Thoughts about writing books 5-7 (WAS: Playing the game )

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 30204

Susanna wrote:

But OTOH, it has to be said that, in books 1-4, she pretty much used 
the same plot devices and the same plot patterns, which is *no* 
negative judgement on my part (I love the books), but a fact that has 
to be stated. And IMO, at least some of us would be disappointed if 
she did the same in the next book. Dark as its content might be, if 
she followed the same pattern after the crescendo in book 4, I'd tend 
to judge her as a not-so-brilliant author with a brilliant 
imagination. 
> 

Hmmm.  Interesting discussion, Susanna and Luke.  But can someone 
expound on how JKR uses the same plot devices and same plot 
patterns?  I viewed the first two books as quite different from the 
second two books.  The first books were garden-variety mysteries; the 
second two struck me as action-type books more than mysteries, which 
relied much more heavily on the existence of plot twists and 
surprises.

Also, to react to what Luke said, I'll just sheepishly admit that 
I've never guessed any of the major plot twists.  In the first two 
books, I didn't really care who the Bad Guy was enough to put the 
mental energy into the exercise.  But in the second two, she just 
blew everything past me.  Whoosh!  Oh sure, I had the vague 
impression something was going on beneath the surface.  However, I 
really didn't understand that Voldemort was coming back in Book 4, I 
had no clue it would happen as a result of the Triwizard Tournament, 
I had no idea Moody was the bad guy (I bought the Bagman misdirection 
hook, line and sinker, and I was keeping an eye on Snape) . . . I 
guess that makes me a total sucker.

Ah, but OoP will be different, as I have JKR's number now!

Cindy