Active Users:491 Time:21/06/2025 05:48:54 AM
A few comments/replies about your post..... Anonymous2000 Send a noteboard - 20/02/2012 02:57:16 PM
Obviously, all of this is opinion, but I see storytelling as the most important aspect of writing (definitely fictional). I define "fluff" as unneeded content, unnecessary words that get in the way of the story or do not contribute to it. So, while I do truly appreciate and respect Dostoyevsky's uniquely powerful portrayal of Raskolnikov's internal struggle, I find that 1/4 or 1/3 of the novel is fluff and unnecessary when you look at the main storyline (and yes, the king of fluff is RJ and in my mind, Tom Claney, my goodness, you can skim 3/4 of one of his novels and not miss anything).

This is the difference between a great attribute of a novel and a great novel itself. Huck Finn, Great Gatsby come it mind as the total package. But thinking about the power of storytelling, I will cite Uncle Tom's Cabin. The take away meaning/message was no different than hundreds (likely thousands) of abolitionist journals, pamphlets, and non-fiction accounts of the horrors of slavery, but this novel broke through to the national consciousness because of the storytelling.

So, to me, storytelling is the key. And I don't want anything in the prose to get in the way of the story. Regarding the aspects of writing, style, grammar, syntax, construction of sentences, I really don't care. The best prose is when it is unnoticeable and allows the story to rise or fall all by itself!
Reply to message
Brandon Sanderson plans 36 books in his 'Cosmere' setting - 19/02/2012 11:45:24 AM 4823 Views
Was Sanderson created by the Writng Gods to counter balance GRRM? - 19/02/2012 05:13:07 PM 1605 Views
A modern Moorcock, eh ? *NM* - 19/02/2012 05:39:00 PM 706 Views
I just wish he'd be done with the RJ shit and go back to writing his own books. - 19/02/2012 05:40:59 PM 1534 Views
Agreed on both points..... - 19/02/2012 08:00:41 PM 1497 Views
Well, but he is a "fluff" writer from a literary standpoint - 20/02/2012 02:16:11 AM 1535 Views
Not a fluff writer in my mind..... - 20/02/2012 03:12:46 AM 1509 Views
You don't seem to want to hear what I'm saying - 20/02/2012 03:51:13 AM 1468 Views
And I am saying that storytelling is more important..... - 20/02/2012 04:52:39 AM 1593 Views
Storytelling is crucial... - 20/02/2012 05:59:57 AM 1591 Views
A few comments/replies about your post..... - 20/02/2012 02:57:16 PM 1521 Views
You are correct in one respect: all of this is opinion. - 20/02/2012 07:01:11 PM 1511 Views
You sound like one of those nasty "literary elites"! - 20/02/2012 08:07:13 PM 1460 Views
Literature is subjective - 21/02/2012 12:26:35 AM 1537 Views
Very well said..... *NM* - 21/02/2012 01:12:40 AM 669 Views
I agree with your point about reading Shakespeare from textbooks. - 21/02/2012 03:18:37 AM 1586 Views
Never heard of Thomas Mann and the real Mona Lisa..... - 21/02/2012 03:34:12 AM 1401 Views
Conversely, why should I trust the likes of you? - 21/02/2012 06:19:18 AM 1697 Views
Oh, come now... - 21/02/2012 10:35:18 AM 1651 Views
When it comes to evaluating schema, I'm not going to trust someone who only had English 101 - 21/02/2012 11:26:03 AM 1407 Views
Mostly agreed - 21/02/2012 09:00:51 PM 1471 Views
Mostly true - 21/02/2012 09:27:09 PM 1497 Views
Re: Mostly true - 22/02/2012 12:58:55 AM 1320 Views
Larry = snob - 21/02/2012 05:34:22 PM 1453 Views
Amusing - 21/02/2012 07:49:20 PM 1460 Views
Wow, you lack basic reading comprehension skills..... - 21/02/2012 08:29:24 PM 1453 Views
Uh...Faust is a play. Doctor Faustus is a novel. The former is Goethe, the latter is Mann. *NM* - 22/02/2012 12:00:22 AM 691 Views
D'uh.....notice the smiley face. Good grief! *NM* - 22/02/2012 12:50:23 AM 709 Views
Just checking... *NM* - 22/02/2012 01:07:40 AM 656 Views
Wait, let's look at the gross disconnect between two statements. - 21/02/2012 01:59:34 PM 1521 Views
I have not blindly rejected the literary elites..... - 21/02/2012 05:27:35 PM 1512 Views
So true about the Mona Lisa. - 21/02/2012 07:57:41 PM 1564 Views
Yes, I was at the Louvre and you are right..... - 21/02/2012 08:32:40 PM 1461 Views
This is where your own rethoric defeats you... - 23/02/2012 06:38:54 AM 1492 Views
Slow down - it may not be the current elites that are hyping it..... - 23/02/2012 05:12:47 PM 1268 Views
There's "subjective", and there's "lack of education" - 21/02/2012 08:58:11 PM 1462 Views
Re: There's "subjective", and there's "lack of education" - 21/02/2012 09:23:38 PM 1600 Views
Thank you. That was excellent. *NM* - 20/02/2012 07:01:31 PM 746 Views
Seems like an awful lot. - 19/02/2012 08:11:22 PM 1690 Views
Sanderson is a machine. Also, the books (so far) have been wildly different - 20/02/2012 12:50:41 AM 1572 Views
I thought he was just recycling the name at first. *NM* - 20/02/2012 02:09:57 AM 756 Views
It's likely to stay that way... - 20/02/2012 06:22:50 AM 1558 Views
I think he can actually do both - 20/02/2012 03:31:00 PM 1616 Views
Re: I think he can actually do both - 20/02/2012 06:34:30 PM 1681 Views
I love it. - 19/02/2012 10:00:28 PM 1417 Views
Confirmation on the Mistborn trilogies. I am so happy. *NM* - 20/02/2012 05:38:23 AM 658 Views
I am thrilled to see that there will be more stories about Wax and Wayne..... - 20/02/2012 03:46:37 PM 1317 Views
The one issue I had with that book... - 21/02/2012 06:21:29 PM 1435 Views
Waxillium! *NM* - 21/02/2012 10:47:03 PM 661 Views
WAXILLIUM! *NM* - 04/03/2012 07:39:37 AM 892 Views
Why is that an issue? I think those names are great. - 23/02/2012 05:31:51 AM 1398 Views
Do you not like puns? *NM* - 06/03/2012 01:38:31 PM 758 Views
BS- The Fantasy Stephen King? - 21/12/2012 08:12:21 PM 1206 Views

Reply to Message