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wNov 9, 2008 | |
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Audience Participation Which books do you read for comfort? These are not necessarily your favorite books (although they are probably among them), but ones you pick up when you don't know what else to do. When you feel like reading, but don't feel like reading something new. When you feel lonely and want to feel something familiar, without having to bring the awkwardness of another person into the equation. They're the books you've had for years which you will never disavow. Mine are: The Bible (especially Job, Ecclesiastes, James) Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Redwall by Brian Jacques Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Sailor Moon series by Naoko Takeuchi "Evangeline" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Which things do you love in storytelling? I was reading the comments to this post by Girls who dress as boys Nice guys brought to their breaking points Men with glasses What happens after "the end" Political intrigue: nothing is as it seems People building families that aren't blood-related or romantic Wordplay Hidden weapons, preferably blades, preferably hidden in clothing post-apocalyptic societies Competent characters Subcultures Loyalty, people who have each other's backs Someone doing the wrong thing for the greater good, and understanding the sacrifice they're making Androngny Craftsmanship - people who make sensible, needed things, and take pride in their work. Violin makers, farmers, bakers, carpenters, whatever. Forests Layered storytelling Multiple plots Futile choices: Person will never love you back, you will never win the fight, but you lay it all down anyway Men being domestic, especially cooking (I HEART KEITH MARS FOREVER) Consistency in character. An asshole is always an asshole, even if he falls in love (Logan Echolls) Growth in a character. Give me a nerdy librarian and make him into a shotgun-toting badass mother-fucker, make it a believable transition, and I'll love you forever (WESLEY WYNDAM-PRYCE) Geeks with social skills Self-aware characters Dogs, wolves Gunfights (I get bored with descriptions of swordplay. I just want a fucker to get stabbed. But with guns, I appreciate long-distance capabilities, etc.) Stories that DON'T use a Church as a symbol for all that is corrupt an evil in the world. Sorry, guys. That's just lazy storytelling. Tell me a story about MEMBERS who are corrupt, but also show me members who are pure in their true faith, and don't take crap from people who tell them to give up and be disillusioned like everyone else.) Flashbacks Collared shirts Confidence Moral ambiguity Ensemble stories (the plot affects everyone, not just the protagonist) Not glorifying violence, but making it clear how brutal and damaging it is Reluctant heroes Blurred lines of sanity/insanity Unreliable narrators - they hide shit, you figure it out, you feel betrayed but also respectful of the writer's ability to manipulate you Characters actually dealing with the aftermath of things often used as plot devices that really suck (death, esp. suicide; mental illness; broken relationships, etc.) Breaking societal norms, but not so much so that it becomes annoying or improbable Stories about girls THAT ARE NOT OVERTAKEN BY STORIES ABOUT BOYS Girls who are allowed by the writer/etc. to get angry Labels: books scribbled mystickeeper at 6:40 PM 
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