J.K. Rowling's Success

Never read any of her books.

Pretty much all I read are baseball books, sci fi, and fantasy.

cain006

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

 

Once again, you cannot objectively criticize a style of writing, but only the technical aspects of writing. Heck, the terms "good" and "bad" are subjective by nature. You say that even though you don't enjoy Tolkien's style, you'd never call it bad. Guess what? That's an opinion. There are people who would call it bad. You can't seem to understand that. 

Ninja-Hippo

I'll win the lottery and self-publish my books. 

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"][QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

 

Once again, you cannot objectively criticize a style of writing, but only the technical aspects of writing. Heck, the terms "good" and "bad" are subjective by nature. You say that even though you don't enjoy Tolkien's style, you'd never call it bad. Guess what? That's an opinion. There are people who would call it bad. You can't seem to understand that. 

BluRayHiDef

I'll win the lottery and self-publish my books. 

Look up early reviews on "The Cuckoo's Calling."

It was out for three, or so months before anyone knew it the author was Rowling.

Look up early reviews on "The Cuckoo's Calling."

It was out for three, or so months before anyone knew it the author was Rowling.

Meinhard1

Woodpecker if it wasn't for the crabsDavesAlt

[QUOTE="Meinhard1"]

Look up early reviews on "The Cuckoo's Calling."

It was out for three, or so months before anyone knew it the author was Rowling.

DavesAlt

Her books were exciting to read when I was like 12. When I finished reading the fifth book I was bored out of my mind. Been there, done that, average plot, dumb characters, decent narrative. I'd probably enjoy reading The Divine Comedy more even though I don't know ancient florentine.

[QUOTE="cain006"]

Never read any of her books.

Pretty much all I read are baseball books, sci fi, and fantasy.

PannicAtack

I mean yeah Harry Potter is fantasy but I don't see the point of reading it when it's clearly marketed towards kids. I barely read as it is and I'd rather finish up the Malazan series of books than start yet another series. I'm probably not even gonna finish that series for another couple years or so.

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"][QUOTE="cain006"]

Never read any of her books.

Pretty much all I read are baseball books, sci fi, and fantasy.

cain006

I mean yeah Harry Potter is fantasy but I don't see the point of reading it when it's clearly marketed towards kids. I barely read as it is and I'd rather finish up the Malazan series of books than start yet another series. I'm probably not even gonna finish that series for another couple years or so.

You should try writing short horror stories, bluRay.heeweesRus

Eh it was a fluke the HP books were shit and so were the movies I dont think science will ever figure how that shit sold so much maybe theologians need to look into a deal with the devil angle but sadly her books after HP will sell based upon the HP bubble.

[QUOTE="cain006"]

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"] Well, Harry Potter is fantasy...Ace6301

I mean yeah Harry Potter is fantasy but I don't see the point of reading it when it's clearly marketed towards kids. I barely read as it is and I'd rather finish up the Malazan series of books than start yet another series. I'm probably not even gonna finish that series for another couple years or so.

And I have baseball books for easy reading anyways. Just finished Bang The Drum Slowly, probably gonna pick up the next one Mark Harris wrote soon.

Eh it was a fluke the HP books were shit and so were the movies I dont think science will ever figure how that shit sold so much maybe theologians need to look into a deal with the devil angle but sadly her books after HP will sell based upon the HP bubble.

WilliamRLBaker

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

Eh it was a fluke the HP books were shit and so were the movies I dont think science will ever figure how that shit sold so much maybe theologians need to look into a deal with the devil angle but sadly her books after HP will sell based upon the HP bubble.

cain006

[QUOTE="heeweesRus"]You should try writing short horror stories, bluRay.BluRayHiDef

She definitely got a fortune from the movies too, so some money was made indirectly. But she deserves it.

[QUOTE="heeweesRus"]You should try writing short horror stories, bluRay.BluRayHiDef

you need to walk before you run.

furthermore, those are more likely to be considered for publishing, and therefore more likely to be considered for professional editing, etc..

horror is another story, but short stories and stuff like that might not be a bad idea.

From what I can tell, JK Rowling had a strong outline for every book before the 1st was even finished. This helped create a cohesive and interesting plot. Plus she helped young children discover an intriguing and magical world. While the later books sacrificed some of the magical feeling of discover for plot and character development. From what I remember of the first few books and the last couple, she improved over the years from book to book, and by the end seems to have accomplished being a very competent author. I grew up with HP and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

[QUOTE="heeweesRus"]You should try writing short horror stories, bluRay.mrbojangles25

you need to walk before you run.

furthermore, those are more likely to be considered for publishing, and therefore more likely to be considered for professional editing, etc..

horror is another story, but short stories and stuff like that might not be a bad idea.

BluRay, it seems this topic was created to segway into showing off your single page writing example that has been sprinkled already at least once in OT. I would take mrbojangles' advice and focus on short stories, as stated, they are more likely to be picked up. If you have a 300pg book and an editor reads the first page and doesn't like it, he/she will likely not read the rest of the 299 pages. But if it's a 20-30pg short story and the first page shows promise or good ideas/plot despite being poorly written, then he/she may be more likely to read the rest of the story and find it salvageable.

