I’ve Got a Bone to Pick up Here on my Soap Box!
Nothing frustrates me more than reading a book filled with lazy writing. I’m talking about dialogue tags and telling. So and so “said eagerly, or demanded or protested,” so and so “felt defensive, violated, etc.”
Anyone whose been studying the craft of writing for some time will tell you to nix the dialogue tags when at all possible and go with action beats. “Jenny, come here this minute.” Allison tapped her toe, hands firm on her hips. Not only does this eliminated the annoying “said” it also shows that Allison is angry or impatient. I didn’t have to say Allison felt angry because the reader sees it! The reader doesn’t have to be told, she gets it. What telling does is distance the reader from the character. Showing helps the reader experience the emotions of the character.
I’m reading two books right now that could be considered opposites in storytelling. One is suspense, tight writing, engaging, emotionally connected. The author doesn’t mince words, doesn’t use “said” and only tells when necessary for a transition.
The other book is general fiction, loose plot, not very engaging, blah characters, over use of “said” and telling. I can’t connect with the characters. I don’t feel their emotions and the lazy writing just plain irks me. I’ve never read this author before, might give her another chance because she’s very popular and has written over 100 books.
Yes, you read that right 100! Which brings me to a point to ponder. How can someone so prolific, who’s sold so many books, get so lazy in their writing? Or maybe it’s because this person whips out five books a year. Maybe she doesn’t have time to pour her best into her novels and it shows, at least in the current one I’m reading.
The other author, on the other hand, only writes one book a year. Aside from the intense plotting that goes into her suspense books, I see the toil and labor over every single word. Her writing is stellar, and it shows.
Which brings me to my second point to ponder. Do I want to be like this prolific writer, that cranks out book after book, but writing is lax? Or do I want to be an author that writes one great book a year?
I think I already know my answer!
You’ve read the post. What do you think? I’d love your thoughts on this issue and the books you’ve read lately.
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I’d rather write one good book a year and maybe one great book, period.
I’ve seen some of this myself lately and it frustrates me as well. I just finished a book by a pretty prolific author who had the same problems you describe. It was very difficult for me to finish the book.
On the other hand, I’m reading the collected short stories of John Cheever and cherishing every story and word because the care and attention given to the writing is obvious. Sure, he has a few methods that wouldn’t sell today, but great writing is great writing as far as I’m concerned.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:24 amI, too, have a “pet peeve” author whose works I find annoying. She is very popular and she has great plot premises, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
On the other hand, I do have a handful of favorite authors who only have a few books in print, but those few are extremely memorable and personal favorites.
As someone who is only starting out her writing journey, I have no desire to be a quick-churner. To be able to write quickly would be wonderful, but I am a perfectionist so I don’t think that is ever going to happen.
Do I think our pet peeve authors are giving it their best? As a reader, it doesn’t seem so. Perhaps these authors are not much into reading themselves and have lost some objectivity. I don’t know. I just appreciate good literature when I find it and try to avoid those who give me mental pain!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:09 amBrandon, Loved…,
Thanks for your comments. Good to know I’m not alone in my thoughts. I would much rather read a great author who puts out one book a year, than a mediocre one with books every other month. In fact, there are some books I’ve been waiting for for a year. When they come out, I’ll devour them and probably rave about them. If you don’t see a review on my blog about a certain book I’ve read, it’s probably because the bad outweighs the good.
Maybe if we keep speaking up, we can raise the bar!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amAs just a reader I would rather read a one hit wonder
June 15th, 2008 at 6:57 pmthan a million hit blunder.
Bev, Luv it! You sure you’re not a writer?
June 15th, 2008 at 7:23 pmI’m purely a reader, and had never thought of the difference in writing styles you brought out, Gina. What a difference in the two examples you gave! Action beats have much more power than dialogue tags. I’d much rather read an author’s one book a year with the “wow” factor rather than numerous books. I realize you probably can’t say, but I’d love to know who you were describing!
June 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am[…] Conroy, Founder of Writer . . . Interrupted has “A Bone to Pick Up” about dialogue […]
July 28th, 2008 at 4:17 am