I received an email last night that my novella, The Last Daughter, won second place in the 2014 International Digital Awards in the Suspense Short category. As happy as I was to win second, I was just as disappointed that it wasn't first place. Does that sound ungrateful? I'm not ungrateful. I treasure every good review and compliment and award I get when it comes to my writing. I NEED the kudos. Any negativity just throws me into a deep, dark mental hole.
I know my writing lacks a certain sophistication, and I can't help but think that's what the problem might be. Of course, I'm going back to an article I read that said publishers/editors/agents are looking for sophisticated writing. And then I remember the Amazon review that stated my book sounded as if it was written by a teenager.
What is sophisticated writing? One article I read stated to reach that level we need to increase our vocabulary. Another article stated sophisticated writing doesn't mean using big words. There are so many opinions and points of view.
I recognize sophisticated writing, I just can't figure out how I can achieve it. Maybe I do write like a teenager. If so, it's probably because I think and talk like one too.
Would love your take on sophisticated writing. Share.
4 comments:
I get comments on my work sometimes that my writing is "colloquial." If so, I'm so colloquial that I can't see it. I'm not quite sure what they are referring to. But it's probably a lack of sophistication
Congratulation on your second place win!!! It may not be first, but second place is still amazing! Embrace your great feat and celebrate it. :)
Well, Jessy I would take that comment and make it a complement! You would not have won a contest at all or have anything published if you were not writing what the publisher was looking for! JMHO.
I have just started writing, I'm finding it difficult to put my visions of a "novel" from beginning to end down in words. Sometimes I feel like words just don't make the same effect that I "see" and feel in my head and heart. Mine comes out awkward and sounding like a teenager wrote it or it's for the teen bunch.
I feel like God is leading me to write Christian fiction in sy/fy fantasy genre. I keep praying about it, asking Him, are you sure???? I can't seem to get the right tone to match the Bible to the sy/fy genre. (Sigh) But, you are doing great, so you keep on writing your way!
Oh, and YOU CELEBRATE winning. It may be 2nd place but you beat out 3rd place! Half full glass, remember!?! Lol.
Gin Shipp
Congratulations, Jess! This is wonderful! I have no ideas about sophisticated writing. I don't think of myself as a sophisticated person, so I doubt I write that way either.
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