tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post3644974538876024612..comments2024-03-10T00:26:33.241-08:00Comments on <strike>Muse Riding Shotgun</strike>: Good Lessons from Bad WritingMason T. Matchakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-53778308655560005262016-01-19T20:09:04.386-08:002016-01-19T20:09:04.386-08:00See, that I don't get. Why read something you...See, that I don't get. Why read something you don't like, just to be mean about it in a review? That sounds petty and spiteful, and it's pointless in the end - if someone wants to read a book, they're going to no matter what any reviewer says. It's just being mean for the sake of being mean. -_-Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-37133106546903992742016-01-19T20:08:02.965-08:002016-01-19T20:08:02.965-08:00True, it's good to note that. What usually ge...True, it's good to note that. What usually gets me is realizing that I don't care about the characters and/or the plot. If I don't want to know what's going to happen next, and never knowing wouldn't bother me, then I'm done with the book.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-67531961926671617312016-01-19T20:07:11.557-08:002016-01-19T20:07:11.557-08:00A lot of it is subjective, yes; talking about &quo...A lot of it is subjective, yes; talking about "bad writing" here was easier (and shorter) than talking about writing I don't like for one reason or another. Probably not as diplomatic, though. >_<<br /><br />And I think I'd have trouble not throwing a book like you've described across the room. Characters don't always have to like each other, but that sounds like manufactured drama for the sake of dragging things out. Bah.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-70808889682910898292016-01-19T20:05:34.012-08:002016-01-19T20:05:34.012-08:00It's true that so much of this is subjective -...It's true that so much of this is subjective - of the two books I discussed above, one is from a series that's apparently well-loved, and the author of the other seems to have a reasonable amount of success, as I've seen four or five of their books on the shelves. But you're right, reading as much as we can is so important. Even if some of it makes us cringe.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-42570671288952152162016-01-19T20:04:25.312-08:002016-01-19T20:04:25.312-08:00Yeah, I constantly remind myself that no matter ho...Yeah, I constantly remind myself that no matter how badly I think I'm doing, there are always books that are worse that have been published. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. -_- And I can look back on my older work and see where I was going bad, but it's harder with my newer stuff, probably because I'm closer to it.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-44564043457745211942016-01-13T11:56:27.218-08:002016-01-13T11:56:27.218-08:00Bad books can teach us how to be better writers. A...Bad books can teach us how to be better writers. And sometimes we have to ask ourselves if we make the same mistakes in our own writing.<br />I know someone who delights in finishing a bad book just so he can rip it to shreds. Yeah, he's made a few enemies along the way...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-5139635559519362572016-01-13T10:07:37.725-08:002016-01-13T10:07:37.725-08:00I do make note of what causes me to put abandon a ...I do make note of what causes me to put abandon a book. A lot of times, it's just that the voice doesn't appeal to me, but there are also plenty of times I'm put off by info dumps or unrealistic actions of characters -- and I try to learn how to avoid those things in my own writing.Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-70875315076087879432016-01-13T09:43:12.232-08:002016-01-13T09:43:12.232-08:00I don't know if technically it's always ba...I don't know if technically it's always <strong>bad</strong> writing, or if it's personal preference. For instance, I've read a few books where the main character is a female, and has developed a tumultuous friendship with a male character who I have grown to know is actually a good guy underneath and then she turns around and is nasty and spiteful and all the while laments 'woe is me!' It bugs the heck out of me, and I get the urge to chuck the book across the room. Is that bad writing? I don't think so, because it's a trope that I've seen in more than one book and the books sell. Still, I absolutely hate it and I hate the character. Other people have posted positive reviews. <br /><br />I find, I can't judge if writing is good or not. I've seen bad writing, like the actual writing is bad with confusing structure and stuff. But as far as quality goes? I just know what does it for me and what doesn't. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-14394940595745048272016-01-13T09:00:07.578-08:002016-01-13T09:00:07.578-08:00And that's why reading, and reading in excess ...And that's why reading, and reading in excess is the best exercise an author can make. (Even train wrecks.) I'm constantly learning from other people's writing--what to do, what not to do, why stories work or don't. Honestly, I'm astonished by the reviews on some of these books that I immediately want to burn, and some that I have nothing but praise for. It all comes down to the writing actually connecting with a reader, and that's terribly subjective. I suppose that's why I refrain from saying anything bad about books, even if I don't enjoy them. I just don't say anything at all.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-67968017348278475562016-01-13T08:40:21.114-08:002016-01-13T08:40:21.114-08:00Those books sound. . .well. . .wow. And they got p...Those books sound. . .well. . .wow. And they got published ;) (Sorry, this is something a family member keeps reminding me to help push up my lack-o-publishing spirits). <br />Since I review books too, I've had the opportunity to read some pretty hum-dingers. And that's great! Not from the reader side, obviously. But it does point out what does work and doesn't work when writing a story. It's almost a more valuable lesson than looking at those books which sweep us away. The problem comes in applying these lessons to our own writing. Although I see it in what others do and know what to watch out for, actually catching it in my own work is something that will need tons of practice.<br />So we keep learning.Tonja Dreckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07683717853264134466noreply@blogger.com