This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by the one and only, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happens the first Wednesday of each month. It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
The awesome co-hosts for the January 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren , J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise - Fundy Blue!
January 6 question - Being a writer, when you’re reading someone else’s work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people’s books.
First HAPPY NEW WRITING YEAR!
Now on to answer this month's question:
When reading someone else’s book...
And I’m talking only fiction...
I want to be entertained...
Give me humor, romance, horror, murder mysteries, thrillers, historical, fantasy, sci-fi, or even dystopian...
But please...
Don't give me boredom!
To be fair though...
I will give a book a few-chapters-chance...
But if the plot and characters continue to be boring...
DONE!
Podiums and soapboxes have their place...
But not in fiction...
If an author tries to sway me...
With their views on religion, politics, or a social issue...
DONE!
Repetitive, repetitive, repetitive words...
Break my reality...
It’s like a car racing to the finish line...
Only to have to slow down to avoid hitting a squirrel...
And I’m not talking about any ordinary word...
But a word that is quirky at best...
Annoying at worst.
One millionaire author, who I will not name...
Used the word “hitch” so many times in her famous book...
My eyes hitched!
DONE!
Bad research might happen in junior high...
But shouldn’t be in a book...
Especially if it's by a well known author.
Recently...
I read a book set at the end of the eighteen hundreds ...
The author said a character took a transatlantic flight...
HUH?
So I Googled it...
Oops!
The author and editors got it wrong.
DONE!
Well, Almost...
The story was so good I finished the book.
And as authors...
Don’t we all love research?
But all of those facts don’t need to be included...
If they don’t advance the story...
Um...excuse me...
***personal break ***
OK I'm back and...
OMG!
Do you believe in synchronicity?
I do and now even more so...
Ya see...
During my “break” ...
I continued reading CAMINO ISLAND by John Grisham...
.
Here's the excerpt:
Synchronicity right?
So?
What makes you put down a book?
And...
Do you believe in synchronicity?
Always,
Em-Musing
P.S. No matter how bad a book is, I could never throw it away. Instead, I give it away.
7 comments:
I so agree with your reasons, especially no boredom. So funny you were reading about this issue in John Grisham's book over the holidays.
A transatlantic flight in the 1800s?? Hahahaha! That would definitely stand out to me. I hate when books get facts wrong, even when it's something simple.
What are the odds you would read it in a book?
Don't hit the squirrel!
Love that Grisham quote! Great timing for your read!
I want to be entertained as well!
Love your response! Yes, being entertained is important -- I think storytelling matters above all. I can forgive some grammatical errors and inconsistencies if the story is spellbinding!
I don't want to be bored either – I'll only put up with a page or two which doesn't start to get my attention before trying something else.
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