Like a broken record

[wayfaringwordhack]

I don't know how many of you follow Query Shark (query_shark ), but yesterday she said something that made me sit up straight and think "uh oh."

First a quote:

The Sharked: My completed 60,000 word manuscript, NODDING PINES, is a work of literary fiction that tells the story of a broken family through the three unique voices that comprise it.

The Shark: Writing three unique voices is like going to the Writing Olympics. Just cause you look good in a Speedo doesn't make you Michael Phelps. When someone offers me a novel in three voices I cringe. Then the first, actually the ONLY, thing I do is watch how they use language. If the query letter is over written and pedantic, I have zero confidence you are the Michael Phelps of the Shark Pool.

First sign that elevates an eyebrow: that comprise it. (you don't actually need those words for a complete thought.) If you're writing three voices, you'd better have a very keen eye for extra words.

As all you Bobs know, I'm currently working on a trilogy. Told from 5 different POVs. And I have a self-confessed problem with voice.

::is in deep...water:: But then, I already knew that. ;-) Come on in, y'all; the...water's fine.

Comments

[clarentine]

Thank god my default is first person single voice. *g* I only have one novel with more than one narrator, and that book has two.

Of course, that said, the only rule in writing is, does it work? If yours works with five voices, then it works. La!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*nods* Of course, the Query Shark doesn't accept fantasy, and I don't think all agents(especially those who rep sci-fi and fantasy do) have the exact same prejudice. But the crux of the matter, which you hit upon, is "does it work?" I'm struggling to make it work is the only answer I have to that. :P

Actually, thinking about it, none of my projects has a single POV. o.O I guess I believe in challenging myself. ;-)

[clarentine]

I'm struggling to make it work is the only answer I have to that.

That's the only answer you need, as far as I'm concerned. Challenge away! (Or is that aweigh? As long as it's not awash.)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, definitely not awash!

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

But we're GENRE! That can be a bitch, but is does mean we get to screw around and develop our skills attempting ridiculously overwrought conceits, and while if we were lit fic we might get our hands slapped no one prominent is examining us, and the only thing our audience cares about is "Does it have dragons in?" (Or a prophecy or magic or plenty of double-crosses...)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. As I said to clarentine, Query Shark just doesn't get us. :P

But we embrace our genre-hood. And in our ballpark, we get to play the game how we want. Multiple POVs rule! Bring on the conceits!

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

There are so many things wrong with that Query Shark entry I don't know where to start, other than that from people like this come Dan Brown. Gah...

Write what feels right to you. Do your very best to make it the best work you can. Don't even consider dumbing down your work because some twit with a blog and no taste wants the world to be uniform and bland.

[pjthompson]

What Jaime said! You only have a problem with voice if it doesn't work. If it works, it's your voice. Be proud! :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't work, who do I get to blame it on? >;-}

[pjthompson]

Fred.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

::notes name; puts it somewhere safe::

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I think it's odd how when I worry about one thing--in this case voice (or deep POV as I've mentioned before) and how to pull it off--the universe keeps giving me little send-ups that remind me of the toughness of the challenge.

Just when I tell myself, "Sit back; take it easy," I get jerked back to the reality that, for me, there isn't much that is easy about it. :P

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I think there's a mis-phrasing there -- you don't need to be the Michael Phelps, but a Michael Phelps. in other words, you just have to be really good. Among the number of wannabe-writers out there, the percentage of people who can pull this off is very, very small. Among the number of mfaures out there, the percentage who can do this is very high.

Period.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. It's good to know that someone out there thinks I'm doing OK at this thing.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

You are :-)

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

Ignore Query Shark. Rules were made to be broken, remember? :D

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*lol* I don't think I did a very good job with this post. I was going to make it longer and then felt too lazy, thinking everyone would just understand what I meant.

Anyhow, Janet Reid (the agent behind QS) doesn't take fantasy, so she's not up on the multi-POV thing we genre writers indulge in. However, I think her point about making sure each voice is superb is a valid one, especially if you are going to call your voices "unique."