tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post3475447069507277546..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: #amwriting From a Slightly Different Perspective by Margo HoornstraAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-7711239186927709522018-04-15T09:13:03.711-04:002018-04-15T09:13:03.711-04:00Hey, Diane. Welcome back. It is frustrating, isn’t...Hey, Diane. Welcome back. It is frustrating, isn’t it? You’re right, a great story can override a multitude of flaws.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-62708168653911930552018-04-15T09:11:34.598-04:002018-04-15T09:11:34.598-04:00Who the heck knows, indeed, Ally. Love the throat-...Who the heck knows, indeed, Ally. Love the throat-punch visual. LOLMargo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-69968465593608944812018-04-15T09:10:03.638-04:002018-04-15T09:10:03.638-04:00Well said, Alison. You’re exactly right. But oh to...Well said, Alison. You’re exactly right. But oh to hit that ever elusive sweet spot.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-64696177266986068432018-04-14T11:29:33.011-04:002018-04-14T11:29:33.011-04:00Great topic, Margo. I'm frustrated when I read...Great topic, Margo. I'm frustrated when I read a highly-anticipated (by me) novel only to discover it isn't as good as I thought it would be. My inner critic finds flaws, plot-wise or presentation. I won't review it, but I wonder how it got to be published. The key, as Alicia says, is a great story. Something has to click with the reader to make us ignore the flaws and enjoy the story.Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-76232631347041137002018-04-14T09:40:56.700-04:002018-04-14T09:40:56.700-04:00Great post. I agree about luck and timing. And, fo...Great post. I agree about luck and timing. And, for me, the problem with some of these best-sellers isn't just the breaking of rules (rules don't matter as much as an engaging story), but these books are really just awful. Not only poorly written, but boring and not engaging with characters you just want to throat-punch. Who the heck knows how they become famous? Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-47615968748342149042018-04-12T11:58:40.549-04:002018-04-12T11:58:40.549-04:00As everyone has said, luck, timing, and hype make ...As everyone has said, luck, timing, and hype make all the difference when it comes to blockbusters. Readers' tastes change, and offering them just the right story at just the right time is a real crapshoot. And then there's the problem of getting the word out. All we can do is write our own stories and keep an eye out for innovative ways to put them in front of readers.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-58423205496253453152018-04-12T08:04:41.406-04:002018-04-12T08:04:41.406-04:00You’re exactly right, Rolynn. It’s the nature of a...You’re exactly right, Rolynn. It’s the nature of all creatures to seek pleasure and avoid pain. No sureties in this biz, kind of nails it. Luck, timing, and, I might add, perseverance.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-60082841490015716712018-04-11T21:31:49.707-04:002018-04-11T21:31:49.707-04:00I read a thread on PAN about 'triggers.' O...I read a thread on PAN about 'triggers.' Our personalities and our backgrounds...and even real time events trigger positive and negative responses as we begin to read a novel. The story might be fabulous, but because of some trauma, the reader can't possibly get into the novel. With a mediocre novel...maybe the subject is just what the reader wanted to learn about. As many of you have said, luck and timing are involved... there are no sureties in this biz.Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-74168581732101140642018-04-11T20:09:19.782-04:002018-04-11T20:09:19.782-04:00You’re right, Leah. Most readers don’t read with t...You’re right, Leah. Most readers don’t read with the intensity another writer does. That conference session sounds very interesting. I’m with you with the someone paid for this garbage question. Has happened to us many, many times. I like your lightening strike idea. It could happen, huh?Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-919189184623934842018-04-11T19:34:34.665-04:002018-04-11T19:34:34.665-04:00I don't think that kind of success comes down ...I don't think that kind of success comes down to adhering to the writing rules that we all (at least to some extent) live by. I think readers will overlook all sorts of flaws once they're pulled into a story. One of my work editors attended a conference a few years back where one of the sessions was about the formula for a best-seller (must have done X by page Y kind of thing), and they studied best-sellers over time, from Gone With the Wind up to present day, all different genres. She said it was amazing how that success pattern was identified in each of those best-sellers. I also think sometimes it's just a matter of luck, as tough as that is to accept. How many times TPM (The Plot Master) and I have watched a movie, shaking our heads thinking, <i>Someone paid for this garbage?</i> We just keep trying, hoping for that lightning to strike!Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-16716862572882837052018-04-11T15:53:56.104-04:002018-04-11T15:53:56.104-04:00I totally agree as well, Brenda. Downright maddeni...I totally agree as well, Brenda. Downright maddening, isn’t it? Depending on one’s position, those screwups are considered ‘quaint’ or ‘eccentric’. Maybe we’re all going for the wrong things, being true and authentic and all. Could happen. Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-378954908250713992018-04-11T15:47:13.315-04:002018-04-11T15:47:13.315-04:00I totally agree with JL. Mistakes happen for big a...I totally agree with JL. Mistakes happen for big authors as well as the little guy. But when the "rules" we've learned are ignored, it's the big guys that get away with it. Granted, I don't agree with all of these rules, but most of them make a book more readable. When those types are ignored, I don't care who the author is, it's not an enjoyable read.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-29067780875203529552018-04-11T14:01:14.187-04:002018-04-11T14:01:14.187-04:00Sad but true, JL. Sometimes makes you wonder how b...Sad but true, JL. Sometimes makes you wonder how big name authors got to the top in the first place. Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-54213755434023945712018-04-11T13:47:14.539-04:002018-04-11T13:47:14.539-04:00I seldom pick up a best seller anymore; I've b...I seldom pick up a best seller anymore; I've been so disappointed in them in the past. I can't tell you how many books promised to keep me enthralled, but ... not so much. Authors with a Name can get away with it, I guess! J L Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537365728150842299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-22377431025887456562018-04-11T13:30:54.791-04:002018-04-11T13:30:54.791-04:00I think you're right, Jannine. Hype sells and ...I think you're right, Jannine. Hype sells and the product is secondary. Or so it seems. In some ways, it's kind of comforting to know we, as authors, don't have to be absolutely perfect. Just basically so. Maybe in this case, I was more aware of flaws than your average reader. Doesn't mean they weren't there. IMHO anyway. Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-76919381547548876512018-04-11T10:04:50.057-04:002018-04-11T10:04:50.057-04:00I think hype plays a huge part in creating a block...I think hype plays a huge part in creating a blockbuster. The 50 Shades books being an example. I don't know what stirs hype. Shock factor? Something different? Who the heck knows. If I did, I'd be writing it. But a perfectly written book doesn't seem to draw or enthrall the masses. Also, I feel like authors who already have a name can break what rules they want, and people will still read them. Habit plays a large part in buying choices. People aren't always willing to try something new, especially when there are an overwhelming number of choices. They'll stick with what they know, even if it's flawed. Probably, as writers, we're much more aware of those flaws than most.Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047728297429025804noreply@blogger.com