For those of you who missed yesterday’s Ephemera post as part of Kendall Grey’s JUST BREATHE WORLD TOUR, click HERE to check out my reviews of her short story series and who I’d cast for the main characters in the JUST BREATHE series. 😉
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Shifting Pride is up for Sizzling Read of the Month! Please vote!
http://sizzlinghotbooks.com/poll-sizzling-read-of-the-month/
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A few weeks back, I entered the cover art for NEW PRIDE and SHIFTING PRIDE in the Houston Bay Area Romance Writers Association’s Judge A Book By Its Cover Contest. JABBIC is a fun way to share cover art and have readers vote on what attracts them to buy a book.
I’d totally appreciate some votes, if you’re so inclined!
Click HERE to go to the JABBIC website. Click START JUDGING, then select YOUNG ADULT, and rate each book based on if you’d buy it based on the cover (5) or if you don’t have interest in the cover (1). (There’s choices between too. 😉 )
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Now, to get to unintended consequences. I think about this concept often, particularly when I see outcomes that are in direct opposition to what was planned.
The biggest example that comes to mind is the flurry of gun control laws spreading across the United States. New York prides itself in having the strictest of all of them.
I’m certain the intention of these laws is to limit the access of firearms (particularly assault-type rifles) to “The Bad Guys.”
A good idea, yes?
BUT, as a result, more guns than ever are being purchased and more ammo than ever is flying off the shelves. Many gun retailers are getting cleaned out–they’re literally selling ALL of their stock and going on back order for guns and bullets.
I’d call this an unintended consequence.
I’ve personally seen several people (who have NEVER before wanted a gun or even thought about having a gun) become OBSESSED with owning a gun.
JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK IT’S NECESSARY TO KEEP THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY SAFE.
Another unintended consequence, I’d say.
YIKES.
Lemme repeat that:
YIKES.
Taking this post in a different direction (because this forum is for writing purposes only)…
Unintended consequences can have HUGE impacts.
What if we applied this concept to our writing?
How thrilling would it be to have a character do something that they think will work out for the good of others and then twist it, focusing on the unintended consequences. Wouldn’t that cause some conflict and tension? Maybe even a disaster?
It would be totally mean.
And PERFECT.
In NEW PRIDE, Richard joins up with a rogue pride. On the one hand, he needs a group of shifters for safety. On the other, the danger of allying with them quickly becomes obvious and potentially impacts everyone Richard cares about.
Have you guys seen unintended consequences in books that you’ve read?
Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer 