What is IWSG? It's writerly peeps gathering together to share tales of inspiration and woe related to this gnarly craft on the first Wednesday of each month. You'll find tips for writing success. You'll find cautionary stories of authors gone insane. You'll find writers beating their heads against their desks, pulling at their hair, and screaming, "Why won't my fingers quit typing these damned adverbs?!!"
All in the spirit of togetherness, of course. :)
Sound like something you'd enjoy being a part of? You can check out who is at the party, and sign up, by clicking the IWSG button below.
What is "good" writing?
If you're a writer, you'd probably agree that good writing is hard work. In fact, we could probably just end this post there and get back to destroying our souls one word at a time. But that's not the entire story, is it?
Maybe we should start by defining what "good writing" actually is.
Did your eye twitch with a compulsive nervous reaction when you read that sentence? Did you dry heave a little? Is there a single tear streaking a jagged path down your cheek? If so, congratulations! You already know the answer:
NO-FREAKING-ONE has a real clue.
Oh, lots of smart folks have good guesses. And we certainly know a lot of the components to good writing. (Remember those adverbs I mentioned before? KILL THEM ALL!!!!) However, good writing often comes down to the house Vs home debate.
A good house has a strong foundation, sturdy walls, a sound roof, basic amenities and comforts, a non-running toilet, and no neighbors. It's easily defined and measured, and there aren't too many identifiable flaws.
A good home, on the other hand, is a much more subjective experience. It's a matter of how well it suits you. Do you like the nap of the carpet? Are your neighbors crazy but also your best friends? Did your kids take their first steps there? The faucet drips, but happens to sound out the exact rhythm of your favorite song, so it's actually a bonus.
The worth of a house is based upon function, form, location, etc. The worth of a home is based upon memories and feelings. Your house might be worth $150,000, but your home might very well be priceless.
Good writing is much the same, which is why it's such a struggle to create it. Good writing is oftentimes flawed, but you--and more importantly--your readers will love those flaws.
A story can be mechanically sound, yet have no heart, which translates to what some might call "bad writing". Conversely, a story can have tons of heart, yet be a bit of a mess mechanically, then be praised as "excellent writing."
So what's to be done? How in the world are we going to create good writing without a blueprint?
By churning out the words until our fingers ache. By mining the depths of our emotions and exploring the outer limits of our imaginations until we're irrevocably lost. By believing down to our bones that we'll never get it JUST right, but trying over and over again anyway. By learning how to build a good house first, and then figuring out what it's going to take to make it a good home.
One thing I'm sure of: to create good writing is to engage in a beautiful struggle, to wage a glorious battle between determination and self-doubt. Learning comes from getting knocked down, and success is usually built on a foundation of failure.
So perhaps good writing is actually measured by our scars, bumps, and bruises. "E.J. looks like he just went nine rounds with a pissed off jungle cat, he must be one heck of a writer!" :)
What about you? How would you define "good" writing? Do any of your favorite authors break the rules of fundamentally sound writing?
~EJW~
Posts
Great analogy!
ReplyDeleteEngaging in struggle right now as a matter of fact.
I like your definition of good writing, and I agree with it. When I read a good story, I know that it's really good if I'm still thinking of the characters even after I put down the book. For example, I read a novel recently that I really liked; while I was working on other things, in the back of my mind I was still in the same small town that the story was set in and watching the people sort out their lives.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, that "linger" factor is a huge component for me as well. When I can't wait to get back to reading a story is also a strong indication that the writing is doing its job.
DeleteGood writing is writing I can't put down. As for the example of an author's use of adverbs, I don't let this be a factor, unless the pages are littered with them. I use them occasionally :) in my own writing. Many of my latest favorite reads break writerly rules, but it doesn't stop me from finishing them. :)
ReplyDeleteGood writing makes me feel. It lingers. Haunts. Makes me roll on the floor in laughter. Brings tears to my eyes. Sometimes, it even makes me throw things. Good writing is never forgotten.
I agree 100% CF. I only gripe about writing sloppiness when it distracts me. And fair or unfair, some writers do such a great job with other aspects of storytelling, I don't notice things I'd normally get cranky over. :)
DeleteWhen it all falls apart is when the writing gets sloppy and there's nothing else to hang your hat on (so to speak). Then I start to notice every small misstep.
