voice
plot
character development
grammar
research
pacing
What do you feel is most important? Oh, and before somebody hits me with, "I think they are all equally important and must be woven together in a delicate format to make your work stand out," just don't. It would be ideal to be a master of all, and if you are, I salute you. But, for the purposes of this blog post, pretend you can only have one. What sticks out to you most when reading?
I would choose character development. I would want to be able to develop characters so real that you feel like you know them (or like I do when I read a GREAT story, feel like I am them- or could be). I would also choose it because when you have great characters, some of the story writes itself.
What elements of writing do you think you need more work in? For me, I'd say character development and pacing. I'm signing up for a class ... I think. Hence the picture.
photo: alkruse24
I am not a writer by profession - I would say plot because if I was good enough at the plot I could write a plot good enough to be able to be sold and then raise enough money to have to delegate the other areas to other people. I would focus on the hardest part to delegate and start there.
ReplyDeleteWith money which part is the hardest to delegate would be the question I would focus on if I were doing this as a business and not just as a hobbie.
Behind that I would focus on the part I loved the most and cross my fingers they were the same.
What part is the most financially valuable skill to have? That would be what I would look to figure out from the list. As I said I do not understand this enough to be solid which area fits that bill.
Very interesting thoughts.
I have to go with plot as well. I feel an interesting plot will make up for sub-standard writing, and of course, hello Hollywood! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd have to go with voice. I think the rest can be learned, but voice is something that we have to find. I also thing it's the thing that draws readers in the most.
ReplyDeletePlot is a great choice. There have been many books & screenplays that have been a success because even though they weren't strong in other areas, they had a great plot.
ReplyDeleteSusan- I agree with you about voice being the thing that draws readers in.
Wow. This is a really good---and tough--- question! I honestly can't pick. I'd want either plot or characterization, but I can't decide which one is more important to me.
ReplyDeleteUm let's see... I choose voice!
ReplyDeleteMy voice.
ReplyDeleteIf I can tell my story with conviction and strong voice, I believe a reader will be captured from my passion.
The rest I am still definitely working at. Especially grammar! Ugh!
Characterization I think... With great characters the rest is easier. I'm going with that because I think the characters can drive all the other things.
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ReplyDeleteVoice is definitely the way to go. You can have a predictable plot with predictable characters, but if you have a story or essay that is interesting simply by the way it is written...that is golden.
ReplyDeleteVoice, b/c I think this is the hardest to learn.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say the grammar. Once you have that the others fall into place. That is foundation I think.
ReplyDeleteThis was a hard one to chose.