How much drama is too much?

jeseymour · Nov 7, 2009

So... Here I am working on my fourth novel, and I've had a couple of beta readers read a few chapters (guys) and they're already complaining about the angst and drama. Not enough action, too much whining. On the other hand, my writers group (mostly women) is saying that there should be more drama, more getting inside the characters' heads, more feelings. (Not necessarily more whining.) They love what I've done so far. I do feel like this is some of my best work, but at the same time, I'm feeling it is a bit overdone with the drama. I've never really considered what I write thriller material, it's certainly crime, but more suspense, drawn out, and yes, there has always been some drama. Not a lot of romance, but definitely drama. I'm not sure there is enough action going on in the new book. There's tension, for sure, mostly between characters. Somebody gets killed early on, but he's a throwaway character anyway, it's more about how the woman who shoots him reacts to it.

Ugh. Am I just overthinking this? I'm stuck at about 65,000 words. Help? Thoughts? It's not a thriller, it's not police procedural, it's not a who-dunnit, it's just crime. :Shrug:

Clair Dickson · Nov 7, 2009

Personally, I'm with the guys. Skip the drama and get to the good stuff.

But, really, the thing is, you can't please everyone. It's very difficult, if not damn near impossible, to write a book that pleases women (who tend to like relationships and personal-problems) and pleases men (who tend to like action and excitement.) As a general rule, men and women like different things.

So, write the book that makes you happy. Take into account that you are asking different audiences. The Lifetime Channel crowd won't necessarily like the same things as the Spike TV crowd. You might have to pick one over the other.

heyjude · Nov 7, 2009

This is why I don't share much until the second draft. I usually get one or two opinions on the first chapter to make sure I'm off in the right direction, then it's all about pleasing myself till much, much later.

You're too nice, jesey. Quit sharing!

Desert Author · Nov 7, 2009

Just write

I agree with Hey Jude (again). Don't try to please everyone, don't second guess or question your ability, don't try to be too perfect...just write.

Keep other people out of the equation and you're probably much better than you think you are.

RJK · Nov 7, 2009

I too agree with Heyjude, but remember too, once you develop an audience, they will expect more of the same (unless you think you can succeed under a pen name too). Whichever theme you choose, you may end up being stuck with, so it's important that it be the one YOU are most comfortable with.

jodiodi · Nov 7, 2009

As others have said, just write the story as it exists and don't try to write to a specific audience, at least not on the first draft.

I'm a woman and I loathe the 'touchy-feely, tell-me-your-feelings, Lifetime-movie-of-the-week' cr--, uh, stuff.

What's it about? Is it about relationships and feelings? Or is it action, adventure, mystery? You can have a blend of all, but what's the main thrust? Who's your main audience? Let that help your decision.

Rowan · Nov 8, 2009

Hey!

I say go for a happy medium. You can have some drama but keep the action in there too. Too much drama can drag a story down whereas nonstop action will wear you out ---- for me, it's all about pacing. Even cops need some downtime

and they have lives outside of the J-O-B. I think you're very capable of walking the line and finding a balance between the action and drama.

As others have said, you'll never please everyone. Write the story for you and not thinking about publication.

Just my two cents!

BigWords · Nov 8, 2009

Rowan said:
Write the story for you and not thinking about publication.

Or write it for "you" as you were as a teenager. Explosions, gratuitous nudity and more explosions are just as important as politics and touchy-feely emotions...

heyjude · Nov 8, 2009

Ha. As DH would say (whine), "Why can't stuff just blow up?"

Which is also appropriate for our men reading M/T/S thread...

ToddWBush · Nov 8, 2009

I was going to say, aren't we debating this exact thing on another thread? ;-)

Maybe I'm weird, but my favorite books are the Bosch books by Michael Connelly. Not a lot of action (in the gun fire, explosions, car chases meaning of action), and a good deal of drama, i.e. character development with Bosch.

I say happy medium.

How much drama is too much?

jeseymour

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

Desert Author

Writing junkie

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

jodiodi

Reflections of Reality

Rowan

BigWords

Geekzilla

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

ToddWBush