I
came across this idea for the first time in Blake Snyder’s book Save the Cat.
(I’m going to be talking about some of the principles I learned in this book on
Wednesday. It was amazing!)
Double Mumbo Jumbo is when a story has
more than one magical element that makes you suspend disbelief. Example: Time traveling vampires, Alien
zombies, Mermaid demon hunters.
I
think the main principle behind the idea is: Don’t over load your stories. Keep
it simple. Keep it concise. Keep it to one unbelievable element.
A
few years ago I read a retelling of Cinderella. There were little elements of
magic here and there (exactly what you would expect) and then suddenly we find
out that the fairy godmother characters is actually an alien that came through
a portal. Huh?!?! The author lost me right there.
I
know you’ve felt this in books or movies. You’re watching and all the sudden werewolf
ninjas show up and it’s over for you. Most of the time more doesn’t help the
action or the plot. Sometimes it just muddles things up.
I would love to hear any
literary examples you all can think of. And if you disagree, “Heck yes! More is
better!” Tell me why you feel like that :)
-Angie
20 comments:
I know I've had moments like that, of course I can't think of an example right now, but I totally know what you mean.
I feel like time-traveling aliens (or something like it) can work if it's established early in the book and a major plot point. Or if it comes up late in a book, but early in a series. But I totally know what you mean about them just showing up randomly and serving no other purpose than to be weird.
Like Rachel, I can't think of a specific example of Double Mumbo Jumbo, but I know for sure I have flung books to one side when I've read that kind of thing!
I think I totally misspelled definitely :)
Hey wait, where is my comment? Weird. Well, I said in my earlier comment that I realized I had done this in my latest wip. It was quite a slap in the face to realize it and now I am ready for a major overhaul...or else a new idea:)
This makes me want to read Mumbo Jumbo! My brain hurts trying to think of an example. :)
Just gotta be done real well. Like, I'm totally cool with a werewolf getting turned into a vampire hybrid, but I'm in love with Vampire Diaries, so they could pretty much do anything and I'd be alright with it, lol.
Sometimes it works though, I mean finding out your fairy godmother is an alien is a huge plot twist, and probably about as dramatic as finding out she's also your mother. But creepier. Don't get me wrong, there are time when enough is enough, but I totally like the idea of alien fairy godmothers
But that works because the same magic that makes the vampires makes the werewolves. What doesn't work is when you start mixing magic. Like we can time travel because of the special alignment of these plants, but then you throw in some magic elves that draw their power from language. That is just a mess. Only one KIND of magic.
Mumbo jumbo, huh. lol I'd never heard that term. And yes, you need to know what genre you're reading from the beginning.
I don't mind having more than one magical element, but when there is no foreshadowing and it just comes out of nowhere, it kind of loses it's flavor. Yunno?
Great advice! I can't wait to read this book. I know I'm going to love it. :)
i think mumbo jumbo is a future wave since most of the other ideas are taken, these will morph
and you gave me a great idea for a short story!
I've read tales where disparate magic types were a crucial plot element (e.g., one acceptable, one shunned) and found it worked well. However, crossing genres usually (but not always) stops me cold.
Um, two words: Vampires AND Werewolves. I can suspend belief for one in a book, but not both. Sorry Twi-hards.
Yeah, sometimes people get a little TOO creative. :)
Even 'better' is the one that gets dropped in just to get the hero out of trouble :-)
I totally agree. Keep it fairly simple with all the bibbidi bobbidi boo ;)
LOL...you crack me up. But I agree, keep the unbelievable realistic.
I don't dare argue with Blake or you! Yeah, it is possible to do several things but you have to be SO smooth about it. I don't think I'd touch it with a ten foot pole. I'm no good at alien fairy wizard cowboys.
Post a Comment