Too Much Information or Not Enough?

QUESTION:  Is it okay to leave the reader a little confused so that later on, when I reveal the secret to them, it’s surprising?  My main character withholds secrets from others and from the reader.   

It depends on what you mean by confuse.  If you are leaving out information so that what is happening makes very little sense or the main character is behaving in a bizarre manner with no real clue why she is, that’s a very bad thing.  If you give the reader more than a few “what the heck is happening, and why is she behaving like this” moments, then the reader stops reading.  

If you mean not giving the reader all the information, that can work, but it is a tricky dance between giving the reader enough information and lying to the reader by withholding too much.  

With a major viewpoint character it works to leave out information if that character isn’t thinking about something. Readers don’t feel cheated if there’s really no reason for that character to be thinking about this subject, but, if this subject is up front and center in her thoughts, then the reader would feel cheated if important information is left out.

As a very broad example, imagine the heroine thinking during her first meeting with a guy who is attracted to her, but later, it is revealed she’s lesbian.  That’s leading the reader astray in a dishonest way.  If, however, she was married to a jerk who beat her, this information doesn’t have to be revealed until later unless there is a reason for her to fear the guy who is attracted to her.  

If it feels dishonest not to tell the reader something, then the surprise isn’t worth it because you may have lost the reader before the surprise is revealed, or the reader feels betrayed and lied to.  

If you are confused about what to do, do it the way you feel works then trust your beta readers or critique partners to tell you if this works or not.

Some articles that might help you on the subject are:  

THE HERO’S GOAL, ITS COST, AND MOTIVATION:

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2010/07/heros-goal-its-cost-and-motivation.html

THE STORY PLOT TWIST:

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-story-plot-twist.html

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-john-and-writers-obligation.html

HOW TO FORESHADOW: 

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-to-foreshadow-craft.html

INTERLOCKING QUESTIONS:

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2012/12/using-interlocking-questions.html

HOW TO CREATE SUSPENSE:

http://mbyerly.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-do-i-create-suspense.html

Links of Interest

INNER CONFLICT:

http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/2013/09/inside-inner-conflict.html

FOR FREELANCE EDITORS: DIRECTORY NOW OPEN FOR YOUR FREE LISTING:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gsrmBKmL9GHsL-PzPdwvkvvcNgay6TsuAUiuVzuLfDk/viewform

SETTING OPTIONS YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/10/where-in-world.html

REVISION SUGGESTIONS:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/10/novel-revision-twenty-page-sessions.html

PEN NAMES:

http://kriswrites.com/2013/10/02/the-business-rusch-pen-names/

POV TIPS:

http://jamigold.com/2013/10/4-tips-to-solve-99-of-your-writing-problems

EVERYTHING NEEDS A REASON TO BE IN YOUR STORY:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/10/everything-needs-purpose-in-your-story.html

HOW TO PROMOTE IF YOU HAVE NO TIME TO:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-if-you-have-no-time-to-promote.html

WHY YOU SHOULD UPDATE YOUR WORDPRESS SOFTWARE:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2052596/failure-to-patch-leaves-many-wordpress-sites-vulnerable.html

SCENE ARCS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/scene-arcs/

BRAINSTORMING PLOT AND SCENES:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2013/10/07/ways-novelists-can-brainstorm-plot-and-scenes

PLOTTING WITH THE THREE-ACT STRUCTURE:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/10/how-to-plot-with-three-act-structure.html

SETTING UP A BLOG TOUR:

http://www.magicalwords.net/david-b-coe/on-publishing-and-publicity-setting-up-a-blog-tour

STATING CAUSE BEFORE EFFECT (A SURPRISINGLY COMMON MISTAKE):

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2013/10/phrasing-for-immediacy-and-power.html

DEVELOPING VOICE:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/10/concrete-tips-for-developing-appealing.html

TARGETING READERSHIP:

http://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2013/10/index-to-targeting-readership-series-by.html

