There is nothing more frustrating to me than
when a main character has a piece of information that would solve everything if
he/she just TOLD someone!!!
They know their best friend is
cheating/on drugs/running away but loyalty keeps them from telling.
They know the bad guy is up to no good but can’t
tell someone because ‘tattling’ could result in harm for someone they love.
They’re being blackmailed or they’re afraid
people will turn against them if they tell.
Maybe it’s just the simple fact that no one
likes a tattle tale.
I know it’s a commonly-used plot device but it
drives me nuts – Mostly because just as
much bad comes from withholding information than good. It’s the moral of every story and yet…it
doesn’t seem to stop us from using the scenario over and over again.
Even though it builds tension and ups the
stakes, I find it refreshing when books bypass the ‘tattle-tale’ scenario altogether
and take the road less traveled.
The girl TELLS the boyfriend she has feelings
for someone else instead of denying them for chapters upon chapters.
The boy TELLS the authorities when scary notes start
showing up on his windshield instead of investigating on his own.
When the bad guy threatens to hurt the MC’s girl
if he doesn’t go along with his plan to start war between two races- he TELLS
the important people and they bring the bad guy down together instead of
spending lonely months turning away from those he loves in order to protect
them.
Maybe it’s just me.
Do you enjoy a good ol’ fashioned ‘I COULD TELL YOU BUT I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU’ scenario or do you prefer tension to be
amplified in other ways?
16 comments:
Did I miss it? lol
Great word but I think the post is missing. Don't worry. We all have those days.
Who's been tattling and tittling away!?!? Yay! take care
x
Tension works.
I'll put up with just about any plot device if it is done well.
I like twists and turns that are unexpected in a story. I sort of have to side with you though that there have been times I've practically yelled at a character to stop being so stubborn and just SAY something lol. Since there are only so many variations to work with though, I am happy as long as the writer can come up with something which doesn't feel too overused.
I totally agree with you UNLESS the author gives a really compelling reason to keep the secret... say the secret keeper thinks it is THEIR FAULT and is ashamed, or someone is being threatened.
My daughter and I were talking about this this weekend. I forget what we were watching.
"Why don't they just tell the cops?" she said.
"Because then there would be no adventure," I told her.
I think it's a great way to show tension.
I also love dramatic irony when the reader knows more than the characters.
You know, like how some people scream at the TV screen when the girl goes into the room where the ax murderer is hiding behind the door....
That drives me crazy too! Especially when the stakes are so high, it just doesn't make any sense except as a plot device.
I totally agree with you. The I-don't-tattle-thing drives me crazy.
I agree! It's frustrating. Just say something, stupid.
I don't have a problem with it, providing there's a credible reason for them to keep quiet. If it's just an artificial device to rack up the tension, then the book hits the wall :)
Like you, I like it better when characters are more straightforward about how they feel. That's what always drove me nuts about soap operas - characters who kept secrets for several episodes while the people they were keeping secrets from were completely oblivious.
Oh I hate this, I'm always screaming 'Just tell someone!!' It really frustrates me! But then I realise that if they did tell someone, there'd be no story...Great post! :)
Amen! It drives me CRAZY when people won't just tell.
Although that's a major theme of my own novel...Hmm...
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