Comments on: What Killed it For Me #5: Weak Writing

By: Helia Rethmann

Helia Rethmann — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 01:58:40 +0000

In reply to Mark Henwick. That's good advice,@MarkHenwick! Apprentice with THE BEST, is still the best advice.

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 17:17:31 +0000

In reply to Beth. Poorly written books are published all the time, both independently and traditionally. This is why it really should fall on the author rather than the publisher to make sure our books are strong in craft and expertly edited. :)

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:20:27 +0000

In reply to :Donna Marie. I am the same way, but wonder, why and by whom are these badly written books books being published?

By: Books I Didn’t Finish, AKA, What Killed it For Me – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™ | !nk+Engineer

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:52:46 +0000

[…] #5: Weak Writing […]

By: What Killed it For Me #5: Weak Writing | My Passion's Pen

What Killed it For Me #5: Weak Writing | My Passion's Pen — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:32:19 +0000

[…] What Killed it For Me #5: Weak Writing. […]

By: What Killed It For Me #8: Personal Preferences | WRITERS HELPING WRITERSWRITERS HELPING WRITERS

Fri, 02 May 2014 23:59:34 +0000

[…] #5: Weak Writing […]

By: Aften Brook Szymanski

Aften Brook Szymanski — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 01:23:36 +0000

Sadly I think this is where I struggle the most.
Probably THE major reason my writing isn’t getting anywhere with querying. It’s a hard area to fix- because strengthening a weakness is –well weakness- requires rigorous training (writing) nourishment (reading) and diligence (don’t give up on yourself sucker- no matter how much proof is telling you to drop it- keep those sweaty barbells in hand. Besides if you dropped everything in this position I’m pretty sure you’d break a toe).
Thanks for posting honestly, we need to hear it and fight to do better. How else will we improve?
I’m glad for it.

By: Lori Johnstone

Lori Johnstone — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 18:00:25 +0000

Becca,

I am fresh out of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs and a few of these points were covered in a presentation I attended on realistic dialogue given by Sarah Peed.

She cautioned us on the use of stilted speech, walls of dialogue, using acronyms and explaining what they mean right in the dialogue, as well as going overboard with adverbs in dialogue tags.

Even though I read often, this advice is essential for new writers like me. Advice like this sometimes doesn’t pop out at you when you are absorbed in a story, and you have to read like a writer. Even better – to have it highlighted as you did in this article.

I will keep absorbing any and all advice. Looking forward to the next one.

Lori

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:04:38 +0000

In reply to Tam Francis. Thanks for sharing with your group, Tam. By "wordy writing" I mean writing that includes unnecessary words. She spoke in a rasping voice that sounded like an elderly woman's could be written tighter: Her voice rasped like an old woman's. Or, ...she said in her old woman's voice So by "wordy writing" I mean writing that has words that could be removed to make it tighter.

By: Tam Francis

Tam Francis — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 20:25:31 +0000

Interesting and I agree with most. I’m sharing with my writer’s group. We were just talking about using names too much in dialogue. The only slight disagreement I personally have is with “wordy writing.” This seems a bit vague. I love rich description in reading and writing, so hopefully that isn’t what you mean by wordy? 😉

Thanks,
~ Tam Francis ~
http://www.girlinthejitterbugdress.com

By: What Killed It For Me, #7: Issues with Sequels | WRITERS HELPING WRITERSWRITERS HELPING WRITERS

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 09:25:35 +0000

[…] this series talking about issues in books that pretty much everyone can agree are a problem: weak writing, clichéd characters, unclear character goals, etc. Last week’s post on Action Openings was a […]

By: Mark Henwick

Mark Henwick — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:30:38 +0000

In reply to S. J. Dunn. Yes, I'm traveling too. I look forward to that time when my best writing becomes instinctive and completely effortless. Hahahahaha. (Yup, Proulx is wonderful)