This reminded me of a funny situation from a few weeks ago:
During the holidays, I read two romance fantasy books in a row, both by famous authors.
One was *very* poorly written but sticky AF. You need to keep reading (although at times you’re like ‘I can’t stand seeing this adjective for the umpteenth time’) just to figure out how things develop.
The other book was well written—nothing I’d call beautiful prose, but decent. However, it was incredibly dull.
All throughout January, I kept asking people around me: ‘Which is worse: to be a bad writer who writes sticky stuff, or to be a decent writer who writes boring stuff?’. People’s responses were very diverse. 😁
Now back to your article: I sometimes feel the need to put something out there just for the sake of ticking the box, but then I remember my fear of being a ‘meh’ writer. In those moments, I try to come back to the fun in writing, or to the wish to be genuinely useful & of service (e.g. when I’m writing a walkthrough for something). Still, the fear of ‘meh’ is always there. :)
That question haunted the right people all January. Because everyone knows the answer and nobody wants to admit it. We'd all rather read the rough-around-the-edges, addictive, can't-put-it-down book with clunky adjectives than the technically polished one we forget by Tuesday.
Stickiness isn't a writing skill. It's a human quality. You either brought yourself to the page or you didn't. And no amount of clean prose compensates for an empty chair.
This reminds me of a quote Dan Gilbert, chairman of Rocket Companies used to say a lot:
“Shit is the default setting.”
Basically, people are often comfortable with adequate (or worse), and that’s the root of so many things we can improve in the world.
Or a nicer version from my Godmother:
“We rise to the level of our own ignorance”
Your godmother and Dan Gilbert apparently arrived at the same conclusion from wildly different directions.
One through corporate America, one through... being someone's godmother.
I trust the godmother version more. It's less polished. Hits harder.
This reminded me of a funny situation from a few weeks ago:
During the holidays, I read two romance fantasy books in a row, both by famous authors.
One was *very* poorly written but sticky AF. You need to keep reading (although at times you’re like ‘I can’t stand seeing this adjective for the umpteenth time’) just to figure out how things develop.
The other book was well written—nothing I’d call beautiful prose, but decent. However, it was incredibly dull.
All throughout January, I kept asking people around me: ‘Which is worse: to be a bad writer who writes sticky stuff, or to be a decent writer who writes boring stuff?’. People’s responses were very diverse. 😁
Now back to your article: I sometimes feel the need to put something out there just for the sake of ticking the box, but then I remember my fear of being a ‘meh’ writer. In those moments, I try to come back to the fun in writing, or to the wish to be genuinely useful & of service (e.g. when I’m writing a walkthrough for something). Still, the fear of ‘meh’ is always there. :)
That question haunted the right people all January. Because everyone knows the answer and nobody wants to admit it. We'd all rather read the rough-around-the-edges, addictive, can't-put-it-down book with clunky adjectives than the technically polished one we forget by Tuesday.
Stickiness isn't a writing skill. It's a human quality. You either brought yourself to the page or you didn't. And no amount of clean prose compensates for an empty chair.
Ooh, love the last sentence! Thanks for sharing your perspective on the subject, Nick!