#WDYTWed: out of the book
In the more than ten years that I’ve been writing this blog (the first post was August 28, 2009), one of my favorite things has been interacting with the readers.
That used to happen a lot more. When I started out, I averaged 1,000 new words a day, but in more recent times, I just haven’t been able to do that. I’ve been trying to write more narratives again, but without that, the blog doesn’t tend to provoke many comments…and I miss that. I think my long time readers do, too.
One of those long time readers and amongst my most frequent commenters is Lady Galaxy, who recently suggested that I write something once a week with the intent of increasing interaction.
It’s a good idea. 🙂
I think the best way to do that is to do one or more polls (which I’ve done throughout the past decade).
I’ve decided to name this series #WDYTWed. WDYT is an internet abbreviation for “What Do You Think?”, and I’m going to do them on Wednesdays. Hopefully, just about every Wednesday…
This came up recently. It was when I was watching a movie, but it also happens with books.
How do you feel about fictional characters referencing real world pop culture? Star Wars, The Stepford Wives, The Beatles…I’ve seen all of them show up in a work of fiction.
It’s interesting: if it’s a period piece, and they get it right, I love that. For example, and I’m not sure where I saw it, a 1940s gumshoe who, I think, got hit over the head, said that it was like the Nicholas Brothers doing a tap routine on their skull (something like that). That’s a perfect allusion.
However, when it happens in contemporary fiction, it takes me out of the book. I guess I think of the characters in a book as in a different, parallel world…not someone I could bump into on the street (or the internet).
If they get it wrong, it’s really bad. I’m pretty sensitive to anachronisms: something that is out of chronological place. It can be as subtle as using a modern frisbee in a 1960s set story.
Let’s start with that question:
This other one has to do with point of view. My Significant Other doesn’t like reading books that are written in first person…as if the narrator is telling you what’s happening to them, talking to you directly. “I walked into the room, and saw…” My SO says it feels like someone is looking over their shoulder.
Third-person is written as though it’s someone observing the story. “They walked into the room, and saw…”
I seem some vehement opinions about this. I can go either way…they can both work. Let’s see what you think:
Looking forward to reading your responses!
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This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.
I Love My Kindle 