tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post4630156390421012504..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: A WOMAN'S PEROGATIVESusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-32735787249321968282015-03-21T05:42:53.302-07:002015-03-21T05:42:53.302-07:00Late to the party. I AGREE! And Toni Yes I also ag...Late to the party. I AGREE! And Toni Yes I also agree everyone is different. he reason we have many books to select. Thank the powers that be. <br />Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-40496429908457085792015-03-19T07:56:30.157-07:002015-03-19T07:56:30.157-07:00To All, As Woody Allan has famously said, "A ...To All, As Woody Allan has famously said, "A writer's job is to entertain. If he also says something meaningful about life and death, those are happy acidents."<br /><br />I think I quoted Woody correctly--we're on a first name basis!--but the gist of his meaning is there. jean harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04925805990806522316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-91012234077396271812015-03-19T05:44:21.775-07:002015-03-19T05:44:21.775-07:00I haven't read the rest of the article but I t...I haven't read the rest of the article but I totally agree with this. It feeds into what Elmore Leonard said about writing.. (taken from http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/304) <br /><br />What’s Leonard’s secret to being both popular and respectable? Perhaps you’ll find some clues in his 10 tricks for good writing: * <br /><br /> Never open a book with weather.<br /> Avoid prologues.<br /> Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.<br /> Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely.<br /> Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. <br /> Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."<br /> Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.<br /> Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.<br /> Don't go into great detail describing places and things.<br /> Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.<br /> My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.<br /><br /> If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.<br /><br />***<br />My only comment against this is that everyone is different, and there are some people who like reading/and writing what they see as complex prose. I think they probably shouldn't be writing genre fiction. <br />Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006694783089788568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-61873825268464054562015-03-19T04:05:08.377-07:002015-03-19T04:05:08.377-07:00I removed the previous comment as marketing spam.
...I removed the previous comment as marketing spam.<br /><br />I will read the article later, Jean, but like you, I think that excerpt - even or maybe especially taken out of context - sums up the whole issue of my writing to me. Thanks for the (indirect) validation on this grey, chilly morning! )Clare Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392142798976142547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-23903090892778246472015-03-18T22:48:16.232-07:002015-03-18T22:48:16.232-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.maymayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16394156561257223524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-1970482160263796702015-03-18T12:53:44.441-07:002015-03-18T12:53:44.441-07:00Anne Marie, maybe he was conflicted about the basi...Anne Marie, maybe he was conflicted about the basic purpose of an MFA program, but I did get the impression that he was confining his remarks (read ire) at the quality of student writing. Anyway, an interesting, somewhat passionate, observation on his part. jean harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04925805990806522316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-20500055138976265772015-03-18T11:03:17.194-07:002015-03-18T11:03:17.194-07:00Interesting! And I love the quote you selected. Th...Interesting! And I love the quote you selected. The way I, as a reader, totally immerse myself in a story is if I'm enjoying it. Although I have a feeling MFA programs have an entirely different goal. Maybe that's where he was conflicted.Anne Marie Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603878676306179018noreply@blogger.com