Consider yourself warned: Today’s post is a rant. :(
One of the first things newbie writers or writer wannabes do when they start out is buy, read, and research hordes of books by the bestselling authors in the genre they want to write, is it not? We all want to learn from the best, right? Something new writers don’t realize is that it’s generally advised to read those authors’ first books, not their newest. Authors are usually given a little more leeway the more experiences/established they become, sometimes justifiably–they can better finagle the tricky spots–and sometimes not–sloppy editing on the assumption the writer know what he or she is doing. That’s my gripe today.
I’m reading a category romance right now in a line that’s recently went through some changes. I always liked the line before and, while I’m not ecstatic about the changes, it’s still a decent read and I think I might actually be able to write this. If the book I’m reading right now is any indication, I can definitely write this. I’ve caught more “telling” in this book than anything I’ve read in a long time (my stuff aside) and I’ve gotten hung up more than a dozen times on sentences like (and my examples are not from the story, BTW, to protect my own hide, but are close representations), “As realization hit Margie, she dropped to a chair, as she wrung her hands.” WTH?
I bought this book and another to familiarize myself with the changes in the line and to get a better idea of what the editors are looking for. I chose two bestselling authors, this book being by a name I’m sure most writers have at least heard in passing. Let me interject that this is obviously not a first work of the author…my bad. Anyhow, the ”telling” and sentence issues aren’t even the half of it, though. I’ve found lots of little things, like the heroine constantly noticing the same thing about the hero over and over again (like how tanned his skin looks in contrast to his white shirts) and the repetitive use of the same, overexaggerated dialogue tags, when “said” would do just fine.
To me, the books seems more like a rough draft. Of course, it does have some good parts, but I wouldn’t be blogging about it if it didn’t also have enough crap for me to stop and really take notice. Obviously, being a writer, I read with a more critical eye that the average reader, but I can promise my sister-in-law, who shares my books, will notice the same things because they are so glaringly obvious.
I am no authority by any means, but this kind of stuff frustrates me to know end. Namely because I don’t think that the editor, who probably only skimmed the story over because of who wrote it, did the author any justice. I have never read this author before and probably won’t again now as reader, let alone a writer–unless, of course, I want to sharpen my editing skills.
What’s your take on established authors having more leeway? Do you think it’s fair? I do to a point–they’ve earned it–but at what point does it become a disservice?
Happy Monday!
~Ally
A thousand words, or so the saying goes. I am infamous for daydreaming when I am at work. A friend brought a picture in for me, and I have to admit that I can’t think of a better way to do it than staring at this face all day….
MJ
Ally
