Do fashions in writing really change?

This post was inspired by Sally Rippin's comment on my previous post, Less is More, and the idea that it's never a good idea to bombard the reader with too much detail. Sally said:

'It's interesting you write about this... because...last night as I finished reading Roald Dahl's 'BFG' to my youngest son... I couldn't help thinking...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.'


I agree, I think writing fashions definitely change, though I'm not sure to what extent the changes are dictated by children's reading styles, and to what extent they are determined by the publishing industry. Or rather, could it be that a change in publishing standards has resulted in a corresponding change in reading styles?

Certainly, novels became shorter with the advent of television, and shorter still once the Internet became a ubiquitous part of daily life. There is so much competition for our leisure time, and recent surveys have suggested that attention spans are becoming shorter.

In the nineteenth century, long, highly descriptive novels were the norm. Few such books would be published today. But there are always exceptions.

A number of people in the Australian book industry agree that had JK Rowling sent her manuscript to Australian publishers, Harry Potter would never have been published, because it was just too long.

Which brings me to further distinctions: 1) fashions in writing are not neccessarily the same the world over - the Australian publishing industry in particular favours literature that is spare and concise, and 2) fashions differ between genres - fantasy writers can often get away with longer, more detailed descritpion where writers of realistic fiction cannot.

Now, more people are writing than ever before (writing itself has become more fashionable) and some readers will only read short books so that they can read more books in total. However, I believe there will always be readers who want a good, long story they can sink their teeth into.

Fashions aside, my suggestion to keep details to a minimum was really about the quality of writing. As Sallly observed, Roald Dahl's writing is very descriptive, and yet I don't believe it suffers from too much detail, since in his case, every word enhances the story. And in the end, that's what counts.

Two (and a half) days left to enter

the competition to win a manuscript assessment. If you know anyone who might benefit from a free assessment of their MG or YA ms, spread the word!!!

Writing Class - Less is More

A certain amount of description is essential in all good stories, but writers often struggle with getting the balance right. How much description is enough? How much is too much?


It’s important to give your readers enough description to allow them to imagine the scene without bombarding them with too much detail. The trick is in revealing only the salient details.

Writers are often told they must know everything about the fictional world they’re creating, but this advice can be counter-productive. If your scene takes place in a garden, you probably don’t need to know or describe every plant in that garden (unless, for example, one of those plants is poisonous and will later become a weapon used for murder, in which case you might).


Likewise, you probably don’t need to tell the reader exactly what your characters had for breakfast (unless one of your characters turns out to be allergic to something he ate).

As a general guide, assess each detail for its relevance to the story you’re telling. Include only those details that reveal character, advance the plot, or in some way enhance your story.

Still not sure? Try removing the detail. Is your story poorer for the lack? If so, put it back. If not, leave it out; it probably just isn’t needed.

Paring down can strengthen a story. Trust your reader to fill in the gaps.

Bookclub with The Younger Sun

was a lot of fun. The kids are lively, interested, and avid readers with plenty to say. We met in the Hogwarts Room in The Sun Theatre, which really does look like a set out of Harry Potter, and we sat at a long, Hogwarts-like wooden table.

It was great to meet the lovely Kate, who manages The Younger Sun and does such a fantastic job of co-ordinating the bookclub.

I was chuffed to discover that The Younger Sun is not just the name of the bookclub , it's the name of a bookshop specialising in children's books, and it's right across the road from its parent, The Sun Bookshop. When so many bookshops have only a small section of childrens and YA books stuck somewhere at the back, it's refreshing to find a whole bookshop devoted entirely to kids of all ages.

Thanks Kate and gang for a wonderful day!

Down Memory Lane - A Fish Out of Water

This delightful book by Helen Palmer was first published in the US in 1961. It's a charming story about a boy who buys a goldfish, and ignoring strict instructions not to feed him too much, is dismayed to find that the fish outgrows his fishbowl, a number of vases, the bathtub and the local pool.

Interestingly, Helen Palmer was married to Theodor Geisel, more commonly known as 'Dr Seuss', and the book is based on a short story he wrote in 1950.

A Fish Out of Water is still in print and probably will be for years to come, entertaining generation after generation.  There's just something about it!

You Might Have Missed... The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon, though chances are you didn’t, since more than 2 million copies have been sold. This book would probably rate in my Top 10 Ever. It’s a brilliant example of crossover fiction – adults seem to rate it more highly than teens.

Haddon tells a highly original story narrated by the 15-year-old protagonist, a boy with autism, though Interestingly, the word ‘autism’ is never mentioned. The language is deceptively simple, the content insightful and authentic. An absolute masterpiece!

First published in 2003, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time won the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year and the 2004 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book.

From the intriguing plot to the brilliant characterisation and the uniqueness of the voice, this novel succeeds at every level. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Dancing in the Dark - 1st Birthday!!!

Today is the first anniversary of my debut novel. Exactly a year ago, Dancing in the Dark hit the bookshelves. Even now, a whole year later, I still get a thrill when I find it in bookshops.

The two years between completing the manuscript and seeing the final book in print were filled with smaller milestones and highlights. These include:

· Finding an agent (Debbie Golvan of Golvan Arts Management) to represent me.

· Having a number of publishers expressing interest.

· Receiving emails from publishers saying how much they loved the book.

· Entering the offices of Penguin Books and meeting the publishers.

· Receiving actual offers.

· Accepting an offer.

· Receiving the signed contract.

· Meeting and working with Michelle Madden, a lovely, dedicated and highly professional editor. Ditto the rest of the staff at Penguin.

· Seeing the beautiful cover design (by one very talented Evi Otemoto, whom I’ve yet to meet).

· Holding the actual book in my hands.

· Putting the book on my shelf at home.

· Seeing multiple copies of my book in a fabulous window display at Sunflower Bookshop.

Post-publication highlights include:
· The launch of Dancing in the Dark – I enjoyed it immensely.

· Reading positive reviews of the book in newspapers, blogs and magazines.

· Being interviewed for radio, newspapers, magazines, blogs and e-zines.

· Receiving fan mail.

· Meeting readers who tell me how much they loved the book.

· Receiving invitations to appear at the Melbourne Writers Festival and the Brisbane Writers Festival, and attending those festivals.

· Meeting other writers.

I’m humbled by the fact that my dream to be a published author has become a reality. Heartfelt thanks to those who worked behind the scenes – the unsung heroes at Penguin and the booksellers who’ve recommended my book to their customers.

Last but by no means least, a huge thankyou to all of you who’ve taken the time to read my book when there are so many others to choose from. I don’t take a single one of you for granted.