I read. A lot. And that is why everyone around me is asking me to read what they wrote and tell them what I think. I honestly feel flattered. But at the same time, it is getting a bit chaotic and kind of too much to handle with my overwhelming lifestyle. Hence, came this post.
The first thing I have to say is that my opinion about your writing style does not matter at all. Why? Because it is based on what I, ME, Moi, Io like to read and therefore my opinion is biased. Different people like different stuff, and it doesn't make a book any better or worse. But since you are asking me, I'll tell you what I personally like to read and how I think writers can improve their writings in six simple (haha for simple) points.
1- The opening and ending sentences are the most important parts in a book. You better not start by a simple statement! Instead, write something memorable, something that would be forever quoted like Tolstoy's opening sentence in Anna Karenina:
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way"
Now, compare the above quote to the dull lines like, X was born on bla bla bla. It was 3 o'clock when the door rang bla bla bla. When you start writing with the idea of writing to make history, I think you'll turn just fine!
As for the ending. The best ones I have ever read are either: 1- UNEXPECTED endings that happen all of a sudden, out of nowhere and keep you mesmerized as if you were watching a great magician perform one of the best tricks in the world. These endings of course are rare and very hard to come up with. 2- Open endings, which are also unexpected and can give one much to think about after the book is finished. This is kind of interesting because you can make sure this type of ending will always be remembered as it will pop up in various discussions (or fights, depends).
2- Do not write as if you were speaking. I consider weak, every sentence that sounds like one you would hear in a simple conversation. I like hard difficult literature; sentences that make me pause and ask myself how the hell did this author put these words together and create such a powerful and exotic sentence? Using the simple words and adjectives makes boring sentences (again in my opinion only). How can one achieve this you might ask? Work on your text! Edit it and re edit. Don't write because words are coming out of you. I mean it's excellent that you have the feelings, because it means that you should really write. But instead of just writing what comes out to mind, search for the prettiest words, adjectives, verbs etc. like for instance instead of describing a voice as "soft voice" you can use any of the following words and make an aesthetically pretty sentence.
3- Don't go for the obvious in the descriptions or comparisons. i.e. hair black like the night. We all know by now that black and dark are alike! Billions have been repeating it over and over again. Go for the unimaginable untouchable comparisons. She smelled like Christmas presents and snow (I am not a writer but bear with me ...). How can you achieve that? By simply not repeating what others have been repeating for centuries, but instead imagining and creating your own new ones. If it's new and not obvious, than it already has two advantages.
4- Include references about books, music, art etc. Make the reader discover a new country with you, a part of history even if you only incorporate a simple paragraph in your story. I am the kind of reader that just loves to discover new books, music or artists. I also like it a lot when the author makes me travel back in history, for a short anecdote about this emperor or that queen, or a certain tribe etc. The book plot does not have to do at all with travel or history, but parentheses like these are just the perfect relaxing escapades. They also enrich the story a lot as well as give idea of your personal musical, bookish or other preferences which is a great way to connect with the reader.
5- AVOID MORALIZATION. You're not better than your reader. Never think otherwise. Instead, give us new and challenging ideas. Make us think about stuff and question the right from wrong. You have the right to make your character as free and as bold as can be. Don't be scared to let him break the rules and taboos to make us question our own. However, I personally don't like books where the author's only strength stems from the expected typical atrocities that a weak main character is facing. However, if the book is very well written, then we can talk.
6- Never write about your own very (very) personal feelings or experiences because most probably you'll be biased. What marked you in life and had the greatest impact on you might seem trivial to others. You might love what you wrote because you have lived it and it meant something to you. But you should always review your book yourself from the point of view of an external objective reader, and then you can decide whether it is really as good as you thought it were or not. Sometimes it can ...
Now that I have said everything I had to say about how I like books, I'll just ask you to forget everything you have read. You are your own judge, always and forever. This is my opinion if you want it. But you should know what makes a good book to you. You most probably read a lot and know by now what you like or dislike. You might like simple sentences, moralization, closed endings and it's totally fine! Write the best book you'll ever read. People will either like it or not. My favorite kind of writers are those who know what they like and who will only write when they are 100% certain that their book will be better than everything they read and liked before.
Good luck writers.
Cheers,
Isabelle
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