Orson Scott Card got his start in science fiction through a short story version of Ender's Game (I don't know how close it is to the novel with the same title), and despite the bigot he is, he is a pretty good author.

I still haven't read her other books. I need to get to that. 

Billionaire? O_O That's it, time to sit down and get motivated on writing my own novels. Toph_Girl250

Well deserved. I don't care what anyone says, those HP books are just so fascinating. I still read them, god knows how many times I've read the series. (Yep I'm a fanboy :p)

Its largely due to her writing and direction that I am writing my own novel now. Literature was always boring to me until I started reading HP. Then everything changed...

[QUOTE="Toph_Girl250"]Billionaire? O_O That's it, time to sit down and get motivated on writing my own novels. Makhaidos

My question to you all is, what constitutes bad writing?  Harry Potter, by young adult standards, goes far above and beyond what is expected from those books.  The great thing about HP is that its incredible access able. For instance, you don't feel like reading it is a chore of some sort because she doesn't beat the reader over the head with a mythos.  In other words its, not a "geek,"  (overly fantasy-too developed) kind of environment.  She wrote a lot of it somewhat seamlessly.  I think that within itself constitutes strong writing.  

I am not a fan of the Harry Potter books, but I can certainly appreciate everyone enjoying them.

[QUOTE="Toph_Girl250"]Billionaire? O_O That's it, time to sit down and get motivated on writing my own novels. Makhaidos

I don't think she has quality as a writer.....I think hype goes a long long way.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="Makhaidos"][QUOTE="Toph_Girl250"]Billionaire? O_O That's it, time to sit down and get motivated on writing my own novels. hiphops_savior

From what I can tell, JK Rowling had a strong outline for every book before the 1st was even finished. This helped create a cohesive and interesting plot. Plus she helped young children discover an intriguing and magical world. While the later books sacrificed some of the magical feeling of discover for plot and character development. From what I remember of the first few books and the last couple, she improved over the years from book to book, and by the end seems to have accomplished being a very competent author. I grew up with HP and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Zlurodirom

I'm pretty sure that outline was the "books of magic" and then changed a few things, as time went on she lost what the heck to do because Neil Gaiman had already moved on past Harry Potter...errr.....Timithy Hunter.

My question to you all is, what constitutes bad writing?  Harry Potter, by young adult standards, goes far above and beyond what is expected from those books.  The great thing about HP is that its incredible access able. For instance, you don't feel like reading it is a chore of some sort because she doesn't beat the reader over the head with a mythos.  In other words its, not a "geek,"  (overly fantasy-too developed) kind of environment.  She wrote a lot of it somewhat seamlessly.  I think that within itself constitutes strong writing.  

I am not a fan of the Harry Potter books, but I can certainly appreciate everyone enjoying them.

mexicangordo

[QUOTE="Toph_Girl250"][QUOTE="Makhaidos"] Ahh, I was wrong; she was the first to achieve *billionaire* status, not millionaire.Makhaidos

[QUOTE="mexicangordo"]

My question to you all is, what constitutes bad writing?  Harry Potter, by young adult standards, goes far above and beyond what is expected from those books.  The great thing about HP is that its incredible access able. For instance, you don't feel like reading it is a chore of some sort because she doesn't beat the reader over the head with a mythos.  In other words its, not a "geek,"  (overly fantasy-too developed) kind of environment.  She wrote a lot of it somewhat seamlessly.  I think that within itself constitutes strong writing.  

I am not a fan of the Harry Potter books, but I can certainly appreciate everyone enjoying them.

cain006

[QUOTE="cain006"]

[QUOTE="mexicangordo"]

My question to you all is, what constitutes bad writing?  Harry Potter, by young adult standards, goes far above and beyond what is expected from those books.  The great thing about HP is that its incredible access able. For instance, you don't feel like reading it is a chore of some sort because she doesn't beat the reader over the head with a mythos.  In other words its, not a "geek,"  (overly fantasy-too developed) kind of environment.  She wrote a lot of it somewhat seamlessly.  I think that within itself constitutes strong writing.  

I am not a fan of the Harry Potter books, but I can certainly appreciate everyone enjoying them.

hiphops_savior

[QUOTE="Zlurodirom"]

From what I can tell, JK Rowling had a strong outline for every book before the 1st was even finished. This helped create a cohesive and interesting plot. Plus she helped young children discover an intriguing and magical world. While the later books sacrificed some of the magical feeling of discover for plot and character development. From what I remember of the first few books and the last couple, she improved over the years from book to book, and by the end seems to have accomplished being a very competent author. I grew up with HP and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

rgsniper1

I'm pretty sure that outline was the "books of magic" and then changed a few things, as time went on she lost what the heck to do because Neil Gaiman had already moved on past Harry Potter...errr.....Timithy Hunter.

Not familiar with Books of Magic/Timothy Hunter so I cant comment, sorry.