Our Insecure Writers Support Group question for March is the reason I sometimes have trouble getting my own writing done. Our question:
Have you ever read a line in a novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?
Oh yeah! Sometimes, I find myself simply lost in the elegant beauty of words strung together in a not so simple sentence. I read it, reread it, then just wallow in the creative genius of it. Words are powerful. They’re sexy, strong, emotionally devastating, painful, terrifying . . . and I love it when they catch me by surprise. I’ll dissect them, study the order, the complexity and/or simplicity of their arrangement. Sometimes, I confess, I’ll pout and stew and grumble, wishing I’d written them. And the best thing, when it happens, is when you realize YOU wrote those words. YOU created that bit of brilliance that sets that bar so high for your next paragraph, your next chapter, your next novel.
On the flip side, words can be SO clever that they pull you out of the work you’re reading. Especially when the author tries too hard to impress with their vocabulary or imagery. If I’m continually pulled out of the story by a confusing turn of phrase or by wording so convoluted that you have to construct a sentence diagram, the author has lost me. Story should suck the reader in, not shove him/her back into 12th grade composition.
Touched by Midnight Series - Book 6
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooks
Published: May 3, 2011
Length: 196 Pages
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries-old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
Will his dream . . .
Centuries-old vampire Louis Redman is desperate to believe an inquisitive researcher's claim that she's close to finding a cure for his age-old curse. Determined to become human again, he must trust the lovely geneticist who has pushed her way into his guarded life . . . and heart . . . not to betray him to the government agency that wants to uncover his secrets for their own purposes.
. . . be the death of her?
Scientist Stacy Kimball discovers potential fame and the answer to immortality in a murder victim's blood sample. But as she gets closer to the truth, danger stalks her from the shadows. Who wants to silence her from making the breakthrough of a lifetime? Is it the agency that funds her work? The killer who's terrorizing Seattle's night scene?
Or the mysterious Louis Redman, whose kisses seduce her beyond caring . . . ?
"A rare treat . . . this exciting thriller will keep you up all night as Ms. Gideon weaves her spell." — Romantic Times
"Nancy Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market today!" — Midwest Book Review/BookWire
If you like a taste of dark paranormal romance, MIDNIGHT REDEEMER, the 6th book in my “Touched by Moonlight” series is on S*A*L*E for only $.99 from March 16-31. You needn’t have read earlier books to enjoy this vampire vs serial killer on the dark streets of Seattle tale that will keep you up at night.
Now to see what plots get you in a twist . . .
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the March 1st posting of the IWSG will be Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
I agree with you that the story is what should pull you in to keep reading. Too much focus on beautiful words takes me out of the story too.
ReplyDeleteA bunch of made up words drive me crazy if I have to keep looking back to find out what they mean, I don't like to be pulled out of a story I'm loving.
DeleteI have a good grasp on big words (I've done a lot of crossword puzzles in my life) so if I run across a lot of words I don't understand, the author will lose me.
ReplyDeleteExactly. If you want to flaunt your verbage, go on Jeopardy don't stuff them into your novel.
DeleteBig, rarely used words are a distraction to me, as well as made-up names and countries and places that have complicated spellings and are impossible to pronounce. If you're going to use made up names etc. keep the spellings simple!
ReplyDeleteIf I can't think of a way (even a wrong way!) to pronounce a character name I can't relate to them as easily.
DeleteThanks for the heads-up on your sale. I love that you've made the series so a reader can just dive in without reading the other books first (I have a horrible habit of doing that). And I agree: 'fancy' wording usually turns me off.
ReplyDeleteI try to make each one stand alone while referring to those that come before (and sometimes after). I hate to start reading and feel like I sat down half way through the play.
DeleteThe best surprise ever is when you have author envy of your own words. Love that first paragraph. Was having author envy that I hadn't written it!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I get lost in not What I'm saying but in How I'm saying it!
DeleteOh! I want to read that book. I hope it will be on sale in Canada too.
ReplyDeleteYou're right: writing shouldn't distract from story. The best writers always find a balance between the two.
I hope it's on sale for you. Not sure yet. Haven't gotten all the deets.
DeleteAll the luck with your new release. It sounds intriguing. I agree that even books in a series need to have a standalone story.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head with "the author tries too hard to impress with their vocabulary or imagery" as the problem that takes us out of the story. I had to remember to be me in telling my stories. It's not about impressing readers with our choice of words. It's about giving them a solid story to the best of our ability. Great post! All best to you.
The best is when the reader hardly notices the words while visualizing their meaning.
DeleteI want to be drawn into a story. Captured by the juxtaposition of words. The wrong word (or synonym) yanks me out. Or when I have to reread a sentence a couple of times to make sense of it. Enjoy bringing out those previously published books so more people can enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Di! It's like visiting with old friends at a reunion - only they're all shapeshifters!
DeleteYou're so right about authors who try too hard to impress. We have to walk a fine line--be elegant but invisible. When I'm reading, it's all about the story and the characters. I need to forget the author even exists. Overly fancy writing will pull me out of a story almost as quickly as bad writing.
ReplyDelete