Crazy Writing Rants

So here's the thing, I like to write, I like writing a lot. And I can appreciate writers across the board. I just care about story, more or less. And yet sometimes the writing can be just that particular type of terrible that even I can't ignore it. I like nerd books, you know, the Dungeon & Dragon type that have wizards and warlocks. Yeah I know, you don't always get the best writing, but sometimes you get interesting characters or philosophical perspective. Sometimes you get third grade writing like a comic book.

I can't tell you my frustration when you pick up a book and you don't have much of an expectation yet you here lines like:

"Blah blah blah.

And the battle was joined.

Blah blah blah."

That's right, the interrupted the flow of the story to announce that battle was joined. Wow, it stirred an emotion, in my stomach. And bowels. Here's to reading a good enema. I could pick apart the book, but it pains me to admit that I finished it. And bought another one in the series done by a different author. It wasn't any better. Point in fact it took much more interesting characters with great back stories and then completely ruined them. It's like if you're on a date with someone really hot, girl or guy, and they're fulfilling every fantasy simply by sitting next to you. Then they open their mouth and you silently realize, "Oh, that's why they're single."

I take a lot of pride in my writing. Ok, I take pride in some of my writing when it's not blogging. However while writing my books and stories I've sent them to friends who either read a lot or who write a lot or both. It's these people who remind me that you can't write lines like, "...and then he took control of her body. And he was not gentle." Really? That doesn't make the character seem creepy, just you.

On to quotes, here's the one that I always liked and it has nothing to the topic of bad writing. Mark Twain said, "There are only three types of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." Every time I think about things in my life and percentages, I remember that the only number that matters is 1.....And sometimes 2.

For the pic I have something from my travels to Europe. When I went to the Vatican City there is a room that is a mural done by Raphael. It depicts Christianities triumph over paganism. The walls are very very busy, but the ceiling, when you look up, is very simple.