A few weeks ago, I visited a couple writer friends on the East Coast. As will happen when you stick authors together, the conversation turned to writing. One of them wondered what made a story successful: good writing or an intriguing premise.
At the time, I argued for good writing. A cool concept might get me to pick up a book, but if the story doesn’t hold me, then I’ll walk away.
Since then, though, I’ve been going back and forth about the idea. In this corner, great writing. Ohh over the clever twists of language and plot. In that corner, an awesome premise. Ahh over the delight of seeing the expected transformed into something different. Who will win?
Perhaps it varies from book to book and person to person. I know I’ve enjoyed books where the writing was so beautiful, I felt humbled. I’ve also read stories where the writing was okay, but the premise was just so cool I had to keep reading so I could see what the author was going to do next. Both got me to turn the pages. Which one ended up on the keep shelf?
A bit of both.
Written by Luisa Prieto
Dark fantasy writer by day, dark fantasy writer by night. I'm charmingly dull that way ;)
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Jess wrote,
you need both
the most talent author can write all she/he likes but withu out a good idea then the book is not gonna be the best it can be
same the other way around
the best of ideas can get you no where if you dont have the skill to write it…
its definately a bit of both, there has been a few time especially with contemporary where i have loved the writing and style but the plot line is weak. and visa versa
Link | June 10th, 2008 at 5:54 am
L.M. Prieto wrote,
I think you’re right, having both is important. I think she was frustrated because she’d recently read a couple bestsellers that were blah and was trying to figure out why people liked them.
Link | June 12th, 2008 at 4:56 am