APP TOOLS TO ANALYZE EBOOK SALES:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/app-annie-releases-ebook-analytics-tools_b78778

KISSING SCENES:

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2013/10/09/about-kissing-scenes/

CUTTING LOTS OF WORDS FROM YOUR MANUSCRIPT:

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/cut-thousands-of-words/

HOW TO GENRE HOP SUCCESSFULLY:

http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/how-to-successfully-genre-hop/

GRABBING YOUR READER FROM THE START:

http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2013/10/08/how-to-grab-delight-or-shock-your-readers-right-from-the-start/

DON’T OVERWORK YOUR GOAL, MOTIVATION, AND CONFLICT IN PLOTS:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/10/dont-over-work-your-plot.html

Starting the First Novel

QUESTION:  I have an idea for my story, the characters, and most of the plot, but I’m afraid to start, and I really want to.  What’s my problem?

Thirty odd years ago, I finally decided it was time to begin writing that novel I'd always wanted to write.  I started out with lots more advantages than the average writer.  I'd taken writing courses in college, I'd written poetry and short stories for years, and I'd been an English major.

Those first hundred pages were nearly impossible for me.  I felt like I was writing it in my own blood.  Everything I'd ever learned about writing seemed to have vanished from my brain, and I struggled just to get words down on the page to tell the story I wanted to tell. I had absolutely no confidence in myself as a writer.  

Then about six months into writing and a fourth of a way through the novel, something clicked inside me, and I realized I could do  this.  My confidence came back, and the story began to pour out of me onto the page.  I finished the novel in under six weeks.  

Yes, the novel had major problems, my craft stunk, and the novel wasn't remotely publishable, but I'd finished it.  I began to rewrite it using what I'd learned as I wrote.  The novel has never been published, but few first novels are or should be published.  They are practice rounds.  

Without the Internet and all those online classes and experts as well as critique partners we have now, I had to struggle to figure out my craft on my own, and my first sold book was my seventh.  

The point is that most writers struggle with the writing.  It takes work and courage to put words on the page.  It takes even more work to make your craft competent.  But you have to start somewhere.  

Write the story and don't worry if it's not good enough.  Rewriting can take care of the flaws.  Teaching courses and good critique partners can hone your craft.

If you have to write and have to tell the characters' stories, then the work is more than worth it.

Here's a favorite quote from Nora Roberts who has written a zillion books, all of whom hit the bestseller lists.

"I'm just starting [a new book] and the battle has already begun.  I don't think they ever go smoothly. It's work. It should be work.  It should be hard work. I think if you sort of sit around and wait to be inspired, you're probably going to be sitting there a long time. My process is more about crafting, working an idea through my head to see if it's a good concept." Nora Roberts in an interview with the "Hagerstown Herald-Mail."

LInks of Interest

AGENT, EDITOR, AND PUBLISHER WISH LISTS FOR MANUSCRIPTS:

http://storify.com/jasonboog/manuscript-wish-lists-shared-on-twitter

IS PINTEREST RIGHT FOR YOU?

http://www.authormedia.com/pinterest-right/

WORLDBUILDING, CREATING A MAGIC SYSTEM:

http://brandonsanderson.com/sandersons-third-law-of-magic/

TYPES OF SERIES:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/09/guest-author-jade-kerrion-series-to-be.html

HOW TO MAKE A DEPRESSED CHARACTER LIKABLE:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/09/how-to-make-depressed-character-likable.html

BEWARE THE ADDENDUMS TO CONTRACTS:

http://kriswrites.com/2013/09/25/the-business-rusch-addendums-rights-grabs-agents-yet-again/

TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR URBAN FANTASY WORLD:

http://mythicscribes.com/world-building/the-fact-and-the-fantastical/

THE BASICS OF MAKING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2013/09/memorable-characters-basics.html

THE FIRST PERSON NOVEL, PART 1:

http://www.murderlab.com/2013/08/the-first-person-novel-part-i-avoiding.html

TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK AN AGENT:

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/10-questions-to-ask-an-agent/

TEN RULES FOR WRITING NEW ADULT FICTION:

http://litreactor.com/columns/gently-curving-prose-10-rules-for-writing-new-adult-fiction

FANTASY RESOURCES:

http://fantasy-faction.com/2013/18092

FIVE FINAL THINGS BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR BOOK OFF:

http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/guest-blogger-win-blevins-the-last-five-things-to-do-before-submitting-your-book

WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OBAMACARE:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/what-writers-need-to-know-about-the-affordable-care-act_b78531

GENRE HOPPING AND AUTHOR BRANDING, PROMOTION:

http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/genre-hopping-and-author-branding/

HOW TO ADD FOLLOW BUTTONS TO BLOGGER:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-add-follow-me-buttons-to-blogger.html

CROWDSOURCED MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION INFO AND MACMILLAN’S “SWOON ROMANCES:”

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2013/10/swoon-reads-new-crowdsourced-teen.html

State Your Full Name for the Jury

When I started writing, one of the standard rules of a novel was that the writer should tell the full name of a main or viewpoint character in their first viewpoint appearance.  Mary may be Mary for the rest of the novel, but her first viewpoint scene should have her as Mary Smith in that first mention.

This rule seems to have fallen by the wayside in many of the novels I read, and that’s a pity.  

I write mini-reviews of every book I read and share it with some of the reader lists I belong to, and I’ve spent lots of frustrating time trying to find a main character’s full name.  Somehow, just a first name doesn’t seem enough when talking about a character to me.  

Even more frustrating is an author who refuses to give any name to a viewpoint character.  One well-known paranormal suspense writer has gone to the extreme in this.  Her series is a paranormal version of CRIMINAL MINDS with psychic FBI agents and bad guys.  Many of the characters have viewpoints in each novel, and members of the FBI team makes appears in some novels as minor characters with viewpoints.  In an failed attempt to increase suspense or to be annoyingly coy, she will often not use the character’s name until late into the novel although who that character is doesn’t change anything when his name is mentioned.  

This is so beyond frustrating that I want to grab her lapels and tell her to stop it.  

One of the most important commandments of genre fiction is that the author does nothing to stop the reader in his tracks and jerk him out of the dream of the novel, and this kind of nonsense definitely does that.  

Now, there are exceptions to always using a name.  If your bad guy has a viewpoint and you don’t want to reveal his identity yet, it’s perfectly acceptable to identify him as “he” or some other way.    Just be sure that the reader has some means of telling that “he” is the same person each time.  

Links of Interest

TACTICAL NEGOTIATIONS OF BOOK CONTRACTS:

http://chiseledinrock.blogspot.com/2013/09/tactical-negotiations.html

PROFILING YOUR VILLAIN:  

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2013/09/profiling-your-villain.html

STARTING YOUR WRITER BLOG:

http://writerunboxed.com/2013/09/21/start-your-author-blog-in-five-easy-steps/

SHOWING YOUR CHARACTERS FALLING IN LOVE:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/09/we-have-to-see-them-fall-in-love.html

FINDING THE RIGHT AGENT:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/09/question-from-writer-finding-right-agent.html

HOW CONFLICT IS SOLVED WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR STORY:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-your-conflict-is-solved-will-make.html

WHY I AM NOT TURNING THE PAGES IN THIS NOVEL (HAS GREAT EXAMPLES):

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-i-am-not-turning-pages-of-this-novel.html

WORLDBUILDING AND THOSE FIRST PAGES:

http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2013/09/guest-post-world-building-schmerld.html

WRITING THE OPENING SCENE:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/09/open-up-writing-opening-scene.html

TIPS FOR A SKYPE INTERVIEW:

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2013/09/interviews-my-checklist-for-skype.html

QUERY LETTER FORMATTING:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2013/09/query-letter-formatting.html

MAKING A CAREER OF BEING A WRITER:

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/are-you-in-this-for-the-long-haul/