Expert: Susan Rand - 4/16/2007

Question
Do complicated plots make a story boring? I lose interest when a character has a
multitude of powers and the character background is not simplified. Characters
such as the Fantastic Four Spiderman and to some extent Batman have clear
plots that can be easily remembered.  

Answer
Hello Aryn:

They certainly can be boring, especially in the hands of the unskilled. It takes an accomplished writer to deal with a dozen or so characters without losing the reader. I wonder if you are thinking about fantasy writing. Fantasists have an inclination to jam as many characters into the story as they can, as many aspects of character, as many events as will fit between two covers - that's one way an unskilled writer can be distinguished from the advanced.

But not all complicated plots are unsuccessful. The Batman and Spiderman plots are simple, because they are in part aimed at a young audience. Many grownups don't have a lot of tolerance for that sort of things. I in no way intend to vilify those that do. I am fond of a simple plot myself.

The other aspect of writing that makes a complicated plot boring is that it is so obvious that the author had only a weak grasp on what should be included, and what can be safely (thankfully!) left out. To complicate matters further, sometimes the things that are left out are the most compelling parts of the story. So try to figure that one out!

I hope this helps. If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high score over 1,000 questions.

And good luck with your writing, or reading, as the case may be.