I'm noticing that writing bad is where style comes in. There's more than one way to write badly. (And I probably just broke a grammar rule there that is also a form of "bad" writing, but some of the rules confuse me. I need a remedial.) It's not just being over-prosey with the adverbs, it's also stating the obvious, over and over. I just can't seem to do that, something in my brain resists. Must.Try.Harder.
Buffy ,'Chosen'
The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
The flame-haired Commander smiled, her amethyst eyes glinting with amusement. She picked up the goblet crafted of glowing green Lycanium, mined here on Lasnos by the serving class, the Ga'a'a'aks, who were remarkable for their large stature in comparison to their overseers, the Ha'a'a'ch'a, who were smaller but had one more arm and a greater understanding of the sacred texts of Lycak which they shared with the true ruling class, who could be mistaken for Ha'a'ach'a by off-worlders, for the only difference was their use of the familar tense in the Lycanian Lypish dialect used in business dealing. "This is delicious" she said in flawless Lypish and downed the thick, smoking liqueur.
It's not just being over-prosey with the adverbs, it's also stating the obvious, over and over.
I think there are many different ways to write badly, and not all bad writing has each type of clunker in it. An excessively adverbed novel might not fall prey to stating the obvious. A piece that clunks along awkwardly and dully might not run amok with adverbs.
The beauty of bad writing is the multitide of ways in which it can be done.
The beauty of bad writing is the multitide of ways in which it can be done.
Herewith, clunky and with adverbs. Oh, and it's kinda porny.
Puddle of Love
She lay there. Legs open. Quivering. Wet. Waiting for him. Could she wait much longer without the deluge of her juices drowning her in the uninhibited lust he inspired in her?
He prowled. Slowly. Sneering. His biceps bulging and his abs rippling as he crawled up the bed to her juicy joining. His cock dripped, precum puddling in her salty-sweet seasoning.
Like a five-meter platform diver he plunged his pulsing member into her clasping core, the depths from which he might never emerge whole. Stunned, they looked into each others eyes, their souls, and drowned in the love they saw there
So, one bad drabble was about a dude and his desert; here's a family and their beach:
* * * *
Every summer, for as long as they could remember, and, indeed, Maman assured them, for as many summers as Maman herself could remember, meaning long before any of them were born, or even a possibility, really, their family journeyed to the beach.
The air, the sand, the water -- it was their lifeblood. The very pounding of the surf, the waves crashing rhythmically on the shore over and over and over, since time began, which would continue until the end of time, was like the collective family heartbeat.
The beach, they knew, was essential to their family -- it was a part of their family -- it WAS their family.
Man, I don't think there's anyway you could bury any of those folks in the sand and make it stick. Somehow, the beach made me think of the Borg. You come here, you will be assimilated.
We are the beach. Resistance is futile. Bring your umbrella and surrender.
(That's almost a travel agency ad....)
The thick night air was laden with the powerful scent of jasmine. It was always like this in August. Notes from a faint tinny piano, so accustomed to floating effortlessly in milder weather, fought their way through the heavy haze and fell, gasping, on our ears. Nothing ever travelled well this time of year -- not people, not animals, not even music. No, the tropical atmosphere was too much for all but the toughest individuals -- or most foolhardy. They were the ones who laughed in humidity's wet face and asked for more, tempting fate as they turned off their air conditioners.
Oh, Robin!
The Ga'a'a'a'ak.
I almost peed myself.
I cheated. I wrote 400 words (I couldn't stop writing).
Cort froze, quivering with desire at the sight of the sassy Neveah. Her beauty -- was matched only by her intelligence. Despite her PhD, she was still niaive in the ways of the world. Most especially the ways of men. He knew, from listening to the small town’s gossip mill, that Neveah ’s life had been one of shelter-- a beauty of alabaster skin locked away in an ivory tower. He’d tried to ignore her, be only civil, but she enflamed him It had seemed to Cort, that such a woman would never truly want a man like him-- a former juvenile delinquent, now trying to wash away his sins as the town’s sheriff
Finally after weeks of innocent dates and a few shy kisses he pulled her into the back room of his office where he lived and swept her into his arms kissing her rosebud lips. He cautiously delved his tongue past her lips, not wanting to startle her. He knew that despite her PhD she was still innocent in the ways of love. Breathlessly she pulled away gasping
“Oh! Cort! I feel so warm…so tingly.!”
Neveah felt molten inside. Never before had she understood why other women were so exceited about sex. The few times she’d kissed boys nothing stirred in her. Not even the amn she had onced promised to marry drove her to desire. But Cort! He was a man! He made her yearn for things -- dangerous, sensous, sexy things.
“Cort! Please! I want you to make me a woman!”
Cort groaned and pulled her into a more passionate embrace. His hands roamed over her body, creeping under her shirt to stroke her back. Neveah felt dizzy, and her body sang as his hands touched where no man had before. He pulled his mouth away and she followed, like a baby bird. Blinking she looked at him “I..I.. Want…” she could barely finish the sentence. Instead, gathering her courage she slipped the straps of her dress down and let it slid unnoticed to the floor.
Cort’s eyes were riveted to Neveah’s pale skin, glowing as if lit from in. The alabaster of her skin only enhanced by the plain white tricot bra and panties she wore.
He gathered her into his arms, savoring the decadent feel of her almost naked body against his clothed one. “Neveah! Let me show you the ways of love!”