Reading Experiment
Recently, I picked up three books from my indie bookstore. Book A came highly recommended by a friend of mine.
Book B, I bought because I adore the author's blog and wanted to pay her back in a way that she would profit from my gratitude.
But Book C, is a book I heard about only briefly. It was the third book in a trilogy that made all the blog headlines and NYT bestseller list about three years ago. The author went on to write other books, but evidently they never stirred the fires as much as her first book.
I've always meant to pick up those books, but I could never remember her name once I was in the book store. As I was browsing this last time, I recalled the premise and asked the store owner if it was familiar to her. All we could find was the third book in the series.
Of the three authors I chose that day, I couldn't decide which book to try first, so as an experiment, I read the first six chapters of each book. Boy, was I surprised.
Of all three books, the only one I really wanted to return to was Book C.
To be honest, the writing wasn't as crisp and the world building wasn't as dense as the other two books. Technically, while it was a well-edited book, it wasn't one of those shining examples where you fall in love with the language.
But I loved the story. I didn't care that the author repeated certain words over and over again, or that the world building was scant even by my standards. I didn't care that the characters could have been a little more fleshed out--though I blame this on the fact that I was reading the third book of a trilogy. My guess is her characters were better rounded in the first book.
Even though the other two books were by prolific and accomplished authors, I far preferred the offering of this other author. I loved the concept and the story.
That it wasn't as polished as the other two never made a bit of difference to my enjoyment. While writers constantly struggle on everything from beat to grammar, to world building, when it all comes down to it, it really is all about the story.
How many times have we heard snide remarks about Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer's writing? Yet they went on to mega stardom because they swept their audience with their storytelling or intriguing characters.
Have you ever fallen in love with a book on story or characters alone? Writers: Do we worry too much about the technical aspects?
I've read many technically sound books, but very few 'wrap me up in a blanket and let me read' books.
Tell me a story. As long as the editing doesn't jar me out of my read, I won't care that you didn't give me a blow by blow account of woodland fairies or the noises from a downtown office. Just let me fall in love with your characters' journey.
How about you?
Book B, I bought because I adore the author's blog and wanted to pay her back in a way that she would profit from my gratitude.
But Book C, is a book I heard about only briefly. It was the third book in a trilogy that made all the blog headlines and NYT bestseller list about three years ago. The author went on to write other books, but evidently they never stirred the fires as much as her first book.
I've always meant to pick up those books, but I could never remember her name once I was in the book store. As I was browsing this last time, I recalled the premise and asked the store owner if it was familiar to her. All we could find was the third book in the series.
Of the three authors I chose that day, I couldn't decide which book to try first, so as an experiment, I read the first six chapters of each book. Boy, was I surprised.
Of all three books, the only one I really wanted to return to was Book C.
To be honest, the writing wasn't as crisp and the world building wasn't as dense as the other two books. Technically, while it was a well-edited book, it wasn't one of those shining examples where you fall in love with the language.
But I loved the story. I didn't care that the author repeated certain words over and over again, or that the world building was scant even by my standards. I didn't care that the characters could have been a little more fleshed out--though I blame this on the fact that I was reading the third book of a trilogy. My guess is her characters were better rounded in the first book.
Even though the other two books were by prolific and accomplished authors, I far preferred the offering of this other author. I loved the concept and the story.
That it wasn't as polished as the other two never made a bit of difference to my enjoyment. While writers constantly struggle on everything from beat to grammar, to world building, when it all comes down to it, it really is all about the story.
How many times have we heard snide remarks about Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer's writing? Yet they went on to mega stardom because they swept their audience with their storytelling or intriguing characters.
Have you ever fallen in love with a book on story or characters alone? Writers: Do we worry too much about the technical aspects?
I've read many technically sound books, but very few 'wrap me up in a blanket and let me read' books.
Tell me a story. As long as the editing doesn't jar me out of my read, I won't care that you didn't give me a blow by blow account of woodland fairies or the noises from a downtown office. Just let me fall in love with your characters' journey.
How about you?
Comments
But yes, I have enjoyed stories more for the characters or actual story than the actual "writing".
If I'm sleepy while I'm writing, I sometimes type out the homophone of the word because my brain tries to spell out the first word it thinks of.
It's kind of like drunk driving--but not quite so dangerous. Just embarrassing. LOL.
Thank goodness for CPs and editors.
If the work is dull, no amount of polish is going to help it.
Well...everything but chocolate. :)