Super points here! I especially loved you pointing out that something can be mechanically sound yet lack heart, and the reverse. "Good writing" is what resonates with each person, seems like--and the more people it resonates with, the "better" it is. Even adverbs have their place in life...a well-placed or imaginative one, at least.
ReplyDeleteI think this perfectly captures why I love (writing and reading) character driven stories. For me, the experience always comes down to how well a story resonates with me, and in my case that's almost always attributable to a character I identify with on some core level. (And the great stories usually have multiple characters like that.)
DeleteI, too, like your definition of great writing.
ReplyDeleteAnd, like Candilynn, I find that good writing makes me feel. Whether it's laughter or crying or a mixture of the two, it makes me feel, which is, sometimes, more important than adverbs.
Every story has its strengths and weaknesses in my estimation, as do writers. Some writers have the emotive "secret sauce" recipe (Nicholas Sparks seems to be one of those), and can make you feel so much over the course of a story. Others aren't as strong at it, but weave incredibly complex stories that make you think maybe more than feel. (I'm specifically thinking of authors like George R. R. Martin here... I guess anger is an emotion, but that's about all I get when I read his stories. LOL)
DeleteAdverbs are like mosquitos; they are inevitable, but don't let that stop you from killing as many as you can. :)
You always come up with such good posts, my friend.
ReplyDeleteTakes on writing will always be subjective; that's just a given. But I think 'good writing' boils down to finding a balance between the creativity and 'heart' you mentioned and the mechanics of writing, so that the end product is something the reader can enjoy and find themselves thinking about or at least smiling about after they've finished the book.
IWSG #298
(Yup. I got culled and had to start all over. *blush*)
Danka! :D I agree, you have to create a balance. If the mechanics are sloppy to a distracting level, you can write the most amazing tale of love and loss ever composed and half of your readers won't make it beyond the first three pages. And this stuff is too damned much work to lose people after the first three pages. :)
DeleteThis was a fantastic. So many valid points. I like how you found good in the flaws. It can be hard for us to do when it comes to our own writing.
ReplyDeleteElsie
Thanks Elsie! We've all got quirks and crutches when it comes to our writing, and those aren't always a bad thing. I think it's most important to just make sure you're doing whatever it is you're doing well. :)
DeleteWhat a great metaphor! We may not be able to describe the perfect home, but we know it when we see it. And anyone who has struggled along this path is covered in bruises. The true writer keeps going regardless of how many times she or he has been knocked down.
ReplyDelete-Vicki
I think it's called developing a "writer hide", and elephants skin is paper by comparison. :D
DeleteI keep pulling the hair--especially when reading 'famous' bestselling authors using adverbs several times in a paragraph--so I guess there is no answer. BUT--my advice and something that works for me (sometimes) is to leave the writing alone for awhile and when you revisit it the editing seems easier and the whole thing seems to make more sense AND even adverbs have been known to disappear.
ReplyDeleteBreathing room is very important! That's why we're our worst editors in most cases. Just too close to the story to be able to prune the writing effectively. (I'm far more concerned--at least initially--if my main character is relatable and real than I am about adverbs. So don't even bother to ask me to look for them. LOL)
DeleteYeah, it's sort of subjective in the end. I tried reading a book the other day by an author dubbed as "one of the greatest writers of our time." I couldn't get past the first ten pages. It was all too formal and stiff for me. I'm reading a book now that gets about 3.5 stars on Goodreads, and I'm loving it. Beautiful writing in my opinion. So, yeah, good luck defining "good" writing.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I really believe you'll know when your writing is "good" when you start to struggle with it--when it really starts to hurt. Which is kind of masochistic, but there it is. LOL The point is, it's YOU, not anyone else, who is going to make that determination. It's about creating something awesome that you've worked and worked at.
DeleteReaders will give you a clue. When those betas and critters start pulling out random things you've done well (things you maybe didn't mean to do well), and comparing it to other things they love, start doing more of that. :) That's the road to good writing, because it'll be what YOU do best.
Oh, gosh. This post got me a little jittery. All I know is that more we write the better we become. How to define better...who knows???
