For whatever reason, people make up what they make up without any regard or consideration of the personality of the characters that they're using. They write what they write without care or acknowledgment of their own terrible spelling and grammar. They don't bother with betas because a few fawning reviews means that they have fans and it doesn't matter what the writing looks like.
Your post is well stated and I agree with much of what you say. There seem, however, to be several assumptions in what you say in the following and they concern me. For example, "..without regard or consideration, etc..." Perhaps the writers think they are writing a true 'personality of the characters.' They may not know that others (or some others) don't see it that way. There may be readers who 'hear' the personality in the writing that you think is poorly done. As for betas, I don't know if everyone has a reliable person available to them to take the time and effort (and I've beta-ed some works and it does take time and effort if one is conscientious about doing it) required to beta. It might take someone such as yourself reading the work and thinking it needs some changes to offer your assistance. Some will be greatly appreciative and some will not.
I, as you do, like English. I think I have a fairly good grasp of it. (Thank you Mrs. G in 9th grade.) Nevertheless, we can all make errors and, I agree with you again, writers would be well advised to be open to helpful suggestions. If one is seen as too critical, of course, people will shy away. Well, that being said, I hope you won't mind if I point out 3 small things to you.
few fawning reviews means - 'few' and 'reviews' being plural, it should be 'mean.' to just read the story - split infinitive then it's bad characterization - correct if you mean that it is the bad characterization that gets to you but incorrect if you mean the characterization of the story (its characterization) with 'its' being possessive. I'm not certain which you meant to convey.
no subject
Your post is well stated and I agree with much of what you say. There seem, however, to be several assumptions in what you say in the following and they concern me. For example, "..without regard or consideration, etc..." Perhaps the writers think they are writing a true 'personality of the characters.' They may not know that others (or some others) don't see it that way. There may be readers who 'hear' the personality in the writing that you think is poorly done. As for betas, I don't know if everyone has a reliable person available to them to take the time and effort (and I've beta-ed some works and it does take time and effort if one is conscientious about doing it) required to beta. It might take someone such as yourself reading the work and thinking it needs some changes to offer your assistance. Some will be greatly appreciative and some will not.
I, as you do, like English. I think I have a fairly good grasp of it. (Thank you Mrs. G in 9th grade.)
Nevertheless, we can all make errors and, I agree with you again, writers would be well advised to be open to helpful suggestions. If one is seen as too critical, of course, people will shy away.
Well, that being said, I hope you won't mind if I point out 3 small things to you.
few fawning reviews means - 'few' and 'reviews' being plural, it should be 'mean.'
to just read the story - split infinitive
then it's bad characterization - correct if you mean that it is the bad characterization that gets to you but incorrect if you mean the characterization of the story (its characterization) with 'its' being possessive. I'm not certain which you meant to convey.
Edited at 2009-09-17 01:57 pm (local)