QOTD Friday May 13
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Taryn
Shahira
Sarah
Maggie
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QOTD Friday May 13
Oooh, it's Friday the 13th. ^^
QUESTION: Do you like reading mystery? How about writing it? How much mystery do your novels usually include? Or your bookshelfs?
QUESTION: Do you like reading mystery? How about writing it? How much mystery do your novels usually include? Or your bookshelfs?
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
My answer is I LOVE mystery. I don't read a lot of mystery books but that's just because I've never bothered to look. I adored the Hardy boys books and Nancy Drew as a kid, though I preferred the former well over the latter!
I always have mystery in my novels. I just love leading readers false directions and making characters suspicious and my MC figure stuff out. It just really makes most of a novel for me, the mystery!
I always have mystery in my novels. I just love leading readers false directions and making characters suspicious and my MC figure stuff out. It just really makes most of a novel for me, the mystery!
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
It's Friday the 13 and twitter shut down. Be afraid. Be very afraid. LOL
I LOVE mystery! I love when books include it, which I've found most put a hint or two in their books. I just love trying to figure out who did it. I put a little bit of mystery in my books (at least my paranormal ones) For the same reason as Lizzy. I think it's fun
I loved Nancy Drew! I've never read the Hardy Boys though because once I started reading Nancy Drew I was a little older so I only read one or two of them, but my mom and dad read them as kids and they said they were really good. The mystery books I mainly grew up with were The Boxcar Children. I loved those books sooo much as a kid!
I LOVE mystery! I love when books include it, which I've found most put a hint or two in their books. I just love trying to figure out who did it. I put a little bit of mystery in my books (at least my paranormal ones) For the same reason as Lizzy. I think it's fun
I loved Nancy Drew! I've never read the Hardy Boys though because once I started reading Nancy Drew I was a little older so I only read one or two of them, but my mom and dad read them as kids and they said they were really good. The mystery books I mainly grew up with were The Boxcar Children. I loved those books sooo much as a kid!
Sarah- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
I tried reading Nancy Drew as a kid but only got through the first few chapters. I don't think I gave it a fair chance though lol. Maybe if I actually tried reading mystery I'd like it.
As for my writing, I've never included any mystery. Not yet at least. ;]
As for my writing, I've never included any mystery. Not yet at least. ;]
Shahira- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
There's a difference between the genre mystery and a plot mystery. A plot mystery is defined here:
"To toss out some literary theory here, I believe there are basically three kinds of plots:
A conflict: Two people or forces in opposition to each other
This can be an internal conflict as well as an external conflict
A mystery: Where some piece of information needs to be found out
the name of the murderer, the location of an object on a quest
And a lack: Where something is missing from the protagonist's life at the beginning, and it is earned or fulfilled by the end."
I strongly believe the best books have all three kinds of plots, so I think every book should have an element of mystery.
But yeah, I absolutely adore mysteries--novel #8 was one and it was SO MUCH FUN. I think they're gonna be very popular in YA these next few years.
"To toss out some literary theory here, I believe there are basically three kinds of plots:
A conflict: Two people or forces in opposition to each other
This can be an internal conflict as well as an external conflict
A mystery: Where some piece of information needs to be found out
the name of the murderer, the location of an object on a quest
And a lack: Where something is missing from the protagonist's life at the beginning, and it is earned or fulfilled by the end."
I strongly believe the best books have all three kinds of plots, so I think every book should have an element of mystery.
But yeah, I absolutely adore mysteries--novel #8 was one and it was SO MUCH FUN. I think they're gonna be very popular in YA these next few years.
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
@Tayrn I agree with you completely! I think the best books have all of that too, and the mystery is kinda what keeps the readers reading.
Your book #8? Which one is that?
Your book #8? Which one is that?
Sarah- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
I like mysteries––sometimes. I loved Nancy Drew, and I've read a few Agatha Christie, but NOT knowing... It kills me. It really does.
Writing a plot mystery is fun, though. It's totally okay, as long as I know what is going on.
Writing a plot mystery is fun, though. It's totally okay, as long as I know what is going on.
Constance- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
I tried reading Hardy Boys as a kid and couldn't stand it. XD I was picky about good writing even then.
I do like mystery, though. I like it better when it's an aspect of another book, rather than when it's the full focus...I actually get really frustrated at mystery books, sometimes, if they're too well-written. Because if it's in the mystery genre, the main focus of the whole book is "who did it?" and you can't know until the very end...I hate not knowing things. XD In other books, even though they always involve an element of mystery, the focus is not quite so strong, and I can enjoy it. Also, I can usually figure out the ending about halfway through the book, because I'm so familiar with story structures and foreshadowing and everything now. That doesn't work with mystery, though.
