tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post501815681980646769..comments2024-03-27T07:18:58.033+00:00Comments on Frances Garrood: Good writing - how much does it matter?Frances Garroodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-1526173901475147912012-08-05T09:00:57.717+01:002012-08-05T09:00:57.717+01:00There are few things that irritate me more than wr...There are few things that irritate me more than writing that gets in the way of what could be a good story. I don't understand why some writers feel the need to overcomplcate the words.Colette McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383068332228040704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-77418994891357062102012-08-04T09:38:30.937+01:002012-08-04T09:38:30.937+01:00I think that's the problem, Patsy. So many wri...I think that's the problem, Patsy. So many writer seem to be trying to say things differently - being 'clever' - when the old, simple ways are best!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-30140446636049134362012-08-04T09:36:57.451+01:002012-08-04T09:36:57.451+01:00And publish and be damned twice, if necessary! Tha...And publish and be damned twice, if necessary! Thanks, Frances.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-37194858860937046592012-08-04T08:54:21.018+01:002012-08-04T08:54:21.018+01:00I totally agree with you. I can't read a book...I totally agree with you. I can't read a book if the speech doesn't ring true or sounds stilted. ( Oh dear, I am now worried that this comment is not grammatically correct... Oh well....publish and be damned they say! )Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576715462615744934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-9117304411237265922012-08-04T08:53:47.117+01:002012-08-04T08:53:47.117+01:00I totally agree with you. I can't read a book...I totally agree with you. I can't read a book if the speech doesn't ring true or sounds stilted. ( Oh dear, I am now worried that this comment is not grammatically correct... Oh well....publish and be damned they say! )Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576715462615744934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-56373107360768825642012-08-03T20:43:37.382+01:002012-08-03T20:43:37.382+01:00Simple is good. Much better than a writer trying t...Simple is good. Much better than a writer trying to be clever.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-26923395802889263552012-08-03T15:20:04.137+01:002012-08-03T15:20:04.137+01:00That's a giggle, Frances. The idea of you bei...That's a giggle, Frances. The idea of you being helpless! You have broken your back (twice), arm, elbow, toes (twice) and collar bone and you are still riding and intending to ride again. You are one of the least helpless people with whom I am acquainted.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-175954255953932612012-08-03T13:58:31.561+01:002012-08-03T13:58:31.561+01:00Well, how very rude. And there am I, still a helpl...Well, how very rude. And there am I, still a helpless convalescent... You are no gentleman, sir.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-31014181514654698702012-08-03T11:44:52.454+01:002012-08-03T11:44:52.454+01:00Shan't!. I've got to do something with al...Shan't!. I've got to do something with all those words I've learned over the last seven decades!Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-34267801595911348022012-08-03T11:28:09.614+01:002012-08-03T11:28:09.614+01:00I'm glad you agree, Joanna.I'm glad you agree, Joanna.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-35196251719246209382012-08-03T11:27:10.377+01:002012-08-03T11:27:10.377+01:00Stop showing off, GB.Stop showing off, GB.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-69127660824229229692012-08-03T11:25:58.932+01:002012-08-03T11:25:58.932+01:00Simple and flowing sums it up perfectly, Diane.Simple and flowing sums it up perfectly, Diane.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-30975170204776489512012-08-03T11:24:52.266+01:002012-08-03T11:24:52.266+01:00Jenny, that would never have got past my editors!Jenny, that would never have got past my editors!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-39564721517506034742012-08-03T11:23:52.302+01:002012-08-03T11:23:52.302+01:00Funnily enough, I believe it's a fact that &qu...Funnily enough, I believe it's a fact that " said" is fine, because the reader doesn't really notice it. Once you start snarling and yelling, s/he does!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-12747242507195103662012-08-03T11:21:25.899+01:002012-08-03T11:21:25.899+01:00Thanks, Kay!Thanks, Kay!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-33429008542934770762012-08-03T11:21:00.750+01:002012-08-03T11:21:00.750+01:00I recommend The Firefly Summer, Maggie. Years sinc...I recommend The Firefly Summer, Maggie. Years since I read it, but I loved it.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-74519638060616790802012-08-03T06:38:51.155+01:002012-08-03T06:38:51.155+01:00I agree, Frances. When the grammar is poor, I feel...I agree, Frances. When the grammar is poor, I feel the writer and editor didn't care much about me. It's like wearing new dress to a party and sensing the hem begin to unravel the moment you arrive. A real let-down and hard to ignore.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346863303904973315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-52593363675604093012012-08-03T00:23:02.566+01:002012-08-03T00:23:02.566+01:00I can hear the stentorian reverberations of your t...I can hear the stentorian reverberations of your thoughts as far away as Lewis. Pleonasm and unnecessary verbiage are anathema. Good simple prose is what I like.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-72192672954281094922012-08-02T22:17:09.152+01:002012-08-02T22:17:09.152+01:00Well said Frances - keep it simple, keep it flowin...Well said Frances - keep it simple, keep it flowing :-)Diane Fordhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018013338268306704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-27917007437630239752012-08-02T19:16:35.187+01:002012-08-02T19:16:35.187+01:00It sounds as if the writer didn't have a prope...It sounds as if the writer didn't have a proper editor. I think that good writing matters too.Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-48618922459940647242012-08-02T18:49:10.452+01:002012-08-02T18:49:10.452+01:00While I can relate to those authors who do not wan...While I can relate to those authors who do not want to constantly use "he said", "she said", "he said", "she said",... (you get the idea), the girl with the head doddering on its axis is simply ridiculous!!<br />And I mind bad writing (and bad editing) very much. Even a thin story can make me like the book if the writing is done well (which rarely seems to happen this way, but more often the other way round).Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-27963142756744882512012-08-02T17:00:25.266+01:002012-08-02T17:00:25.266+01:00The amazing thing is that these examples got publi...The amazing thing is that these examples got published. Very sad about Maeve Binchy - I shall take another look at her books now.Maggie Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938216505505274248noreply@blogger.com