't think you need to have a set amount of "werewolf action" in your novel to make it a novel about werewolves. In fact, I would caution against it, because too much werewolf stabbity-stab might make the story itself weaker.

If it's a character driven story, focus on the characters first, the horror second.

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Esopha said:
I don't think you need to have a set amount of "werewolf action" in your novel to make it a novel about werewolves. In fact, I would caution against it, because too much werewolf stabbity-stab might make the story itself weaker.

If it's a character driven story, focus on the characters first, the horror second.

+1

Mine has its moments when they are needed only. Too much can kill a perfectly good story. That is why vampires to me are over done because a lot of the stories involving them are done in overkill.

Reilly616 · Jun 27, 2008

Wolvel said:
+1

Mine has its moments when they are needed only. Too much can kill a perfectly good story. That is why vampires to me are over done because a lot of the stories involving them are done in overkill.

Don't wory, that's the next thing I'm going to take care of

The sequel will be set half now half in the past. The past will be as historically accurate as I can manage.

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Reilly616 said:
Don't wory, that's the next thing I'm going to take care of The sequel will be set half now half in the past. The past will be as historically accurate as I can manage.

Ironically my sequel picks up twenty years later.

Reilly616 · Jun 27, 2008

Wolvel said:
Ironically my sequel picks up twenty years later.

Two strangers meet at a fork in the road

and go their seperate ways to live their lives

Wolvel · Jun 27, 2008

Reilly616 said:
Two strangers meet at a fork in the road and go their seperate ways to live their lives

With the common ground of werewolf blood between them.

Amount of action, would like opinions.

Reilly616

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

BfloGal

Lost in a plot hole

Gynn

Wandering worlds

Reilly616

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Clarec

Starwise

Debut Urban Fantasy Author

Reilly616

Kalyke

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

Bayley

Happiness is underrated

Reilly616

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

Reilly616

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

Reilly616

Quossum

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

Esopha

bam pow zap.

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

Reilly616

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!

Reilly616

Wolvel

Write the Damn Book!