Re: [bookclub] Prose style in 'Losing Your Grip'

[J.D. Berry <jdberry@my-deja.com>]

In article <87a244$u21$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,
  Nick Montfort <nickmontfort@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> Other writing problems that crop up are very widespread in IF.
> The interior place descriptions give the sense of being at a
> vertex on a graph, not in a building, because compass directions
> are mentioned with unnecessary frequency.
>
> Rather than go on (and into other fits), I'll ask if there is
> anyone else who sees writing issues like these as real and
> important, and deserving of greatly heightened attention? Is my
> suggestion of a more objective voice -- sensitive to the
> narrative purpose of the player's actions -- appropriate?
>
> I'm hopeful that it will be fruitful to look at the writing in
> specific works like Losing Your Grip in this way, and to focus
> on important questions about writing by using the example of
> texts in successful IF works.
>

I'm torn on this.  Improving the writing aspect of IF as art through
critical analysis seems a worthwhile endeavor in some cases.
I'm worried, though, that excessive attention to ANY element may
discourage rather than improve authors weak in that given element.

Also a consideration is the "what is 'good' art" issue?
Hemingway?  Crude?  Bold?
Proust?  Run-on or stream of consciousness?
Van Gogh?  Hey, you left the brush strokes on!
Rap music?  Noise?  Powerful?
eecummings can't find a turabian manual

Of course there's the Bensen counter, "I was a personal friend of
Hemingway, and YOU are no Hemingway."  ;-D

Anyway, I'm certainly not trying to solve that question...

With the exception of the professional and/or truly gifted writers
here, how much better are the rest of us going to get with criticism if
this is but a hobby?  A little better, perhaps, but I think effort
and natural ability are the largest parts of the success equation.

I'd hate to think an otherwise fine author (produces "fun" games)
would shy away from creating a game because people were going to
nitpick his style (which is highly subjective in the first place.)

Then again, it just may be helpful to have different perspectives on
why things "worked" and others didn't.  But I said I was torn in the
beginning!

Jim


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