When Good Writing Isn't Enough
The more I write, the more I realize good writing isn't enough. I've heard the saying, "Story trumps all."
It really does.
If you're starting a new story, or even halfway through, I'd suggest looking at your story first, editing and revising that (story structure, pacing, hooks, etc) before worrying about craft-like things such as POV, adverbs, dialogue tags, backstory, etc.
Solid writing can be concrete. You can look at a sentence and "fix" it. Find the adverb. Delete the dialogue tag. Add a comma.
Some people notice great writing. But if there's not a great story to go with it, the writing doesn't matter. On the other hand, a great story doesn't need great writing to suck the reader in.
Which authors suck you in with their prose? Which authors tell such a great story that you don't even notice their prose? And if you had to choose, which author would you be?
It really does.
If you're starting a new story, or even halfway through, I'd suggest looking at your story first, editing and revising that (story structure, pacing, hooks, etc) before worrying about craft-like things such as POV, adverbs, dialogue tags, backstory, etc.
Solid writing can be concrete. You can look at a sentence and "fix" it. Find the adverb. Delete the dialogue tag. Add a comma.
Some people notice great writing. But if there's not a great story to go with it, the writing doesn't matter. On the other hand, a great story doesn't need great writing to suck the reader in.
Which authors suck you in with their prose? Which authors tell such a great story that you don't even notice their prose? And if you had to choose, which author would you be?
Comments
Great prose? Ray Bradbury
Great story? Stephen King
which would I be? Stephen Bradbury or Ray King ;)
Story is the most important and starting next week... I'm working on mine!
She said: Do you think agents are more likely to take on work that has a great plot with writing that needs work, or great writing with a plot that needs work?
→ Great writing with a weak plot - for sure. I can help a good writer improve their plot. But teaching an average writer to be a good writer is not my job.
I personally think it needs to be both. The writing skill has to be at a publishable level (meaning the writer has studied the craft and knows the "basics.") But they must also have a story that's workable. Sure, it won't be perfect, we'll all have rewrites, but the story has to have potential too.
I think what you're saying is that, writers reach a point where their writing skill is good enough, but then need to focus on developing richer stories. And I would agree.
Here's proof....
Barbara Kingslover's prose amaze me. Astound me. Have me floating over the moon in awe at the way she can string words together so poetically. I've read the first few pages of Poison Wood Bible at least a hundred times. But I have never finished the book.
STephanie Meyer...gotta love that gal. Her writing is pretty basic. Nothing fancy. She even gets knocked by a lot of writers who think she isn't a good writer at all. But the Twilight story? Forbidden love and sexy vampires and all that? Now that sucked me right in! I've read that book at least three times (the whole thing) and I cannot believe I'm admitting to it so publicly.
Can I cheat with your question and say both? I'd like to be both. But okay, fine, if I could only pick one, I guess I'd like to be able to write a captivating story over captivating prose.
Jessica - do you like how I'm taking over your blog?
The other? It's dragging on forever!! But the writer writes better I thought.
Story all the way!
But ain't it grand when you get both?
Carla Stewart's Chasing Lilacs is blowing me away right now to a point where I just want to make it last. That hasn't happened in the longest time!
Cheryl, this is the second time I've heard about Chasing Lilacs. I'm going to have to check it out. I LOVE when I don't want a story to end. Thanks so much for recommending it!
Terri, that's so very interesting. I wish we could bottle up that mysterious "thing" that makes a story suck a reader in, don't you? :-) Sorry about the dragging story. lol I hate when that happens!
I'm tired from a long day hanging with my sis yesterday, but I just wanted to add that I think Peace Like A River does both.
And I got a little sad Katie never finished Poisonwood Bible. I'll get over it.
~ Wendy
Hmmm, Jody, I haven't seen Rachelle's post this morning but what you're saying is actually a relief to me because the rejections I tend to get are, You're a good writer but the story...
So that's had me thinking a lot.
