Writing Novels, Raiding Tombs

As some of my friends and family know, I have fairly recently finished writing a draft of my first novel. It is currently going through the "Beta Testing" process before I make any final revisions that I need to make and hopefully I will be self-publishing in time for some summer reading! The novel that I wrote is by no means a deep read. It is something of an homage to all the things that I miss in fiction, including video games and movies, that being fun. Now I know that everyone's idea of "fun" is different. What I am referring to is the seemingly pervasive need to be "dark and gritty", to have some kind of profound message, or to check a certain number of focused grouped boxes. I miss the days of Ray Harryhausen, of Monster Vision and Indiana Jones. I miss the feeling of adventure for the sake of adventure. Pure, unadulterated escapism, that is what what I look for. Even my most favorite video game series, Uncharted, took a turn in this direction with it's final installment. Yes there were still frantic shootouts, historical mysteries and adventure to be had, but there was A LOT more focus on the less exciting bits of the story this time around. That's not to say that I didn't love it, but I did have to replay 1, 2, 3, and Lost Legacy to scratch that pulpy itch.

When I sat down to write my novel, I really just wanted to write something that I would want to read. It was an absolute blast to do. As part of my writing process, I went about devouring (metaphorically and literally) all things "adventure". I delved through genre specific reads on Kindle to see what others were writing, I went through all four (Yes, even Crystal Skull) Indiana Jones movies, I picked up novels by James Rollins and Clive Cussler as well as some classics like Doc Savage and El Borak and I when I had time to game I was back at Uncharted. As I have gone through and sated my fill of Nathan Drake and his plucky group of thieves, I turned toward another icon of adventure gaming, Lara Croft. 

"I have no funny quips to say. Ever." 

The eponymous Tomb Raider was definitely an inspiration for the main characters of my novel. She is strong, spirited and finds herself constantly in trouble. Most gamers these days know that the Tomb Raider franchise was rebooted in 2013, telling us an origin story of how Lara Croft became the legend. While the story wasn't really anything that anybody asked for and definitely deviated from the old series, it did give us a more relate able main character (also far less objectified) and some sweet set pieces. Still, the reboot suffered from that whole "dark and gritty" trend that plagues so many mediums today. Years later, we got a sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and while I think it improved upon nearly every aspect, it seemed to throw one out the window. Joy. 

Don't get me wrong, it is fun to play. It borrows heavily from the Uncharted formula of running, jumping, climbing and shooting with a little more open exploring. At the same time, most likely to deviate from being "too Uncharted", it has no joy, no humor, Lara is not having any fun at all and she is quite vocal about it. Now in real life, I totally understand that being shot at and shooting people isn't shouldn't be fun. I know for a fact that falling from great heights and being lost in the wilderness isn't fun. But its not real life, its supposed t
o be fun! Would Indiana Jones be as good an memorable without the one lines and occasionally silly situations? Can you imagine a grim-faced, mirthless Harrison Ford as the titular lead? Me neither. Old Lara was more Jones while new Lara is more.....Christian Bale Batman? I think? 

"Adventuring is the worst."- Lara Croft

It sounds weird, but Lara's whole attitude breaks my immersion. I am not immersed in the adventure because I don't believe I'm playing in one. Years of exposure to adventure genre staples had told me what to expect from an adventure. Danger, intrigue, daring do, confident heroes and imposing obstacles. Rise of the Tomb Raider has all of that, except the hero. In Lara's world, there is absolutely fun to be had with anything. It's so out of the genre norm that it is jarring, and frankly I hope that it is not something that catches on. I blame Game of Thrones. What does all this have to do with my novel? Ultimately, the adventure that I have tried to craft is built upon a foundation of that "fun" that I so desperately seek in my adventure. Is it a little cheesy? For sure. At times, outlandish? Of course. But all I hope is that ultimately my readers will find some thrills, some humor, some horror and ultimately so good ole' fashioned escapist fun! 

In the end, I know that what I am looking for in both what I read and what I write is fairly specific. I know that there is a place for those dark and gritty things, from the novels that seek to change your world view, for the thousand page conversations interspersed with three pages of action (GAME OF THRONES!). I know that people want those things and I am glad they exist. I only lament what seems to be an over saturation of this stuff while people that just want to escape for a bit are left high and dry. 

On that note: I am always taking reading suggestions!