Ugh! I hope the situation improves very, very soon. I'm wishing you some of the fog and rain we're having here; it's lovely, and you certainly could use some.
For me, bad writing is predictable and clichéed (except when that's the point!). It's too-purple prose without a point, and riddled with fragments. At least, that's some of it. In terms of good writing, the essence is clarity in both fiction and non-fiction. In non-fiction, there must be a driving point and/or interesting narrative (at least in history); in fiction, there must be a compelling story and/or (preferably 'and') characters. As you say, good draws you back inside. That, and I think good writing is writing that makes me thing, rather than writing that makes me want to pick up my red pen or scream.
Oh, and by clarity, I don't mean that a story has to be without mystery, or multiple interpretations, or questions. Just that it be simple melody or clear polyphony under everythign else. So even though a novel might take place in a world entirely different from our own, the essence of the story should be clear. If that makes any sense (*exhibits possibly bad writing8)
it could be polysemous, or it could just be lots of different things happening that are difficult to track, perhaps, but still make up a clear whole. I'm not sure why I'm thinking of music here, but it seems to be the analog that works for me. In something contemporary-ish, think of Beach Boys or CSNY harmonies -- hard to pick out the individual parts and sing along with just one of them, because they combine to make a clear and coherent whole -- or maybe a classic madrigal, where the singers are all off in different directions, but the song is still clear if you pay attention?
I suppose in a way GRRM's Fire and Ice books are like that, although I think of GRRM as captivating and inventive (and after the last book, annoying), but not a particularly good writier.
Good writing, yes, takes you into a situation you've never been in, makes you OWN the feelings involved in the situation, and LIVE the situation, so you come out of it changed. Which happened to me in my very recent reading....
I think in a good book the writing carries you along. You don't have to agree with it, in fact, you might violently disagree with a character's conclusions or feel that a path is Not For You; but it's obvious why it's the right path _for that character_ and why they would act as depicted.
In bad writing, the author intrudes and declares what the characters should think, how the characters should act, who the characters should fall in love with. In good writing, characters have their own lives, their own opinions and morals, and in the context of the story, they work.
In real life, I would not like to meet Ian Fleming's Bond - borderline (?) alcoholic, always looking to fix conflicts with violence, difficulties in forming decent relationships. In his world, he's admirable.
For me, good writing boils down to writing that pulls me into the story without getting in the way of my enjoyment of it. An interesting plot or novel ideas can't reach me if the language can't take me there, or worse, gets in the way of me getting there. A certain clarity and skill level of writing is pretty much necessary for that "pull" to be able to exist, I believe. I can put up with the occasional (or habitual) torturous run-on sentence or really crappy cliche for the sake of a compelling plotline, although it might jolt me out of my absorption for a minute. And I absolutely enjoy tripping across a sentence or bit of writing that stuns me with its sheer genius, even though that too takes me momentarily of of the story.
Gah. I'm probably not making sense (or writing at all well). Must get coffee and think about this some more with a working brain...
This is actually the thing that still drives me crazy about Sorceress and the Cygnet and like works. I can't understand, because it's all strange: I want to love them, and in some ways I'm swept by them into infatuation, but I drop out on the other end cold and not really sure what just happened. I'll submit myself to the experience over and over again because I like it, love the story for it. But I will never have a comfortable or a trusting relationship with those stories.
Also, I was raised in a barn and I have been failing to say that I seriously hope things clear up for you guys here soon; I worry, and even if you avoid the fires the smog and smoke can't be much of an also-ran.
Comments 93
(The comment has been removed)
The smog is just unbelievably bad--think firesmoke sitting and baking in the sun.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Oh, and by clarity, I don't mean that a story has to be without mystery, or multiple interpretations, or questions. Just that it be simple melody or clear polyphony under everythign else. So even though a novel might take place in a world entirely different from our own, the essence of the story should be clear. If that makes any sense (*exhibits possibly bad writing8)
Reply
Reply
I suppose in a way GRRM's Fire and Ice books are like that, although I think of GRRM as captivating and inventive (and after the last book, annoying), but not a particularly good writier.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
In bad writing, the author intrudes and declares what the characters should think, how the characters should act, who the characters should fall in love with. In good writing, characters have their own lives, their own opinions and morals, and in the context of the story, they work.
In real life, I would not like to meet Ian Fleming's Bond - borderline (?) alcoholic, always looking to fix conflicts with violence, difficulties in forming decent relationships. In his world, he's admirable.
Reply
Gah. I'm probably not making sense (or writing at all well). Must get coffee and think about this some more with a working brain...
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Also, I was raised in a barn and I have been failing to say that I seriously hope things clear up for you guys here soon; I worry, and even if you avoid the fires the smog and smoke can't be much of an also-ran.
Reply
Yes, on one-note strange.
Reply
Leave a comment