Thursday, May 30, 2013

Ninja Writing

Recently I’ve been reading a lot. As in judging contests (10 entries) and struggling through a bunch of  books to find something to read.




And I want to say how much I enjoy ninja writers.

The ones who have such skill, such subtly that you are pulled into their stories without seeing them.  They craft great stories but they are invisable.



You know the ones, you read a chapter and have been completely pulled in and at no time do you think, “oh- I see what the writer is trying to do”. Like a ninja, they strike quickly and with prescion doing exactly what they need to do, no more and no less.

Part of the reason I'm noticing them- not being noticable- is because in both published and unpublished cases I'm seeing more and more noticiable writing.  Where the author is there with you every single page, pointing out important information with a neon sign.  I started a published book last night and was bored in a few pages as I got tired of watching the author make things how they should happen, instead of how they DID happen.

I know, that doesn't make sense.  But it's that bit of writing where the writer is trying a little too hard to get a point across in case the reader missed it the first five times.  Where they use cliche reactions to things instead of saying, "Ok, I know my character- what would they really be doing right now?"

Ninja writing is subtle and clean and true to the characters.  A good ninja writer KNOWS their characters, and that knowledge is clear in every move the characaters make.  They trust the reader to follow along without being reminded how hunky the hero is every other paragraph.

So to all you ninja writers out there- I salute you- and I wanna be just like you real soon ;).







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6 comments:

  1. ShoshanaMay 30, 2013 at 7:38 PM

    Great post, Marie. Yes--ninja writers are awesome.

    In my first drafts, I let myself write whatever cliches happen to come out in the spirit of getting words onto the page. But I do try to clean them up as best I can in the revision phase. :)

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    1. Marie AndreasMay 30, 2013 at 8:54 PM

      Thanks, Shoshana! Having read a sample of your work, I have to say you do a great job- you have Ninja skills!

      Thanks for coming by and commenting!

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  2. UnknownMay 31, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    Great article! And I will keep it in mind when I get my ass back in gear!

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    1. Marie AndreasJune 2, 2013 at 10:10 AM

      Thanks! And I am looking forward to that day, Brenda!

      Make sure you tell me when you dive back into the writing world :). It'll be here waiting for you.

      Thanks for coming by and commenting!

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  3. AnonymousMay 31, 2013 at 7:46 PM

    Marie,

    Ah, that fine line between putting important information or foreshadowing into the story and not clubbing the reader to death with it. What's too much? What's too little? People write hunky heroes? Is everyone's hunk the same thing? Personally, I'm a sucker for the best friend. They never seem to be written hunkily and are often ten times more interesting. Perhaps this is because the writer doesn't feel they have to try as hard with Number 2. Is there a lesson here?

    I'm working on my ninja skills, but currently I'm having trouble moving around in a story unnoticed. Perhaps I should wear black instead of that bright greeny-yellow all the highway workers wear now. Yah think?

    Great post.
    Sharon

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    1. Marie AndreasJune 2, 2013 at 10:12 AM

      LOL! Yeah, I think black clothing might be far more ninja-ish. ;)

      I hear ya though, it's hard to make the story go where it needs to go, without you being caught standing their, "Ignore that writer behind the curtain..." :)

      Thanks for coming by and commenting!

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