Oooo, I am so clever. Not.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

So, my math sucks. I need to write 4 pages/day to complete a 400 page ms in 3 1/2 months. So far I haven't done that. Today I might. Tomorrow is a definite possibility too. *gg*

On to a tiny rant. You ever have a little writing tic that you think is pretty cool, then you notice that same tic in a published book and see how uncool it is?

A couple of weeks ago I was reading a thriller and after awhile I noticed the author liked to do something like this:

Herman Hero was racing for the safehouse, knowing it was his only chance for survival.

He was about to find out there were no chances left.


See that last line? It sucks. Okay, the whole example sux; but what that last line represents--"Ta-da!" foreshadowing--sux. It's the penhackulitmate in hackerism. I've done this.

Hi, my name is Vanessa Jaye, and I'm a hack.

After seeing the author pull this little trick at the end of each and every chapter, I've decided not to anymore. At least not often. Which leads to the caution: It's All In The Execution.

I just started a new book, Darker than Night by John Lutz, great writing, vivid characterization and I can tell I'm in for a rollercoaster ride (mostly because I'm past chapter 3 and the story hasn't suddenly fallen apart, gg).

He does this 'last line' thing. But he does it well. And he mixes it up. No hack, he.


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5 comments:

Sylvia Day said...

LOL :P

Yes, execution is everything. I've seen things that no one else could pull off and yet somehow there will be one writer who can do it. There are craft rules and then there is style and finding your voice I think means breaking the craft rules with style. :D

vanessa jaye said...

Hey, Sylvia, thanks for dropping by. I think you're on to something, voice--in part--is about breaking, bending, twisting the rules with your own unique flair.

Larissa Ione said...

LOL at penhackultimate! *g*

Stephanie Tyler said...

whenever I see a line like that I hear the Law & Order 'cha-ching' sound in my head - small doses of that go a LONG way...

Happy New Year, Jaq!

Amie Stuart said...

>> I think means breaking the craft rules with style. :D

Can I quote you on that? 8-D

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