Hooray! Another great passage from Eyes of War. I'm fairly impressed with the description in today's passage. Sure, it takes a turn for the morbid, sounding like something you'd find in George R. R. Martin's books, but it's not bad. There are a couple flubs--"The oval face held fear."--but it's pretty good for Ms. Nickerson. The… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: It was a massacre…ho hum
Tag: Terrible Prose Tuesday
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Overly inspirational
I've got some beef with Christian fiction. I love C. S. Lewis and realize the great impact his Narnia novels had on Christian literature. The problem with Lewis' work is that it inspired other Christians to write painfully obvious allegories that barely cover up the gospel message. Instead of telling stories, they get preachy. I'm not… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Overly inspirational
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: 50 Shades of Red
I was the type of teenager who read nothing but corny chick lit and snickered all the while. Feel free to call me a hypocrite. Today's Terrible Prose Tuesday features another letter from a YA book called "Love Undercover" by Jo Edwards. The book is about--I kid you not--a girl named Kaitlyn who falls in… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: 50 Shades of Red
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Well played, Meg. Well played.
Today's passage doesn't qualify as terrible prose. Mostly. It's from a book I really enjoying. It's kind of corny--there's a love triangle and this guy has a bodyguard crush on this Russian princess--but the premise is intriguing and I love it. Then, out of nowhere, comes this letter. I'm a fan of epistolary novels; I can… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Well played, Meg. Well played.
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Pronunciation was not a consideration
Fantasy novels have foreign, ancient languages. Tolkien INVENTED an entire language to write The Lord of the Rings. I can't begrudge fantasy for occasionally hard-to-pronounce words based on medieval culture(s). Eyes of War takes it a step too far. I have never tripped over so many words in my life. I should probably pick a new book to… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: Pronunciation was not a consideration
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: All they did was hug
Three common failings in bad writing, and in this passage in particular: Rushing your main love story. At this point in Eyes of War, Mat and Janevra have known each other for a day. A DAY. They keep talking about feelings they don't actually have. Isn't Mat the first guy you've ever met, Janevra? Cool your jets.… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: All they did was hug
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: “You’re lucky you didn’t try to kiss me.”
Strong female protagonists are great. Sometimes. There is a glut of female protagonists who are skilled in the fighting arts. On one hand, great; you go, girls, proving those fools who think women are weak wrong. On the other hand, this characterization limits "strength" to physical strength. The "strong" in "strong female character" doesn't have to be… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: “You’re lucky you didn’t try to kiss me.”
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: “I’ll have what she’s having.”
There's nothing I love more than a good romance. If done right, I even like belligerent sexual tension. I repeat: if done right. Having two characters fight all the time isn't cute or romantic by itself. If two people are awful to each other, that doesn't make me root for their happiness. I think you know where… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: “I’ll have what she’s having.”
TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: A little on the handsome side
I'm lucky enough to have some friends who are fellow writers and readers. They work on creative projects with me, give me helpful feedback, and allow me access to their extensive libraries. It's awesome. A couple months ago, one of them told me about a book she'd bought at a writer's conference that was the… Continue reading TERRIBLE PROSE TUESDAY: A little on the handsome side
Narrative Paradise 