First, I’d just like to say, that I’m walking on a badly neglected treadmill in my basement as I’m writing this. I have quite ingeniously, (and dangerously…do not try this at home), created a little shelf from an old sign for my laptop to perch on. If I walk slow enough, (which is never a problem), I can actually multitask by getting a little exercise while I type this blog. As long as I avoid a horrible accident I’m going to make this my new thing.
So on to what’s complicated…
My novel.
Actually my whole series.
Saying your novel or series is complicated is probably as attractive as describing yourself as complicated on a dating site. Complication is something people usually tend to avoid. There are whole magazines out there with themes of simplifying your life. Most people crave simple. But I’m different and I hope there are others out there like me that crave complicated. I seek out complex plots, intricate details, perplexing characters, and elaborate imagery. I ate up Lord of the Rings (oh I wish there was more Tolkien!). I enjoyed every genealogy tangent, creature description, and pencil-sketched map. Some complain Tolkien’s too complicated and need to watch the film in order to understand the world he created. I loved my Shakespearian courses delving into the double entendres and pulling apart every word.
But I’m the fifth child in a family of six. I thrive in entropy — anything simple and organized repels me. I want to read books and watch movies & tv shows that surprise me and make me think. Most of time, I can see where plots are headed and wished for more suspense and twists. I don’t want everything spelled out for me with plots and characters tied up in little square packages.
I didn’t want to create a linear, basic reincarnation novel, where two soul mates fall in love with each other in a few lives. Novels in which a few peripheral characters play a background role with little change throughout lives. I wanted to portray a reincarnation something closer to life. More characters and more lives. I wanted to create a realistic universe where people grow/fail/stagnate. Where relationships evolve in surprising ways, causing the reader to look deeper into who we are. How you and those in your life may have come to be where you are now.
My novel requires thought. My reader must enjoy tracking characters throughout many changes over time. Relationships evolve in surprising ways and I’ve done everything with the grand scheme of the series in mind. Everything happens for a reason and my reader must think deeply about all that is occurring and why. Each character has their own journey. Yeah, there will be a chart for those readers who might not want to plot their own but it’s there for reason…the more you think about my book the more you will see.
What about you? Do you enjoy a complicated novel every now and again?
Wow and look at that…an hour flew by! Now off to eat some well-deserved smores (I’ll never lose the baby weight this way).
laurenwaters 
Of course I enjoy complex novels. I don’t think the problem is having a complex novel, no reader wants to feel like you’ve dumbed something down for them. I think the problem is having a complex novel that you can DESCRIBE simply. Agents, editors, your friends, they don’t want to hear every plot twist, just the core of your story. 🙂
CV
Exactly Charlee. You must be able to break down the essence of your novel in a paragraph (some even say a single sentence). No matter how complex, every writer must be able to convey the focus simply.
Hey Lauren
Yeah, I’d say I prefer books that can keep me guessing. For me though, it goes deeper then if the author can provide a plot that I can’t figure out within the first couple of chapters. I need to feel that the author will provide a good, well thought out ending. I can’t tell you how many books I’ve read where I’m loving the story until the end where the author throws in some strange ending that doesn’t fit the rest of the story. If a book is complicated, all I ask is for a strong vibe that the author won’t let me down in the end. If the author can pull that off then they have a life long fan and I’ll pick up any book they write.
Great point. The simpler the novel the simpler the ending can be, but a complex novel really is as good as its ending. That reminds me of the series Lost where the whole time your mind was spinning, trying to understand what was going on, and you just prayed the ending would pay off. When a writer does this well these are the kinds of novels you want to read over and over again to look for all the complexities.
I agree that complex is definitely better for stories. 🙂 There are a surprising amount of popular books out there that are pretty linear. I love plot twists and character relationships that evolve in ways that are different from what you see all the time.