On Writing
“The chain-link gate yowled like an angry tomcat in the watery light of dawn.” This is the first sentence of a book by a “New York Times bestselling author.” I can’t say that I’ve seen a more hack-kneed or trite opening to a book since Snoopy wrote one. There follows a number of quotes lauding the abilities of the author and the series of books, all marketing BS. If you are a writer, and I like to think that I am, you wonder how this book got published.
Okay, give the guy another 25 pages. Maybe it’s just a bad start. After all everybody has different tastes. Not every style appeals to every reader.
Unfortunately, I spent another 15 minutes of my time wading through the next 21 pages before I couldn’t take it any more. (I don’t review books or movies for a living because I can’t stand spending the few days I have in this life subjecting myself to crap.) It was over-written and filled with cliche characters. HarperCollins must have lots of money laying around to bet on this junk. Grant you, I’m not a big Jane Austin fan, but her stuff is very well done, interesting and readable.
The good news is that if publishers are willing to shell out good money on this inane book, eventually better writers will their fiction published. Hopefully, I will be one of them.
If you are a writer, have some pride in your thoughts and in your work. If you don’t have time to do a good job, don’t bother. There is more to good writing than punctuation.
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POSTED IN: Boomer Books
3 opinions for On Writing
Anne Wayman
Apr 29, 2008 at 8:44 am
Unfortunately, the fact that publishers can no longer be counted on to make good decisions about readable writing doesn’t increase your chances, at least not imo.
First of all, you said this was a “famous NY… author” - that’s because they are considered safe and will garner a decent return on investment.
My guess from your quote is it’s an action thriller… Haper Collins used to be reliable, until they were bought up by whomever… now they aren’t…
If you want to publish your novel with some big name publisher, you’ll either have to already be famous or convince the marketing department (not editorial) that they can sell your book by the boatload… which usually means lots of exploitive sex and gratuitous violence.
Richard
Apr 29, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I am an apprentice writer and learned something very heartening today while at the library. People are still reading; young people are reading and learning to enjoy books.
I made a comment about this to one of the librarians after noting the large stack of books waiting to be checked in. Another one interjected that as a writer I should be very happy that folks are reading.
Too bad about the crap being promoted by the publisher in question. There will always be that. I’m just happy I have my first story being published in a reputable (but small) print magazine this July.
Like most writers, I write to be read and any audience is better than none. Not that I’d intentionally write the kind of thing you’re speaking of just to be published and read.
Good luck on your book.
Rich
Jean
Apr 29, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I do write to be read. I also write to be fed.
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