What’s
Your Style?
“...writing
so good, I didn’t notice it.” When I first read this line in a book review, some
years back, my initial thoughts were – the poor author.
As
writers, we agonise over words to convey just the right message, layer our
descriptions to build a certain atmosphere, craft phrases to achieve the
correct imagery in readers’ minds.
There
are those inspired sentences: ones that come to you into the night, those that
spring into your mind in the supermarket queue. Lines that need to be scribbled
down on the back of old receipts, scraps of paper, backs of hands; caught
quickly before they slip away into the deep, dark abyss within our heads.
When
my writing tutor cast her red pen across these precious lines, I wanted to wrap
my arms around them, my babies to protect. As she whipped them out, I wanted to
run to the waste paper basket, uncurl the crumpled pieces, and insert them back
into my work.
Instead,
I thought about books I have read. It’s no secret that I have a penchant for
crime thrillers. I’m a sucker for a good page turner. It got me thinking – how
many times do you see ‘spare’ words and phrases in a thriller? The simple
answer is never. Why? Because they distract the reader and detract from the
story. In point, they can be the difference between a reader loving or hating
your book.
As
those inspired lines were prised from me, I realised that in the early days I
was being self indulgent. I used some prose because I really liked it, not
because it either added to, or drove, the story forward. And that is what it is
all about – the story. We are here to spin a good yarn.
So,
when writing my own crime thriller, An Unfamiliar Murder, I aspired towards
“writing so good, I didn’t notice it.” If I achieve this, I’ll know I’ve done
my job.
Contact details:
You can read an excerpt from An Unfamiliar Murder and contact me on my
website at www.janeisaac.co.uk. I love to hear from readers and writers.
Sign up to my newsletter for updates on An Unfamiliar Murder and its
sequel which should be out by the end of 2012. Alternatively, follow me on
Twitter: @JaneIsaacAuthor or on Face Book: Jane Isaac Author.
What readers are saying:
"The characters are brilliantly crafted.... I can't wait for the sequel!"
"...as fast paced as it is full of twists and turns... "
"...compulsive reading. Brilliantly written, gripping plot."
Buy An Unfamiliar Murder here:
Paperback US:
http://www.amazon.com/Unfamiliar-Murder-Jane-Isaac/dp/1937758060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326864285&sr=8-1
Paperback UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unfamiliar-Murder-Jane-Isaac/dp/1937758060/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328031646&sr=8-2
Kindle US:
http://www.amazon.com/An-Unfamiliar-Murder-ebook/dp/B006YK6U18/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326864285&sr=8-3
Kindle UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Unfamiliar-Murder-ebook/dp/B006YK6U18/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326868728&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Unfamiliar-Murder-Jane-Isaac/dp/1937758060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326864285&sr=8-1
Paperback UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unfamiliar-Murder-Jane-Isaac/dp/1937758060/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328031646&sr=8-2
Kindle US:
http://www.amazon.com/An-Unfamiliar-Murder-ebook/dp/B006YK6U18/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326864285&sr=8-3
Kindle UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Unfamiliar-Murder-ebook/dp/B006YK6U18/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326868728&sr=8-1
1 comment:
Hey Lindsay!
Thank you for hosting my piece on your awesome blog. So kind:)
Jane
x
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