Author, Author

I’ve been doing a lot of reading recently to make up for all the years I didn’t have time for when my kids were at home. Being an aspiring novelist has turned into a curse rather than a blessing. I read for writing skills as well as content and often get bogged down rewriting their story in my head.

One thing I’ve discovered is that even though writer may have be “an award winning journalist”, it doesn’t mean that they can write a good novel. It just means that they were a good journalist.

I just finished reading a book by one of these people and I swear he/she has never heard of POV or showing instead of telling. There was also way too much author intrusion. And this is an acclaimed writer.

I can only conclude that “established” authors are not subject to the same stringent guidelines that we novices get our feet held to the fire for. Of course, if you know someone or have made a name for yourself in another area, it doesn’t matter whether you can write or not. I’ve seen this firsthand recently and wonder who he/she had to blow to break into print.

Am I being a little sour grapes? Maybe. But then I remember that I want to get published for my writing merits, not because I have contacts in the right places. A little altruistic, too.