So I like mystery, but I don't read many mystery books because I get too frustrated. XD
I do like mystery, though. I like it better when it's an aspect of another book, rather than when it's the full focus...I actually get really frustrated at mystery books, sometimes, if they're too well-written. Because if it's in the mystery genre, the main focus of the whole book is "who did it?" and you can't know until the very end...I hate not knowing things. XD In other books, even though they always involve an element of mystery, the focus is not quite so strong, and I can enjoy it. Also, I can usually figure out the ending about halfway through the book, because I'm so familiar with story structures and foreshadowing and everything now. That doesn't work with mystery, though.
So I like mystery, but I don't read many mystery books because I get too frustrated. XD
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
@Sarah I LOVED Boxcar Children too! Haha. But Hardy boys were my favorite because they were so much more exciting than Nancy Drew's-- because she's a girl, she never got beat up like they did. ^^
I agree, Taryn. There's definitely a difference! But I love both. And I also love how you casually say book #8. xP
@Andre Well, for someone who read LOTR at 7, I'm not surprised. I knew the writing was bad, I just liked the tension. I swear every chapter ended with an exclamation point!
@Constance Interesting!! I think we differ in this area. xD
I agree, Taryn. There's definitely a difference! But I love both. And I also love how you casually say book #8. xP
@Andre Well, for someone who read LOTR at 7, I'm not surprised. I knew the writing was bad, I just liked the tension. I swear every chapter ended with an exclamation point!
@Constance Interesting!! I think we differ in this area. xD
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
@Lizzy I wish I had read them now! I'm guessing you didn't read the Nacy Drew where she got tied up under a building that was going to explode? LOL but yeah, she never seemed to get into too much danger
Sarah- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
I definitely love a mystery aspect in books--I agree with Taryn about a good book having all three--but I don't really enjoy it when it's the focus, so much. I like to be kept guessing, but not if the whole plot is primarily about the guessing. I do like mystery TV shows, though. I think it's the visual aspect, where you can notice something or not notice something, and you have to be a bit more discerning to pick it up.
In a book, the author must describe everything that's important, thereby giving you the clues you need more readily. Unless it's a TV show like Psych, where they zoom in on every clue with a little 'this is important' sound. I watch that one for the humor more than the mystery.
Anyway, on TV, you can look at the room and notice or not notice the steaming cup of tea on the coffee table. In a book, it has to be mentioned, and that automatically gives it more importance. And on TV, the mystery is generally solved in an hour, and I get to watch Patrick Jane do it. Or Mr. Monk.
In a book, the author must describe everything that's important, thereby giving you the clues you need more readily. Unless it's a TV show like Psych, where they zoom in on every clue with a little 'this is important' sound. I watch that one for the humor more than the mystery.
Anyway, on TV, you can look at the room and notice or not notice the steaming cup of tea on the coffee table. In a book, it has to be mentioned, and that automatically gives it more importance. And on TV, the mystery is generally solved in an hour, and I get to watch Patrick Jane do it. Or Mr. Monk.
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
@Amanda *points excitedly* You watch Psych?! AND Monk?! *jumps* This is exciting, knowing I'm not the only one that does.
But yeah, Psych's definitely better when you're watching for the humor.
@Lizzy Can't be the same on everything.
But yeah, Psych's definitely better when you're watching for the humor.
@Lizzy Can't be the same on everything.
Constance- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
@Amanda Oh, good point...I do enjoy shows. Or...Castle, anyway. In Castle, the awesomeness of Nathan Fillion is enough to keep me from going insane with frustration about not knowing the answer. XD
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
Ooooh, Castle... OMG, Castle! We got season 2 disc 4 from Netflix today. *rejoices*
Constance- Level 5
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Re: QOTD Friday May 13
I love mystery and fantasy and a mix of both in a same story, but I read everything that I can get my hands on
Re: QOTD Friday May 13
Oh, Castle...I liked Nathan Fillion in Dr. Horrible because he was supposed to be cheesy and over the top. He played it perfectly, and he sings. But he hasn't really changed his acting style enough for a more realistic role, and the cheesiness...I just can't watch it. The writing is generally melodramatic and corny, the acting's not good enough to make up for the writing, and the cinematography is just okay.
Also--Castle doesn't really contribute anything to the team. If Beckett was truly a good detective, Castle would be a third wheel. He SHOULD be a third wheel. But they write in ways for him to contribute, even though one of the real detectives should have picked up on what he's noticing long ago.
Sorry, guys, I know I'm overly critical. It's just that Simon Baker is so much more awesomer--a better actor, and a consultant who actually has some skills that help, like Monk, or Shawn. So I watch The Mentalist, Monk, and Psych instead, and go edit when my mom starts watching Castle. /Castle rant over
Also--Castle doesn't really contribute anything to the team. If Beckett was truly a good detective, Castle would be a third wheel. He SHOULD be a third wheel. But they write in ways for him to contribute, even though one of the real detectives should have picked up on what he's noticing long ago.
Sorry, guys, I know I'm overly critical. It's just that Simon Baker is so much more awesomer--a better actor, and a consultant who actually has some skills that help, like Monk, or Shawn. So I watch The Mentalist, Monk, and Psych instead, and go edit when my mom starts watching Castle. /Castle rant over
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