Note to writers of footnotes everywhere: just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[lauraredcloud]

After I complained when the footnotes TOTALLY SPOILED ME for a plot development in Can You Forgive Her?, my mom recommended that I do what she does, which is not to flip to the notes during the book, but to read them all at the end. That way you get any interesting historical notes, but you don't have the experience of being like, "Well, that was a waste of a flip," and if they stay something like "This is foreshadowing for two chapters from now when Lord Dealywhatsit snaps and totally unexpectedly goes on a murderous rampage!" (NOT A REAL EXAMPLE), you won't be ACTIVELY ANGRY at them. (I mean, why would you do that?! You gotta figure at least a percentage of the people reading the book--more than half, I would hazard--are reading it for the first time!)

(Also, you don't need to point out foreshadowing! Jerks!)

Well I just finished Eustace Diamonds on the bus this morning and I was reading the notes and they SPOIL ME FOR SOMETHING AT THE END OF THE NEXT BOOK


WHYYYYYYYYY


(why) 

Comments

Re: Laura!

[laura-redcloud.livejournal.com]

Well, I re-read books routinely, so I don't rely on the surprise to enjoy the book (actually I often like them better the second time), but I still want to have ever had the experience of reading it without knowing what is going to happen. There's a difference between knowing exactly what will happen and how awesome it will be (because you read it before) and sort of knowing some of the facts of what will happen but not having EARNED that knowledge (because someone told you).

As a Writer (brag), I do sometimes put moments of revelation in my stories which I expect the unspoiled reader to find more badass than the spoiled one.