August 19, 2008
You know, I’ve been thinking
…scary thought, I know. (must be why I am late this morning posting–my brain can only handle soooooooooo much!) 
Anyhoo ~
I think I mentioned a while back that I have been judging many, MANY contests lately (paying my contest dues!) and it has been astounding how many folks have the SAME mistakes/quirks. Can’t tell you how many times I have noted “show don’t tell” and how many many times “felt” peppered the story. I realized some of the entrants are failry new writers, but I was stiill confused by the amount of similarly needed comments. (and don’t get me started on the “filler” words as my editor calls them–sure I am guilty of these–*cough*300-thoughts-in-one-book*cough*)
Jump to the last few weeks . . . I have been reading many of the romance writers who brought me to the desire to write (I typically read newer writers as I am ever-afraid of picking something up in the middle of a series–I’m neurotic, what can I say?). What do you imagine I have found with these well seasoned writers? Hmm . . . . The same EXACT craft quirks I have been commenting on in contests. Coincedence? I think not. 
Maybe I am in the wrong here and grading too harshly on some of these issues. A good story is a good story. But when it pulls you out of the story with a laundry list of “she felt this, this and this” and “he felt this, that and the other” I do think it needs to be addressed–but as I said it almost mirrors some of the well established writers. And is this a good thing? Or bad? 
Or am I way over thinking this (which isn’t out of the norm for me)? :rasta:
I don’t think you’re overthinking. I actually just finished judging for a contest and had one stellar entry and one that was just okay. It had potential but needed lots of work and for the reasons you mentioned. Lots of basic, easily fixed craft errors.
For published authors …we KNOW the rules. We know we can break them, we know when and how to break them and we understand that sometimes you have no choice. When a “newbie” author breaks the rules it’s usually because they haven’t gotten a firm handle on craft. Two totally different ballgames IMO.
I’ve noticed it too. But I read a lot of 1st person and it is tougher to escape. I’m not sure writers truly understand the concept of “show don’t tell.” Maybe they see “telling” as long passages of narration and don’t realize internal thought qualifies.
What Amie said.
What Raine said.
We know we can break them
I think also once you have a “following” they don’t care about the rules whether you break them or not, they just want you r next story.
I am reading someone I haven’t read in years, and it’s a little disappointing. And maybe it is becuase I am in contest reading mode so if I had waited a few months or soemthing ti might not have been as noticiable.
Rene–I think that’s a very good point!
LOL Raine and Tanya :-)
>>But I read a lot of 1st person and it is tougher to escape.
Rene I read a lot of 1st person also (and write it!) and the rules are DEFINITELY different there.
>>I think also once you have a “following” they don’t care about the rules whether you break them or not, they just want you r next story.
Just because they don’t care, doesn’t mean I don’t care or any other author. Granted we all occasionally get lazy, fall down on the job but the bottom line is THAT’S YOUR NAME ON THAT BOOK.
Ok I’m officially off topic. Back to the WIP