There’s an old saying when writing – show, don’t tell. It’s an aphorism for painting a vivid enough picture that the reader can picture what you’re trying to tell him or her without spelling it out in excruciating detail. It is meant to engage the imagination and allow for discovery.
This is a scenario I’m playing out with regards to my
newest novel. This novel is a sci-fi/fantasy
mashup. Part of fantasy is magic, but
magic needs rules or else it can simply be an easy out for an author looking to
resolve a situation. Therefore I’ve
written ten rules for the use of magic, and the storyline must be consistent
with these rules.
However, I don’t plan to just list out these rules for the
audience. What I want is for the reader
to figure out these rules along the way.
I believe it adds a bit of mystery while also providing a framework
around which to build the story. I’m
honestly curious how many readers will pick out the rules, and if they’ll be
able to get all of them. Also, since
writing can produce surprises in narrative, will readers discover unintentional
rules of magic I write into the story without realizing it.
What do you think?
Is it more fun to discover implied elements as you read, or does that
distract from enjoyment of the story?
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