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Post by latinrevenant on Nov 16, 2009 22:02:56 GMT -5
One, I think, is making the reader feel. An author who makes me feel a cold bead of sweat — who makes my skin shudder at the thought of the frigid, wet trail left behind as it rolls down the character's face — has done good.
What factors make something great writing?
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Post by notmike on Nov 16, 2009 22:36:20 GMT -5
I agree, one of the most important things a writer can do is get the reader to feel like they are in that place, feel what the writer wants them to feel. Another thing I think makes great writing, is definitely the story. Getting the reader to want to keep reading, and have a hard time putting it down, is a sure sign of good writing.
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Post by notdan on Nov 16, 2009 23:47:07 GMT -5
No doubt immersion is critical to a good piece of writing. No one is going to be engaged enough to even finish a piece if they do not, at some level, feel like they are involved with the story--be it actually immersed in the world or emotionally attached to a character.
That sounds like a text book paragraph, though.
What makes some of the best writing, for me? I threw my copy of Bradbury's The Illustrated Man across the room and broke a lamp when I finished it because I was so furious that it had ended. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my life from then on out without that story unfolding for me.
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atari
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by atari on Nov 20, 2009 0:01:32 GMT -5
I have concluded, after a fair bit of writing, that creating a certain atmosphere can cause the reader to be enthralled with a scene.
Don't, necessarily, say what is there, but rather, give the character a sense of what it feels like to be there, and everything described thereafter will be more real to the reader.
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Post by Patient Penelope on Nov 30, 2009 15:37:27 GMT -5
I like when the author has a clear and powerful command of language and can bend it to their will and say something or put words together in a way I haven't thought of or heard before. If a piece feels forced it is usually a turn-off for me. Also, proofread, please.
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Post by notdan on Nov 30, 2009 16:43:49 GMT -5
There are few things which turn me off more than blatant grammatical errors, particularly in a published piece. Not only did the author miss it, but so did the editor!
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Post by notmike on Dec 2, 2009 1:23:22 GMT -5
Grammatical mistakes are bad, yes. But generally I can just avoid them. But one thing I know I cannot ignore is when the author either treats the reader as an idiot, or as a genius. Unfortunately this means treading on a fine line, and understanding what level your readers are at.
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