ReplyDeleteNo jitters! Just writing! LOL
DeleteThat's a hard question to answer properly. Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, good writing is in the eye of the beer holder...I mean, reader--or something like that. ;) All I know is that I'm at a point in my writing journey where the more I learn about the craft, the more I realize, I don't know a damn thing about writing. But I also know, the only way to keep learning is to keep writing. :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly stated, Elise! Truly believe "good writing" is measured as much by what we don't know as it is by what we do. All of those little lessons you learn on craft sneak up on you btw. They're in there, and they'll creep into your work subconsciously. Why you can't ever learn too much. Guess that's my way of saying: you know more than you think you know. :)
DeleteEJ, you're probably right. Ans there is no formula for good writing. In fact, I don't think there is a formula for marketing either.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate!
I agree on both points! :) Just "best practices", and even those tend to be pretty subjective.
DeleteI do not believe there is a formula. I think it is a matter of connecting emotionally with as many readers as possible which is a bit like gambling, yes we are a bunch of gamblers.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a formula, it's well-hidden, Doreen! :) Writing is definitely a risk/reward proposition.
DeleteAwesome post! Good writing for me is when I pour my sweat, blood, and tears into my story. As a reader, good writing impacts me personally and can make me feel every emotion. But how to create it . . . well, like you said, there's no formula for that.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think the effort we put into our work ultimately translates to the reader's experience. If creating a great reading experience is important to you, it will show up in the final product.
DeleteEven slithey adverbs have their place. It's like saying you can't have carpet in a real house.
ReplyDeleteGood writing is going to impact your reader in some way, even if as a writer you're banging your head on the keyboard and screaming that it's trash. You know what? The readers will NEVER KNOW.
That's the fun part.
I compared them (adverbs) to mosquitos in an earlier response! LOL Pesky, but inevitable. But no one is going to miss them if they aren't around. :)
DeleteWow, what a great post. I like your comparison to a home. Some of the best books I've read are filled with adverbs and passive verbs. The story makes it.
ReplyDeleteA story needs to "work" on many levels, no doubt. If only to earn some street credit with the reader when you do flub something up! :)
DeleteThere are TONS of bestselling books out there just full of fundamentally poor writing. And I hear writers grousing about them all the time. Funny thing is, readers aren't complaining (at least not with their pocketbooks). So the lesson is perhaps that writing is a big puzzle, and you must hope you've got enough pieces in place for the readers to be able to enjoy the work. :)
Nicely put! Love it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca! :D
DeleteI love your analogy! This post wasn't good writing . . . it was fantastic :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie! Truly appreciate your kind words. :)
DeleteA terrific analogy, EJ!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir!
DeleteHah yes! My IWSG post today was about trying to overcome that struggle! There is a certain amount of pride that comes from making it out on the other side, scars and all :)
ReplyDeleteAJ @ Naturally Sweet
An April A-Z Co-host
I'd say a HUGE amount of pride is in order! :D
Delete"...get back to destroying our souls one word at a time." Literally made me laugh out loud. You're the best, EJ.
ReplyDeleteGood writing? For me, it's a compelling story that make me think and feel, without the narrator's voice getting in the way. Sounds weird when I actually typed that out :/
Voice is such a tricky thing--for both readers and writers. A strong one can repel as many people as it pulls in for sure. I really love stories that make me cheer for and against characters. When I'm wishing 'not nice' outcomes for a bad guy as I read, I know the writer has me hooked. :)
DeleteI pay attention to the depth of character--their expressions, what they sound like, how they get along with others--or don't. And another thing is I like to have fun when I write. If I don't like it, it's a good chance no one else will. Good writing takes a lot of work and time. I don't believe a person can hammer out something in a month and expect it to be perfect. You have to go back over something that is in excess of 90K-100k words to make sure you didn't goof it up somewhere along the line. Beta readers are just that. They may take a week or more to read through one chapter you can't expect them to remember what happened way on chapter 1 when they're on chapter 30 and maybe you didn't put something in at the beginning that you should have.
ReplyDeleteI write what I like to read. I don't like a work to be too serious, there has to be some humor in it somewhere, at least for me, to have a good time with my characters. I want people to look forward to seeing a character in my book, and love it just as much as I do.
