The not doing awful things to his characters wouldn't bother me if it weren't dragged out over 1200 pages. Man needs a ruthless editor like most people need water.
It's good to have cargo. Makes us a target for every other scavenger out there, though, but sometimes that's fun too.
Mal ,'Shindig'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Matt the Bruins fan - Mar 27, 2004 6:39:38 pm PST #1897 of 10002
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Anne W. - Mar 28, 2004 3:35:47 am PST #1898 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
I wonder how much of the trend of guaranteed bestselling authors like King not getting severely edited is the fault of their publisher's greed vs. that of the writer's ego. If the publishing house forgoes the usual editiong process, they are able to get the book out on the market that much sooner, and they don't have to apply as much of the editing cost to the production cost of the book.
DavidS - Mar 28, 2004 7:23:21 am PST #1899 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I wonder how much of the trend of guaranteed bestselling authors like King not getting severely edited is the fault of their publisher's greed vs. that of the writer's ego.
Ego. It takes months to not only prep a book for publication, but there's also a promotion campaign, and you have to list it in catalogs and build interest (even for a big name like King) and handle the orders. There's plenty of time to edit it.
deborah grabien - Mar 28, 2004 8:23:46 am PST #1900 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Yup. Mostly ego.
Two words: Anne. Rice.
Two more: Thomas. Harris.
Anne W. - Mar 28, 2004 8:53:34 am PST #1901 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
Thanks.
Hmm. I can't imagine getting to a place where I wouldn't be willing to let someone telling me how to make my stuff better.
deborah grabien - Mar 28, 2004 8:56:48 am PST #1902 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
I can't imagine getting to a place where I wouldn't be willing to let someone telling me how to make my stuff better.
Word, sister. Big ole word.
erikaj - Mar 28, 2004 9:33:46 am PST #1903 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
And if I thought somebody was humoring me, I'd trip out. I hate being humored, especially if somebody was going around saying "She's really lost her game." Assuming I ever find it, that is.
Steph L. - Mar 28, 2004 9:43:48 am PST #1904 of 10002
I look more rad than Lutheranism
Well, I have to admit that my first instinct is to guard each and every syllable of my writing as sacrosanct -- my God, it is PERFECT; how could anyone think of changing it? the Philistines! -- but every single time, once I get over myself, I realize that the changes people suggest make my writing better.
I can't fault Anne Rice for the gut reaction, but the ego to not move past it? Give me a fucking break.
Frankenbuddha - Mar 28, 2004 10:23:05 am PST #1905 of 10002
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
The not doing awful things to his characters wouldn't bother me if it weren't dragged out over 1200 pages. Man needs a ruthless editor like most people need water.
Hmm, my problem has been more with repeating tried and true themes. I've never found a lot of extraneous material in his big books (even the couple hudred pages he added back to the Stand had a lot of fun stuff in it, IMO), but I've gotten less interested in the stories he's telling. It's hit or miss these days with him. Hated Insomnia, not because it was long, but because it felt like recycling. Loved Bag of Bones. Granted, that felt a tad recycled too, but it worked for me.
He keeps working, but he claims as far as books are concerned he's done. shrugs We'll see if he sticks to that (he keeps finding other ways of writing without writing, though - Kingdom Hospital, Entertainment Weekly, etc.).
deborah grabien - Mar 28, 2004 10:27:11 am PST #1906 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Well, I have to admit that my first instinct is to guard each and every syllable of my writing as sacrosanct -- my God, it is PERFECT; how could anyone think of changing it? the Philistines! -- but every single time, once I get over myself, I realize that the changes people suggest make my writing better.
Tep, I have exactly the opposite - I'm all "Dude! Whoo! Here, read this and suggest stuff for me!" - but I think the urge to guard is the more natural one.