If there's something that annoys me in a novel, it's preachiness. Or rather INTENDED preachiness. It's okay for a novel to explore serious ideas, but the story has to be the primary focus, with the ideas being supportive of the story.
I think it's true that all novels have ideas, or rather the writer has ideas that are expressed in the books they write, but mostly they're implicit. For example, crime novelists typically have a sense of what they believe to be justice, and those ideas find their way into the story, but without detracting from it. At least, the best ones do.
I'm very much enjoying Deadly Messengers, by the way. Fun, fast paced, and keeps me guessing. I'll be posting a review as soon as I've finished it. One question I have: do you want feedback (not in the review) on editorial things? I won't bother you with it if you don't, which is why I'm asking ahead of time.
I think it's true that all novels have ideas, or rather the writer has ideas that are expressed in the books they write, but mostly they're implicit. For example, crime novelists typically have a sense of what they believe to be justice, and those ideas find their way into the story, but without detracting from it. At least, the best ones do.
I'm very much enjoying Deadly Messengers, by the way. Fun, fast paced, and keeps me guessing. I'll be posting a review as soon as I've finished it. One question I have: do you want feedback (not in the review) on editorial things? I won't bother you with it if you don't, which is why I'm asking ahead of time.