Comments on: When Is a Spoiler a Spoiler?

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 15 May 2015 22:41:48 +0000

Thanks. It was blergh city all around.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 15 May 2015 22:39:33 +0000

Spoilers in trailers are horrible! This is why I rarely watch them. But I went to PITCH PERFECT 2 today and couldn’t really escape them (unless I did what le0pard13’s son did and run out of the theater). I’m now pretty sure I don’t need to see most of the movies previewed because the trailers told the whole story.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 15 May 2015 22:32:30 +0000

I like a good shock at the beginning! But once the book cover tells me right out what the surprise is, I am denied the shock.

In the second book I mentioned above, the story does become a search for a reason. I’m still reading because I want to know why the character died, but am also still grumpy about the spoiler. 🙂

By: le0pard13

le0pard13 — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:17:57 +0000

“When it comes to spoilers, movie trailers are still the worst though.”

Oh, I so agree!

By: Eirego

Eirego — Fri, 15 May 2015 18:11:06 +0000

If it happens in the first chapter, it’s not a spoiler, but it’s a gray area if the first chapter is over 30 pages.

I stopped reading the backs of books long ago. Most seem to have been written by people who didn’t even read it.

When it comes to spoilers, movie trailers are still the worst though.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 15 May 2015 17:51:36 +0000

I do that, too—go with my gut. If knowing a certain plot point would spoil it for me, then it’d probably do the same for others. The page-count notion came from reviewing guidelines we both received from somewhere. 🙂

Sometimes I won’t even mention there’s a twist in the story because readers might anticipate it, try to figure out what it is, and when it comes it won’t be a surprise anymore.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 15 May 2015 17:49:02 +0000

Also: Sorry this happened to you (twice). Maddening.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 15 May 2015 17:48:40 +0000

I don’t have much to add as I agree with Michael, Jen, and Laura. It just seems to me if you have to add something like that, especially in bold, to promotional materials, it tells me you don’t have much faith in what’s inside. If you can’t hook me without a spoiler, that doesn’t bode well.

By: Laura Benedict

Laura Benedict — Fri, 15 May 2015 17:21:22 +0000

If a press release or a book cover announces such a drastic plot point, then the rest of the book better contain a helluva story. The book should be the story of *why*. In that case, I wouldn’t see it as a spoiler. As a writer, I love to give the reader a shock right at the beginning. But if it’s handled clumsily, then boo! Hiss!

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Fri, 15 May 2015 16:51:53 +0000

Your son and I are the same! I have not seen any of the SW trailers. And when we went to see AVENGERS, I said to Mr. PCN, “I hope they don’t run the SW trailer because I’ll have to leave.” Luckily, I was in the restroom when it came on.

I remember what it was like when I was a kid, going to see the original SW for the first time, not knowing anything, and then having my mind blown. I know it’s impossible to do that now, but I’m trying to know as little as possible so I’ll have more to marvel over when I see the movie.