Well, today I got hate mail.

Not exactly HATE mail; more like, STRONGLY DISLIKE mail, as in "Your serial story, Charades, stinks." It's par for the course, and I've, sniff, dried my tears and will, sob, carry on with my life as best as I, hiccup, possibly can under the circumstances. Okay, seriously, though, it's fine; everyone's entitled to their opinion and this is what writers contend with all the time. The reason I raise this is not to complain about negative feedback; it's to point out a really fascinating observation I've made lately.

There's a psychology to everything--to the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the things we say and think. It's nifty being married to a psychologist because my husband often shares with me the psychological side to things, but my mind tends to gravitate to psychology as well.

When I set out to write Charades, I wanted to explore a new genre: mystery. I've never written a mystery before and I thought it would be really neat. Aside from the fact that I needed to have my main character disappear in order to deflect attention away from a very sensitive topic, abuse, I thought it would be fun and intriguing for people to be kept wondering, as the story developed, Where is Mottie Schneider?

Yet the mystery was a very side-plot to the story; the real bricks-and-mortar of Charades is the exploration of a family looking perfect on the outside but struggling on the inside; of a therapist who can save the world but cannot save herself and her children; of turning to food to stuff down emotion; of the balance in female friendships. All these threads are woven into Charades in what I feel is a fascinating, very authentic way. And yet, today's letter-writer and some others have complained about the story saying it is dragging out, it has no action, it's "disappointing."

Well, I think I've pin-pointed why. I think I've discovered that mysteries don't work well in serialized stories the way they work in a contiguous book. Why? Because a certain type of reader will be unable to focus on the rest of the plot, honing in ONLY on the mystery. She will flip to the end of every chapter without even reading the whole story, intent only on knowing, Where is Mottie Schneider? She loses the forest for the one, suspenseful tree! And that's truly unfortunate, considering the fact that it's a wonderful, complex, interesting forest!

Anyway, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it. What say you?
 


Comments

Silveycloud
01/30/2011 20:12

I think you may be right about the fact hat a mystery doesn't work in a serial. Although you're right that the story is complex and has many layers, I too was itching to get to the bottom of the Mottie mystery, and was impatient with all the other details, which may have been interesting, but which I had no patience for. I was also the imamother blogger who forecasted the treif meat plot before it was revealed. I loved the way it unraveled so neatly!

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surprised
02/10/2011 16:57

What happened to all the previous comments? I wanted to show them to someone who is following the serial :(

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D
02/12/2011 21:08

Look, there are going to be the idiots with the hate mail. They're the ones who derailed your last serial (I want to know the REAL story! will you ever publish it?). Of course it hurts, but rest assured that a supermajority of readers love your stuff. Mishpacha wouldn't keep asking you for more if that wouldn't be the case!

Personally, I don't see any other novelist out there who understands people like you do. When Miri was screaming at her mother last week, I could hear it! It was so real, so true-to-life, and that's the case with all the human interactions in your stories. I was just telling my mother last night what's so great about this story: You have a situation which is crazy, but not that crazy that it's beyond the realm of the possible. Another thing I was telling her is how you weave in all these side stories: Mottie's father, his mother the enabler, history repeating itself, the relationship with food, Miri and Yaakov...I love it!

When I finished reading last week's, I had this pit in my stomach. It was so real, it's like it's really happening. I feel like davening for Gila and Mottie! And now with the get, I can't wait for next week. Except I know it can't end there, can it? That wouldn't be a story. And that would be too sad.

Anyway, this doesn't really answer the question but you should hear the positive feedback too. But you're right, if it would be in book form, I'd probably pick one thread and just follow it through till the end, and end up missing out on all the layers. And it's in those that every person can find something of themselves, whether as a daughter, a friend, a wife...so keep it up, you definitely have readers who are loving it, and especially love all the psychological "non-action"...but which is really the most exciting part of it all!

p.s. I know you. My first name is in my not-published email address. Jot me a note if you're curious :-)

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mivakeish
02/13/2011 12:47

Not to send you hate mail or anything, but Charades definitely doesnt fit the bill for the completely uncontroversial (don't pick on my spelling) serial that you promised after Shattered Glass

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Riva Pomerantz link
02/13/2011 14:35

Mikakeish, thanks for making me laugh! :-) Y'know, you're totally right. I did promise, and I did break my promise. And I can't even explain how it happened cuz I didn't intend for the plot to take on this life of its own. So sorry. Next one will be fluffy and light—b'li neder! Truth is, I think fluffy fiction is pointless. Why use the mighty sword of the pen solely for mindless entertainment when it can be used for something much more purposeful?

D, thanks for your comments. Wow! That is not only amazing feedback, it's "specific praise"--the highest form! So glad you're into the story; it makes it all worth it! And I think I know who you are...does "MP" mean anything to you? Just a guess. I'll email you...

Surprised--don't be so surprised! I'm all for freedom of speech on this blog; I only remove comments that are offensive, inappropriate, or so completely going nowhere that they would bog my blog.

Silveycloud--now I feel vindicated! :-) And you are positively prophetic. I'd love to say you're the one who gave me the whole idea, but I'm trying not to lie on Mondays :-). Really, though, good guess and keep the comments coming! If my kids don't respond to me, at least some of my readers do!

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D
02/13/2011 14:54

Yup, your guess is right :-) And Mazel Tov on your new little guy!

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galiah
02/14/2011 19:34

Riva,
I just saw this blog post about Charades-- yeah, I was going to say something about how this doesn't quite seem like the "uncontroversial" piece you promised-- but then again I never wanted "uncontroversial"...
I, too, am waiting for the REAL Shattered Glass... and, I really want to tell Gila-- believe in yourself; don't enable Mottie... and... sending you hugs!

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mivakeish
02/23/2011 07:12

it doesn't have to be fluffy and pointless, it could be deep and inspirational while not being controversial

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Chany Schwartz
02/24/2011 20:50

Riva give us a full blast a book of 800 pages for starters,why make us wait a full week for one page???

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Surprised
04/04/2011 19:31

"I only remove comments that are offensive, inappropriate, or so completely going nowhere that they would bog my blog."

Now I am more surprised. What I read were comments that were polite enough and to the point but ... took you to task. The writers had the "nerve" to not like your serial and tell you why.


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Faigie Rabin
06/21/2011 02:17

After a slow start, I am enthralled, and turn to the serial as soon as my Mishpacha arrives. One week I am rooting for Gila, urging her to stick to her guns, and the next I am feeling sorry for Mottie, a victim of an abusive father. How will it all end??

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