tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6427823963682601916.post7534349631075599509..comments2023-09-25T17:34:18.167+10:00Comments on Read, Write, Think...: Writing Class - Less is MoreRobyn Bavatihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222604295177839651noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6427823963682601916.post-21679790070284240862011-02-08T07:10:39.541+11:002011-02-08T07:10:39.541+11:00I agree, I think writing fashions definitely chang...I agree, I think writing fashions definitely change. Take those very descriptive nineteenth century novels, for example. Very few such books would be published today. <br /><br><br />As a general rule, I think novels became shorter when TV became popular (competing for our leisure time) and shorter still with the spread of the Internet, which has apparently had the effect of shortening our attention span and fostering impatience with lengthy prose. <br /><br><br />But there are also different genre expectations. While publishers tend to want realistic fiction to be fairly consise, not so with fantasy, which is often longer and more richly descriptive. <br /><br><br />'Less is more' might well be seen as a contemporary 'rule', but like all 'rules' of writing, it's just a guideline and useful when troubleshooting. It certainly doesn't trump the age-old maxim: If your writing 'works', you can ignore the rules.Robyn Bavatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16222604295177839651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6427823963682601916.post-68960450566431377752011-02-07T10:27:17.611+11:002011-02-07T10:27:17.611+11:00It's interesting you write about this, Robyn, ...It's interesting you write about this, Robyn, because I was thinking about this last night as I finished reading Roald Dahl's 'BFG' to my youngest son. Roald Dahl is one of my favourite children's writers but I couldn't help thinking as I was reading how much detail he uses in describing not only surroundings but also action, much more so than many contemporary children's writers do. I guess writing fashions change as do children's reading styles and expectations.<br />Glad to hear it went well at the Younger Sun. They are SUCH a lovely bunch!Sally Rippinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925937323236380791noreply@blogger.com