First I came across an article on nonfiction chic lit. The art alone is plenty disturbing, not the fun/funny side of chic lit we all know and at least some love.
Anyway, I think it is prime example of how somethings are better left in fiction. This supposed trend to nonfictin chic lit is, well, a tad scary. I like chic lit, but I hope there aren’t really hordes of women out there living the chic lit life. Are there?
On the writing front, I’ve been reading the Donald Maass Writing the Breakout Novel book and workbook. At first I didn’t think there was going to be anything new in the book, but about half way through I started discovering some real pearls and I do think the workbook is going to be very useful.
The only thing I’m not sure of is how some of it fits with comedy. I need to think on this. The reason I say this is all the deep motivation, etc. Let’s face it a dead child in your past isn’t funny. Although I do have to say I loved Sweet Home Alabama and there was a miscarried baby in that backstory. But if you look at say Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie there isn’t any deep psychological pain there (just your normal I’m fat, and insecure and no one loves me pain most women have felt at some point) and actually the goals aren’t deeply driven needs, at least not compared to other romances. I sometimes wonder if all that painful past stuff we give our heros and heriones doesn’t start to wear thin.
What do you think? Do books have too much angst? Can a book be just as good without it?
How about the Breakout Novel books. Have you read them? Do you think they lend themselves more to drama? Or am I just tired and missing a major point?
