Writing Excuses 9.50: Writing for the Enfranchised Reader

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Writing Excuses 9.50: Writing for the Enfranchised Reader

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2014/12/04/writing-excuses-9-50-writing-for-the-enfranchised-reader/

 Key Points: Great writing works at multiple levels, for multiple types of readers. Be aware that books may be read by new readers, and by those who are steeped in a genre. One trick is to use a common, well-used plot as the backbone, while mixing in other plot arcs. Another way to surprise the enfranchised reader is to use tropes they are less familiar with, borrow from other genres. You can also trick or subvert a trope, with care. Don't wait too long, and don't slip into boring the readers because you are working up to the trick. Feedback from writing groups can help. Mix it up -- multiple characters,arcs, plots, and ages.
( I've read that before... )

[Brandon] Howard, you've got our writing prompt.
[Howard] I do. Take a mentor character and find a way... Just in outline form, give yourself a 100 word outline. Find a way to take the mentor character and not kill them off so that they don't save the day. Do something different with the mentor character. I don't know what it is, because you're going to do it and it's going to be different.
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
[Applause]