Lucy-S, a writer for E2, has posted today a hilarious write-up on How to Write Fantasy that will Slay the Editors. It’s well worth a read.
Think of it as a companion piece to the Turkey City Lexicon.
The question is….
What other advice can we give to aspiring bad fantasy writers?
Suggestions Three
Re: Suggestions ummm….. whoops
Also, counting and proofreading titles is for losers!
not impressed.
Those who can’t do, snark.
This isn’t really a companion to the Turkey City Lexicon so much as it is a sarcastic, slightly whiny version of the same material without the literary pedigree to back up the attitude.
I wonder how long it will be before we start seeing “How To Write A Perfectly Awful ‘How Not To Write’ Advice Article” on e2.
Re: not impressed.
It’s a humour piece, clearly, with satiric intent. In that sense, it plays with a few of the ideas being discussed more weightily in the Lexicon– which itself boasts several amusing moments.
Re: not impressed.
I like the Turkey City lexicon quite a bit (I even keep a copy of it on my HD to remind myself to avoid many of the pitfalls mentioned therein), but I thought this was a little too mean-spirited and ham-handed to be funny, or even qualify as satire. But that’s just me.
Re: not impressed.
So, what kind of a literary pedigree did you want to see?
And what kind of a pedigree do you offer to back up your
own attitudes? :-)
Re: not impressed.
I’d like to see what kind of published books, and how many, this particular author has on the shelves, since she’s obviously so knowledgeable on the conventions of a genre she apparently finds so lacking. I’d like to see if she has something positive to contribute, or is just mouthing off… I’m gonna guess the latter.
And I have no pedigree of my own, but then I don’t pen lengthy screeds telling people how to write, either. (And a good thing, too.) :)
Re: not impressed.
And ye shall receive:
http://www.sff.net/people/lucy-snyder/write.html
Re: not impressed.
Those who can’t snark, snark about the snarking.
Okay, you’re not snarking and your complaints are valid. But I’ve also got to say, it could have been a heck of a lot worse. After all, when I read the post title, before anything else came into my mind, I suddenly thought:
Step One: Change your name to Piers Anthony
Now that’s being snarky.
Well it’s alright…
…but it smells a bit. (credit that one to Douglas Adams and/or John Lloyd)
The article’s okay, but the Turkey City Lexicon, which I have not seen before, is fantastic. So thanks for posting that link :-)