Fictional difficulties

I have lots of trouble writing fiction.

It's not for lack of imagination. It's for my lack of ability to quit rambling and get to the point.

If you've ever had a verbal conversation with me, this probably surprises the crap out of you.

The thing is, I write great characters. Fantastic characters, even. People you'd want to drive cross-country with. People you'd want to hitchhike across Europe with. The kind of people you want to surround yourself with.

I give them great back stories. They're super-interesting people. And they do awesome things.

Thing is, I can't get them to meet in scenarios that aren't clearly contrived.

After plowing through Thomas Harris' Hannibal Rising, which gives us Hannibal Lecter's full back story (awesome, quick read), I picked up Elmore Leonard's Freaky Deaky.

I'm not a Westerns fan, but Leonard's done some really fine work. I got hooked on him with Be Cool, and totally hopped on board with Pagan Babies.

Freaky Deaky is a bit over 400 pages long, and is a clearly contrived situation by the time you get to the meat of the plot.

But in the first 100 pages, you get to meet all the major characters (a couple of fairly important supporting characters are introduced later), learn where they came from, and you understand how their paths are all going to cross.

In a very natural progression, all things considered.

Black Panthers, ex-hippies, ridiculously wealthy alcoholics, explosives experts and actors, all coming together in a way you understand.

I'm jealous.