I think you should leave it a mystery.
In my experience, readers are more interested in reading a book if there are things about it that they can't understand.
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| Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=510 |
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| Author: | Reueldreamseer [ March 25th, 2010, 9:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... |
I'm currently editing my first novel, "A Day in the Live(s) of Whitaker Riley" and I have a question: In the story, Whitaker (the main character) discovers that there are two other versions of him in the world. My dilemma is whether or not I should try to make up a less-than-cheesy explanation for this bizarre phenomenon or leave it a mystery? An explanation would not be vital to the story, but do you think readers will want to know? |
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| Author: | Willow Wenial Mimetes [ March 26th, 2010, 7:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... |
I think you should leave it a mystery. In my experience, readers are more interested in reading a book if there are things about it that they can't understand.
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| Author: | Neil of Erk [ March 30th, 2010, 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... |
Or you might take a rather Tolkien-like track: Only have a suspicion yourself. The Palantri, for example, are never fully explained, and Tolkien himself never appears to posses an explanation but instead "suspects" that certain factors may operate in such-and-such manner. You could just have a suspicions of how the Doppelgangers may operate but not know for sure, or not know the entirety. |
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| Author: | PrincessoftheKing [ April 2nd, 2010, 12:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... |
As long as you know generally how it works, then you probably don't need it in the story! |
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| Author: | Reueldreamseer [ June 1st, 2010, 9:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Should I Explain the Doppelgangers or Not?... |
Oh, I had forgotten that I posted this! Turns out I decided to make the "doppelgangers" not really other versions of Whitaker. Now they're the result of a... unique family situation, which is a big part of the background to his story.
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