Good post, EJ. !
I do the same, L! I write what I like to read. I place a ton of emphasis on character development as well, because that's what is important to me. I feel if I can get the reader to buy into the characters, I can tell them just about any type of story and make it enjoyable.
DeleteEvery time I think I've found a solid no-nonsense rule for writing I come across a fantastic story that did the exact opposite. It feels like you should focus on what you want to say and then work out the best way to tell that particular story, and the next story may well require a completely different approach.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
Agreed, Mood. So many "rules" are contextual. Some sentence fragments are used so well you don't even realize you're reading incomplete thoughts, others stick out like an angry blister--oftentimes all within the same scene!
DeleteProbably goes back to the "learn the rules, then break them" adage.
I think some aspects of good writing are subjective; I have things I appreciate that other readers and writers might not. The best book for me is when I don't notice the writing for several pages. What causes me to notice is a good line, or a unique phrase, or just a general enjoyment of the story. When writing is labored with unnecessary description, too many words to describe a simple concept or how a character physically moves, or melodrama from the first page, it's hard to focus and I generally lose interest.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Steph. Now, I've enjoyed a few stories I've really had to work at (I notice that more with older things not written in a modern style), but generally the more effortlessly I read, the better. It's like a memory an old picture can conjure--I know a story is beautiful only when I reflect back on it, because I was too busy turning pages to notice when I was actually there. :)
DeleteExcellent analogy, EJ, but I see others have beaten me to the punch. Crap. Did I just use a cliche? Be damned, cliche. But anyway...had to laugh about the dripping faucet pumping out the same rhythm as your favorite song. Still chuckling.
ReplyDeleteGood writing to me consists of knowing all the rules, but being adept at bending and breaking them. Or as Morpheus said, "What you must learn is that these rules are no different than the rules of a computer system. Some of them can be bent, others can be broken."
Each of us is The One. Thanks for stopping by my blog, and great post!
M.L. Swift, Writer
BRAVO, E.J.
ReplyDeleteNICELY put! I believe we should ALL have a strong foundation in fundamentals and THEN start taking liberties and stretching our boundaries. We need to know the rules before we can break them OR BEND THEM to our will!
This was a great post, EJ - and as for what I think is great writing, I can't point at one single book and go, "AH! That is good writing. Nothing else I've ever read or no one else I've ever read is good." Different writing can be good in so many different ways. Sometimes it's great to see a unique new style of writing that you've never seen before. But just as often you can read something with quite a generic style, but that still tells an awesome story.
ReplyDeleteI like your definition of good writing. This is a great post.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Great analogy EJ! It's funny, cuz before you're an actual writer, you read books and articles and such and have no idea how much effort it really was on the author's part. Oh how that changes!
ReplyDeleteTo me, good writing comes from the revisions. It's allowing our creative selves to pound out a really messy first draft to get a story down and unfold characters, and then spending weeks and weeks carving those bare bones into art. Tweaking sentences, descriptions. Adding voice where it's easier to leave cliche. Drawing out emotion in places that are okay how they are, but so much better after laboring for minutes at a time over even a simple paragraph. It's pulling it all together after numerous edits, and making every scene, every chapter connect like a jigsaw puzzle, and weeding out any fluff holding back the pace.
You're right. It's some hard shizz. ;)
Great post. It's all in the words, isn't it? You're right. Good writing is never easy.
ReplyDeleteSpot on analogy, EJ! For my part, good writing will reach out and grab me by the nose from Chapter One and keep me turning pages till the finish. Good writing can make me forget my butt is parked on bare concrete. Good writing can cause me to be forcibly dragged away to dinner, leaving the book at home since I cannot comfortably read in a moving vehicle. Great writing, like a great lover, stays on my mind and keeps me wanting more from the source.
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post last week??? Sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteEJ, you always make me laugh, and I so appreciate that :) I especially loved the line about going nine rounds with a pissed off jungle cat. LOL. And then there's this beautiful bit: " to create good writing is to engage in a beautiful struggle, to wage a glorious battle between determination and self-doubt." Amen. So true, and beautifully said.
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