Mixing it up

I’ve spent the last couple of television seasons watching House, M.D. I’m sure a lot of you have, too. I’ve watched the first two shows this season, and I have to say, I don’t really mind if I miss the next few.

Hugh Laurie is, of course, fantastic, and I still laugh out loud a few times each episode, but the show has become a formula:

A) Sick person/people with undiagnosed illness are admitted to the hospital.
B) House and his interns misdiagnose the illness several times, each time giving the patient a treatment they don’t need or which won’t work
C) Eventually, they discover the real medical culprit and most of the time the patient lives.

End of story.

They’ve tried to mix it up with deaths of friends, House’s drug addiction, and new interns, but it really all comes down to the same plot. And I have to say, I’m getting a bit bored with it all.

Don and I were talking the other day about how this happens with books. Some series begin to seem all the same as the books drag on (and on), or sometimes an author will write a few different series, but they’re basically the same story and characters with a different wrapping.

The final Stella Crown book, Different Paths, just came out this month. One of the reasons I’m stopping the series at five is that I don’t want the books to become all the same — I mean, how many times can a dairy farmer get into trouble that involves dead people and it still can be even slightly believable? No too many, I don’t think.

I’m now working on a new series, which will begin in 2009. I find myself double-checking a lot — is this or that something my new protagonist would say or do, or is this a remnant of Stella? This new woman is very clear in my mind, and is very different from Stella. She exercises on purpose, doesn’t swear, and hasn’t stepped foot in her own home for months, nor has she hung out with friends. But it’s the attitude I need to be aware of, her inner life, and make sure Stella’s not seeping into this new person.

Writing a new series is a lot of fun. I enjoyed Stella, but it was time for her — and for me — to move on. Now I get to write about a new setting, a new set of issues, and experiment with a bit of a different style. It feels good.

But I guess I’ll have to let the readers be the judge next year!

7 Responses to “Mixing it up”

1. Congrats on the new series, Judy. Can’t wait to hear more about it as you’re working on it. As for House . . . yeah, all you said is true, but I will keep watching. Hugh Laurie is too brilliant for words. Just have to see what he’s going to say and do next. And I liked the intro of the private detective, a good character.

   by Casey on September 25th, 2008 at 7:50 am
   
   

2. Hi Judy
   As far as HouseMD goes, the formula is the side bar of the story/episode, as far as I can see.
   The conflama is what’s happening in the character developement…which is what makes it interesting to me.
   House is a riot….hope I neve have him as my doc though.

   Zz

   by Zorro on September 25th, 2008 at 9:08 am
   
   

3. I’m with you on House, at least as far as plot goes. Too many coincidences lately. She had bla bla bla, but since the single woman just happened to be pregnant, it masked the bla bla bla.

   I think my wife is ready for Janet Evanovich to move on with Stephanie Plum.

   Good luck with the new series.

   by Wilfred Bereswill on September 25th, 2008 at 9:10 am
   
   

4. It’s all a delicate balance, is it? When are we tired of our characters? When have readers had enough? You’re smart, Judy, to realize you want to take a break from Stella. I’ll bet your readers don’t want you to do it! But you’re feeling the need and following your instincts. If/when you decide to write her again, you’ll keep her fresh.

   And as much as I hate to agree with Zorro (it will go right to his head), he’s right about House. It’s not the medical mysteries that are as intriguing as it is the character development and stories. It’s always interesting to see how other writers (in this case, the writers of the show) handle that sort of thing.

   by Casey on September 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
   
   

5. I liked the PI, too (which is what made me laugh this week), but I just have a hard time getting past the other stuff. I guess I need to just grab a good book instead! : )

   by Judy on September 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
   
   

6. I’ve read your first two. I find them very entertaining and I look forward to the other three. I’ll catch up…eventually.

   My newest book, fourth series, will be published by Random House in October, 2009. My 28th.

   by Orroz on September 25th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
   
   

7. Judy;
   Loved the new book. Best of luck on the new series.

   DB

   by Don on September 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm