Greetings from the Hermit WRiter.
I speak a lot about
my SPACe Model, of Setting, Plot, Action,
and Conflict. There is a sweet spot for
the tone the author is shooting for.
Not perfect Balance.
A fitting balance.
I love Janet
Evanovich. But I don't read Janet because of her plots. It's her characters,
humor, twist of words, and ridiculous situations which enable me to plow
through her novels in one sitting.
But if a novel is
propped up to be "realistic," and premise after premise is simply
plain stupid, then all the great characters and great use of language isn't
going to make it a good read.
The writer must keep
all of the elements of fiction in mind, balance
their needs to the genre, mood and voice.
The realism of plot must fit a drama, while it may
take a back seat in slapstick and light paranormal.
It doesn't bother me
at all if Evanovich is all over the place. But if Sandra Brown's characters or
plot wander, I close the book and find another.
Characters, scenes,
dialogue, and description don't all have to be exquisite, as long as on
balance, there is enough there to carry the reader from plot point to plot
point.