On Reading & Writing: What Do You Enjoy?

Day 3

I recently read a 23-point list entitled How to Write Good. For the most part, I agree where principles of writing technique are concerned. It’s the other part that bothers me. The fun part.

Reading and writing are about what you and I enjoy. We’ve all read books that break so-called Writer’s Rules and are bestsellers, too. To use a cliché, some manuscripts are ‘picture perfect’ as far as the manual of style but the content is a bore. This includes novels and non-fiction works, and it’s not always because of the subject matter or storyline.

It’s the K.I.S.S. style. Keep. It. Simple. Stupid. Plain language has its place. So does poetic expression. Each style has its own beauty. However, it’s stupid not to blend the two or make allowances for each. Some rules are just screaming to be broken.

So again I find myself swimming upstream, writing and liking-horror of horrors-mixed metaphors and purple prose. In romance writing, I find it particularly appealing. I also like and use foreign language phrases. It’s colorful, and to me the writer has done some extra homework. It’s a love of language on my part.

What’s more, writers today create languages for use in their tales. Don’t you love the creativity? The public obviously does. The Lord of the Rings is a tremendous example. Need I say more?

If some classic authors tried to get published today, their work would probably end up in the slush pile, guilty of HTWG. And somewhere out there, some misguided junior editor might even dish out a big sloppy K.I.S.S. to J.R.R. Tolkien. Imagine. 

On Reading & Writing-What Do You Enjoy?

Day 2

Today in the writing industry there are far too many novels that make me feel like I’m reading a television script. I can usually tell what’s coming on the first page in the first few paragraphs. I definitely fit the better-catch-my-interest-fast category of readers for this type of novel.
 
First person, you see, is not my favorite style to read or write. Even if it's well done, I don’t have the patience for the style and it bores me to tears. I'm sure that I could write a first person complete novel draft in a few days because it’s just ‘yakkity-yak’ put down on paper. The “I this and I that” is a real turn-off, the Mr. Yuck of style.

But that’s my opinion. What’s yours?

On Reading & Writing-What Do You Enjoy?

Day 1
You can't please everyone.

It's not an under or overstatement but means exactly what the words imply. I currently have 2 reviews on my novel, Heart in the HIGHLANDS, on Amazon and completely understand both comments. We’re all entitled to our opinions, and this blog is about not only my opinion, but yours.
 
One review of my book is highly favorable and the other is middle-of-the-road.The reason? It’s all about things people like and dislike. Personally I enjoy various genres and writing styles, and the written word is more comfortable to me than the spoken word. For my tastes, most people talk too much and say very little worth hearing in the process.

So while conversation is part of being human and even necessary, it’s not my favorite pastime. I’d much rather curl up with a good book and lose myself in a make-believe world filled with adventure, romance, and paragraph upon paragraph of descriptive elements that tell a tale and paint a picture I’ll never forget.

I want to read about the stunning countryside or the exquisite pearl buttons on the bodice of a Regency evening gown. You get the picture.

So the first thing that I particularly enjoy are descriptive elements in stories. This can make a book long, even boring, if you’re not a genuine fan of the written word.