Writing stylesFollow

Has anyone else ever noticed the severe difference in writing styles and how they have evolved. If you read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, then readGeorge RR Martin, it is a very different flavor. Now, I know that comparing the two that are seperated by over half a century is not exactly fair, but I am also bringing up two colossal fantasy figures.

Now bring in a third author, that Paolini kid who wrote Eragon, if you ask me, his style is inferior. I'm still going to read his last book, but it is like walking through a briar patch barefoot. Now, I am sure that it is not fair to compare him to the previously mentioned authors, but he threw himself into this arena and it is his own fault. It is very hard to describe his style, but his biggest issue is definitely his pace, there are parts that seem to be rushed and others that he drags his feet through. In the second book I very much began to detest his characters. They smacked of elitist jerks, although it could be argued that was what he was going for with the elves, the underlying tone was that they were right (I am being unfair there, throwing my personnal beliefs into this, but the elves got under my skin bad). I personally feel that he jumped into the big leagues too soon, as GRR Martin said, don't try to write an epic as your first work, do short stories and refine your craft.

Another distinct style is that of Robert Jordan, another colossas. The only real issue I have is that he really began to drag the story out over the last few books, unfortunately, he is now gone and we will have another style finish the series off. If anything else, I think it will be the style that will have people being uncomfortable with the last book, no matter how true you are to the intended story, style is an inevitable force that can make or break a book. There may be a style-shock for many readers who will just feel strange reading it, but I think it will be fine overall.

Now here is a hot-button issue. There seems to be one thing that has an affect on style as great as the generation of the author, and that is the authors' gender. Personally, I read books written by women and it reminds me of the difference between John Locke and Rousseau (if anyone is into political ideology, you know what I am talking about). I read the Harry Potter series, and enjoyed much of it, but when reading it I would often get the feeling(especially in the later books) 'that isn't how a guy thinks' or that the wrong point was being emphasized. I get that a lot with various female authors and I have little doubt that women readers out there will read a book written by a man and feel the same way. Overall I am not into female authors, not because I am sexist but rather that it just seems backwards (once again, like Locke and Rousseau). For those wondering what I mean by Locke and Rousseau, Locke is an English political theorist and R is french. The government and systems of all english speaking nations are based on the philosophy of Locke. The other free nations of the world tend to use R. When an english nation person reads Locke it seems very sensible and that it is natural, when that person reads R it feels somewhat like putting your shoe on the wrong foot. You can get it on and walk, but it just doesn't feel right. Now if the french guy reads Locke, they get the same feeling. That is how I feel about female authors, nothing against them, it just feels a little off. I get the same feeling with some male authors, but not to the degree as with female.--side note, this post is getting longer than expected.

To sum everything up, an author's style is a unique signature of that person more so even than their actual signature. It cannot be faked and cannot be taught. Being a real author is about growing into your style through practice and experience. That is why writing is an art and not a science. That is why there is no laboratory formula for making a good book. Art is greater than science, pure rational thought is for the weak minded.

Disclaimer; Before you flame at me for not thinking this through, I have, I just dont have the time and willpower to write all the connections. Even if I did, how often can someone truly convey every detail of their thought process that leads to one destination. I am not saying I am right, only that I think I am right, because if I did not think I was right, why would I think what I think?-there's some philosophy- I'll put that in my sig sometime in the future, not now, still mourning.

I have more novels written by women in my very extencive collection than by men, i actually prefer the more emotive writing style than the often dry sci-fi heavy writing favoUred by certain male authors.

"Dragonsdawn" by Anne McCaffery is a very good example of how a deeply sci-fi novel is not ruined by over sciencing the book.

refering too two of the Authors you mention:

R Jorden; he completely lost his way somewhere between book 6-8 and totally derailed his own story by over complicating it and focusing on the wrong people far too much, and the thing is if you read the forum on his site everyone was telling him that and he ignored them.

J K Rowling; I take your point about Locke/Rousseau but frankly the reason that you felt this is more to do with the fact she completely dropped the ball on the last 2 (At least) books and they stunk. her main attribute of the early books was swift movement of story and charater development. the last two books where plodding at best and missed vital chances to expand on the charaters, I.e the complete ignoring of the Harry/Ginny storyline in the last book.

I have always found that women have just as much talent in writing in this genre as a man. Maybe I am not as discerning though. My examples would be Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, Anne Rice, Mary Shelley, Ursula K. le Guin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Judith Tarr, Barbara Hambly, Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, Madeleine L Engle, and too many more to list. Two of my all time favorite authors, granted I read them as a child, are Andre Norton, and Susan B. Coopper. Those two authors just "get" this genre. They know how to write in it, and capture your imagination. They provide just enough details to actually trasport you into the story. That is the hallmark of a Great writer; being able to immerse you in the story so thouroughly that its hours before you realize how long you have been reading a particular book, and you would rather go hours more before your willing to put it down.

Silly double post. Dont know how this one happened.

Edited, May 28th 2008 3:26pm by Harrington