Comments on: The Secret to Good Writing

By: free classifieds

free classifieds — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:07:13 +0000

I always found my self very hard to transform anything in my head into good writing. I need more practice to be a good writer. “It’s not all about you!” indeed really inspiring me on how to make a good writing.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:53:55 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! When I was in University in a creative writing program, we had a few writers like this. My friend and I dubbed them “the arteestes.” They think very highly of themselves and their “art,” but very little of anyone else, or theirs. Often they are more about being different rather than actually getting a message across.
Case in point: one girl, wrote an entire short story and then *intentionally* randomly mixed up the paragraphs! It was so confusing that her message was competely lost.
What happened to the good old-fashioned short story with a beginning, middle and end? I don’t see too many of those.

By: mannequin

mannequin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:02:09 +0000

Good heavens, if only artists could understand literature, where on earth would any of us be?

I think that’s a big part of the challenge, to make your reader see, feel and taste the story. If the writer does not succeed in doing that, it’s certainly not the reader’s fault.

I don’t care for show offy writing either. Who really cares what the writer is like or his societal rank? I just want to read, see, feel and taste the story, thanks.

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:17:51 +0000

Great post Heather, I don’t think these thoughts will make you unpopular, quite the opposite actually.
Genevieve I have heard/read that expression and knew what it means, however, I would agree with you that in general it would be an unfamiliar expression, you’d only be able to understand it by looking for context cues really, and I personally hate it was writer’s throw in obscure terms that force you to get a dictionary or guess based on the context.

By: Genevieve Sawchyn

Genevieve Sawchyn — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:25:56 +0000

brava brava brava!
SO true. And can I add that
1) People writing “Literary Fiction” are NOT smarter than those of us who are writing for a … shall we say … “larger audience”?

2) Okay. I did a critique exchange with a woman last week. Her time period is 18th Century, in England. You know. Proper salon style and women in stays, etc. In the opening of her story she used a word that I’m vaguely familiar with – “my wife’s confinement”. I wrote back that I wasn’t sure why the woman was being confined, and she said that it was obvious. It is “well known” that it means she is pregnant. Truly? Because I thought confined was someone that was trapped in a small area or something. Anyway, the point is the same as yours in a way. Make it a word that those who are NOT “in the know” (like me, apparently) understand. Or don’t bother submitting.

My time period is also 18th Century, but my lads are Scottish rough’n'tumble Highlanders. She offered to help me in making my boys truly 18th Century. As if I hadn’t researched it already. So I suggested that maybe we weren’t compatible as critique partners …

Love that blog, Heather. Write On!

By: AZ Mom of Many Hats

AZ Mom of Many Hats — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:06:06 +0000

I agree that even if you write for yourself, if you’re going to make it public, you need to present it for others in a way they can relate to. If you aren’t willing to do that, then, well, maybe it should stay in the pages of your journal. Great post!

By: Tina Kubala

Tina Kubala — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:25:42 +0000

I agree. Writing is a form of communication. If no one “gets it” you have failed as a writer.