Bittercon --why we love bad writing

[sartorias]

Why We Love Bad Writing. In the Guardian, writer Edward Docx bemoaned the popularity of such writers as Stieg Larsson and insisted on a qualitative difference between “literary” and “genre” fiction. Critic Laura Miller, writing in Salon, disagreed with most of Docx’s assumptions, but wondered what it is that makes the books of Larsson or Dan Brown

Comments

[jennifergale]

Hm.

I can read incredibly BAD fanfiction just to soak up more of character type X and character type Y. I can read really, truly horrible manga if the general plot follows a trope I love. Same principles apply to the bad novels I devour. If the story is a mix of favorite tropes and favorite characters, I'll absolutely re-read it, no matter how painful the prose.

In such cases, the reading does go fast. You can skip soooooo blinking much. It's easy to scan for the bits that are different (and this is what I read for -- not for more of the same, same, same, but the bits that set the story apart). I might encounter one lone character quirk that I hadn't seen before -- or, in the case of fanfic, one yet-unseen character trait that the author pulled from the subtext of the original canon (This is always, always exciting). Or, heavens. The prose might stink and a secondary-character might call Shikamaru a pineapple-head every other sentence (gah, so annoying!), but if the plot is a completely new take on a worn-out trope, I'll love the story so much that I'll rec it to my friends.

But. In order for me to endure the painful prose and blah plot, I have to love the core elements. I can't get into Dan Brown's books because his stories just don't appeal to me. I loved Heyer because I loved the period she wrote about (accuracy? Pshaw!) and I thought the heroines were silly and fun.

For me, such stories are almost more like guided daydreams...and I don't want to daydream about conspiracies that defy my understanding of history and humanity. I want to daydream about ninjas with superpowers! And girls who have to cross-dress in order to support their families! And wise-cracking women who get into stupid situations and then get out of them again! With their dogs!

And it's always like opening a can of Pringles. I know I shouldn't -- heck, I know I shouldn't have bought the can in the first place. When I open the can, I tell myself that I'll only eat a small stack, that I'll stop after I've got the taste in my mouth again, but that never happens. :P

[sartorias]

I think that's an important element, that 'more of the same X'

[jennifergale]

lol. Yup! Or... "More of the same X, but a little different." :)

[marycatelli]

It's like going to see a Shakespeare play. You want them to do something different with it but you still want the play.

[jennifergale]

Yes! Exactly :)

[mswyrr]

THIS. So much. I will read the most technically inexpert things if my storykinks are there. Obversely, the most technically proficient thing which touches nothing of my heart I cannot tolerate for very long. The ideal, of course, is to get the storykinks with good writing... but the kinks usually come first.