Genre tickled
From Look What I Found In My Brain (webpage of Lucy A. Snyder (las) and Gary A. Braunbeck).
I began asking him specific questions about the precise nature of this character's physical and spiritual metamorphosis: what exact physical change was taking place, how it affected the character's ultimate goal, and what that ultimate goal was supposed to be.
"What exactly is the nature of this change?" I asked.
"It's a supernatural transformation," was his reply.
"But a supernatural transformation into what, exactly?"
"I don't know...it's just a supernatural transformation," he again said.
"That's not good enough," I replied. "In order for you to get from the mid-point of the story to a more logical, chilling, and less cartoonish ending, you have to know exactly the nature of this transformation, how it affects the character's psychological and spiritual make-up, and what the character's ultimate goal is once this transformation has been completed."
Now, I thought this was a fairly clear, concise, and thoughtful piece of criticism. My writer friend, after throwing up his hands and sighing loudly in frustration, looked me right in the eyes and said: "Dude, it's just horror! It's not like science fiction where these kinds of specific details matter!"
I don't expect that this requires explanation as to why I smile, but if it does, feel free to ask.
I began asking him specific questions about the precise nature of this character's physical and spiritual metamorphosis: what exact physical change was taking place, how it affected the character's ultimate goal, and what that ultimate goal was supposed to be.
"What exactly is the nature of this change?" I asked.
"It's a supernatural transformation," was his reply.
"But a supernatural transformation into what, exactly?"
"I don't know...it's just a supernatural transformation," he again said.
"That's not good enough," I replied. "In order for you to get from the mid-point of the story to a more logical, chilling, and less cartoonish ending, you have to know exactly the nature of this transformation, how it affects the character's psychological and spiritual make-up, and what the character's ultimate goal is once this transformation has been completed."
Now, I thought this was a fairly clear, concise, and thoughtful piece of criticism. My writer friend, after throwing up his hands and sighing loudly in frustration, looked me right in the eyes and said: "Dude, it's just horror! It's not like science fiction where these kinds of specific details matter!"
I don't expect that this requires explanation as to why I smile, but if it does, feel free to ask.