Comments | stacia_kane: My little Writing Rules pt. 2 (This one goes up to 11!)

stacia_kane

My little Writing Rules pt. 2 (This one goes up to 11!)

Sep 06, 2011 09:11

So yesterday, if you missed it, I posted a bit of a rant about how disappointed I am with Dr. Who (link will open in new window) these days, particularly with the writing, which seems to have traded emotional depth, story, characterization, continuity, real suspense, and pacing for cheap manufactured twists and self-aware “cleverness.” I feel like ( Read more... )

writing, rantypants, my opinion for what it's worth, bad writing bothers me, grumpyass

Comments 1

ext_778273 September 6 2011, 19:54:53 UTC

#9 is one of my hot buttons. Good writing is one thing, but honestly, I hate it when the writer tries to show off.

The biggest? Language and word use. Yes, I've a pretty good vocabulary. Yes, I've a pretty high reading level. But...I hate it when writers choose antiquated or rarely used, huge words simply to look smart. It kills pacing. I read for fun, not intellectual mastur...not to feel smart.

I set down Neil Stephenson's Baroque Cycle because of this. It became tedious. No, I didn't pick up a dictionary to understand it, but the language killed the pacing, and I got bored.

I don't mind if the writer throws in occasional antiquated speech if it supports a character, however.

IMHO, it takes more skill to express sophisticated ideas at a high school level than at an English grad student level. You'll have a wider audience too. More $$$ in your pocket.

I may be wrong on this. Maybe I'm lazy. Or dumb. I hope not.