3 ms·

“ In fiction, the writer should be invisible unless they are a narrator.” I don’t actually think this is reasonable or possible. Readers are fully aware that w

“ In fiction, the writer should be invisible unless they are a narrator.” I don’t actually think this is reasonable or possible. Readers are fully aware that writers are distinct from other writers in their prose structure. This is colloquially known as “style”. Additionally, other writers can most certainly identify individual writers by their narrative choices based on the same notion of “style”. Hemingway had a style and that’s why so many people compare their prose to him!

motohagiography 6y ago
Crappy writing isn't a style unless it's on purpose, and often not even then. A great example of this is Philip K. Dick, who was a terrible writer by any standard, and not on purpose either, but he still became a great author because the overall effects of his ideas were so good that readers tolerated his crappy writing. The total effect of his ideas were his unique style, not his clunky dialogue or characters with less animation than action figures. He was like the Sex Pistols of science fiction in that he could barely play his instrument, but made the equivalent to some pop hits and he inspired a lot of other much better people to get over their own fears and write. Authors certainly have a voice, but it's because the whole story is told in it, and not because they interject to comment and give the reader direction using extra descriptions from a perspective that is outside the story. It would be like a director addressing the audience or an "applause" sign. When I read fiction, I read it to appreciate the effect of the author's craft, and not to listen to someone sounding things out and practising. Adverbs aren't forbidden, but I see them as cribs for re-editing because they are usually placeholders for unformed ideas.

3 ms·

“ In fiction, the writer should be invisible unless they are a narrator.” I don’t actually think this is reasonable or possible. Readers are fully aware that w

by SamoyedFurFluff 6y ago

motohagiography 6y ago
Crappy writing isn't a style unless it's on purpose, and often not even then. A great example of this is Philip K. Dick, who was a terrible writer by any standard, and not on purpose either, but he still became a great author because the overall effects of his ideas were so good that readers tolerated his crappy writing. The total effect of his ideas were his unique style, not his clunky dialogue or characters with less animation than action figures. He was like the Sex Pistols of science fiction in that he could barely play his instrument, but made the equivalent to some pop hits and he inspired a lot of other much better people to get over their own fears and write. Authors certainly have a voice, but it's because the whole story is told in it, and not because they interject to comment and give the reader direction using extra descriptions from a perspective that is outside the story. It would be like a director addressing the audience or an "applause" sign. When I read fiction, I read it to appreciate the effect of the author's craft, and not to listen to someone sounding things out and practising. Adverbs aren't forbidden, but I see them as cribs for re-editing because they are usually placeholders for unformed ideas.