I think Jessica probably pegged what I was feeling, even if I didn't say it clearly enough (I wrote the post last night--can I use that as my excues? *grin*)
I def. meant writing that surpasses publishable level. I guess I'm thinking of the kind of prose I read in The Book Thief or in The Thirteenth Tale. The sentences were SO amazing that they took my breath almost as much as the story itself.
I totally get what you're saying though Jody.
And I also think that an agent and editor may be looking for different things, sometimes. An agent (from what I understand) is ready to build a relationship with a writer. So if there's solid prose (not great, necessarily, just publishable) and an interesting story, then maybe the agent is willing to invest time in such a writer knowing it's a long-term thing??
An editor wants to be blown away, I think. I don't know if an editor cares so much about building the career of the writer. Maybe they do. It seems like Bethany House is interested in your career, but you've also chosen to write solely for them, right?
Now my brain is twisting so I'll end this comment. :-)
That's so funny about Poisonwood and Twilight. Thanks for sharing that. Also, I like your distinction between what the public wants and what publishing professionals want.
I'm guessing you finished and loved Poisonwood? *grin*
I'm glad you're home and hope you get lots of rest today!
Great prose: Alice Hoffman and Charlotte Bronte
Great story: Charlotte Bronte
Which writer would I want to be? The wicked love child of Charlotte and Alice. HA. (Because my stuff would HAVE to be a little twisted, you know.) ;-)
Too bad agents and publishers can't seem to get past it too. But still, I'm glad I've been rejected for bad writing. At least they liked the central story. It's way easier to fix craft errors, plus their rejections give me a chance to make everything better!
For me it HAS to be a combo of great writing and good story. My tilde mark is on the great writing. And it is SO subjective.
Isn't that the beauty of art???
Love ya, Jessica!
Patti
It's impossible to name my favorite author. There are too many that make my heart go pitter patter when a new title comes out. :)
While the story must be excellent, it can be ruined by the writing. It's hard to follow a story if the author is head-hopping, dumping back story, or distracting me in dozens of other ways.
Blessings,
Susan
When I'm writing? It's story first, what do I need to show about my characters so it means something when they go from point A to point B? Of course, once in a while, when I'm editing, I roll my eyes at myself over the stupid grammatical mistakes I make.
I can forgive so-so writing if the story draws me in with compelling characters. Like others have said, Stephanie Meyer's Twilight isn't well-written by crafting standards, but the story has captured so many hearts.
Susan May Warren sucks me in with story and prose. Her books are definite keepers on my shelf. Same goes with Rachel Hauck and M.L. Tyndall.
I want to be both kinds of authors--one that writes prose AND characters that stay with readers long after the story is finished.
I think The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a good example. The front of the book needed some serious editing (in my opinion), but the story of the characters was so compelling it was impossible to put the book down.
This applies to memoir as well as fiction. If the story doesn't hold together, the truth will not be heard.
Linda, I'm sorry about the rejections but I think you have a great attitude about them and attitude goes a long way in publishing. :-)
Patti, that's true about subjectivity. My idea of great writing is the lush, unique ways of saying things. But I know there are authors who have really unique, almost-curt and barebones type of voices too.
LOL
That's the sad side effect of being a writer, I guess. I wonder if actors do the same things when they see movies?
Lisa, those are all authors I've heard of but haven't read yet. Thanks for reminding me!
Talli, yep. :-)
Blessings,
Karen
Although I love to read just about anything.
I don't know about the authors...
hmm...
I've read so many different ones lately...
I'll have to think on that one
But story is still so important. If I don't care about the character or think the plot is interesting, all the beautifully structured sentences in the world couldn't keep me hooked.
I like a flow of a story. Too many descriptions can be off putting. Laurence Durrell the author of Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, wrote about the 1974 invasion. The story was real and interesting. Unfortunately for me, his descriptions got in the way, and took my mind off of what I was reading at times. It took me three attempts to read it, and it was worth it. Shame I nearly didn't read it, though.