Explanation-question

[minimorr]

So, you've got character A meeting old friend character B after being a while on the road. They chat, catch up with what they've been doing and somewhere along the line, you're supposed to stick in an explanation about who character B is, or what A and B have done together, or whatever

Comments

[elder_bonnie]

I would be insanely curious to hear opinions on this as well. I don't have enough experience, I think, to garner a solid opinion, myself. I think one option I might take would be to write out the entire scene and leave it intentionally cryptic, as a way to snare the reader and make them curious, and then write a flash-back section/chapter/paragraph that explains things (maybe not immediately following the scene). It could be Character A explaining the exchange and the emotions/history behind it to Character C? Or something like that.

*twiddles thumbs*

[jmichaelschmidt]

I like it when I get caught up in a story, but absolutely hate it when I am aware of it.
But, what rules over all is the feeling of being talked down to, and the lack of surprise or intrigue when the writer just tells me why A and B are fighting simply because they are fighting, especially when it has nothing to do with the story as it is right then.
It might be relative to the definition of A or B, but that isn't the way it usually is in the situation.

So, my best advice: Just evaluate why this scene exists and then withhold information, or reveal tantalizing subtle hints as to the history of A and B... Just do whatever makes the scene perform the action, affect the reader the way you intended.

[frelga]

Unless there is a reason to keep the reader in suspence, I prefer to make things clear. In fantasy especially the reader often has to keep track of so many details of the setting that throwing extra mysteries in should be done judiciosly, IMO.

Perhaps the explanation could comw from the A's reaction to something B says? "He still favored the same immature insults he used to torture me at school," or "For the thousandth time, I wondered how my sister could fail to see through his empty flattery," or "He looked like someone who kicked puppies for fun, which was exactly what he did to my poor Binky when we were children."

Really, all you need is a single sentence explaining where the characters stand. If you need a flashback, you can insert it a later.

[stepsintwilight]

Man, thanks for finally naming the nagging issue! I keep wondering about how to do this as well, and it seems to me one way might be to just make them more specific about their insults. There is calling a person a 'bastard', which isn't very informative except as to attitude; but if you call someone a 'scavenging bastard, a raven and a jackal', then it hints at what exactly is at the root of the antagonism...

Alternatively you could always leave it till later when you judge the reader needs to know. First person is awkward for accusations, but it's good for remembering things - if the viewpoint character recalls the event that caused the antagonism, and then pointed out that it was B who stole/seduced/bullied A in that situation, that might be more effective. But it's up to writer's judgement as to what needs to be known at any point I guess.

Reply to Character A and Character B

[jmichaelschmidt]

I don't really think the problem is point-of-view at all, just in how its done.
I can think of an appealing way to write it -- appealing to me as a reader.
Simply have character A hint at what it has happened, draw me in as a reader, since drama draws any reader in, as well as mystery.
Another thing is, how could you possible explain what has happened between character A and character B? There is no way A would explain, objectively, the way it happened...

Does this help at all? I will try and explain a little more clearly if needed.