How many words? 50k. You know I used to think that was a novel. I now know that’s a mini version. My last draft was 73k and there’s still a few chapters not written. Where my writing’s concerned I’ve worked out I can write forever. I have no problem with getting words out with quantity but are they quality?
My lack of grammar and basic understanding of the English language is proving that my quantity of words in my novels are not quality. There is much still to learn though I do not want to write literature. I want to write for people like me, someone who likes to pick up a good read and get through it without needing a dictionary, wondering what on earth the authors trying to say, without the floury extravagance or indulgence of knowledge seeped in history and language. See what I tried to do there? I’ll never write quality and I’m aiming for quantity in an easy reading style.
Some people are critical of writers who have a simpler writing style, they may not be considered classics but quantities of people want to read them and enjoy them. I’m not expecting quantities of people to read my novels so maybe I’m going for quantity in writing and quality of readers, I want a few who, like me, prefer easy reading family stories to pick up my novels, lose themselves for a few hours, feel refreshed and ready to get on with life.
My AtoZchallenge posts are about writing, parts of my novels or some research I need to do for them. I’m not allowing myself to write about anything other than topics linked to the books, my books. The current titles that I’m writing about are ‘Bags’, ‘Holiday stories’ and ‘Dream Gardener’.
lynnelives 
I don’t mind a nice, simple writing style. It makes it easy to get lost in the story and forget the world around me. Which is important when I read. Books are my vacation from the real world that are easy to take.
There is music for every taste, food for every taste, art for every taste–the same is true of books and always has been. If you have a compelling story and an engaging protagonist, that’s half the battle. Finding a good editor is the second half–they’ll help you sort out the grammar issues.
The important thing is the story, and it wants you to write it!
Thanks Kern. There are so many stories that want me to write them. I’ll put out the universe request for a good editor.
I’m not into long flowerly sentences either. I like my writing to be like I read, invisible. I don’t want to be drawn out of the story because someone used a word I didn’t know, or an ‘artistic’ turn of phrase.
Simple is good. 🙂
Rinelle Grey
Thanks Rinelle, I’d better get on with the edits then, and the flaws.. AtoZ has shown up some flaws in some basic storylines.. oops!
Another reason to be grateful for this challenge. I enjoyed your post, there will always be lovers and critics 🙂
Hi Lynne – I have read books that require I keep a dictionary at hand. Not a fun reading experience. Give me a book with simple, straightforward writing, anytime 🙂
Me too.
quality wins over quantity any time! I like a mix of simple and complicated i.e. that gets me to think … great post thank you!
Susan Scott’s Soul Stuff
I can certainly appreciate an enjoyable easy to read book. It can have the same interest as one requiring a dictionary beside you at every paragraph. Some books I’ve read have been like that; needing the dictionary. Keep on doing what you’re doing and do it from the heart and you’ll win not matter what. 🙂
Kathy at Oak Lawn Images
I’m all for simple short sentences and books where dictionaries are not required.
Dropping by from AtoZ
Hi there,
I don’t mind getting to read new phrases and big words, as long as they can be re-used somewhere else, but my writing style is simple ( I believe).
Its great to meet you as part of the AtoZ Challenge.
Bhavya
Just Another Blog
I write for younger (10+) readers, with no let up on long words, but I like to think they are quality rather than quantity. How best to tell the tale? That is want I like to think I concentrate on! 50k is about the right size in my genre 🙂
Happy A to Zing!
Jemima at Jemima’s blog
Thanks Jemima. I’m in the classic.. the more I learn about writing the more I realise I don’t know.. stage..
I think aiming for simple writing is actually a good thing. A lot of people who read and write English are not native speakers, and you are sure to have a larger audience if you can be easily understood. Honestly, I always considered it a bit condescending with an author is chided for writing a novel with simple prose. There are several novels I have read with complicated prose where you have to read between the lines, which have been highly praised by critics. I just did not like some of those novels because it seemed as if the story was too contrived.
Thanks Julia, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Will do now!
Quality v quantity? Quality every time.
Better not read my writing then.. Simple Quality it may be.. and actually it’s not very long so not much quantity either..
When I did NaNoWriMo, I focused on getting 50K words. Quality was secondary. I could see their point — get it all down on paper, but ultimately, quality is always going to grab me. Loved this post.
http://siouxsiesmusings.blogspot.com/2013/04/q-is-for-questions.html
#AtoZChallenge
Thanks Susan
I agree, simple is good. The craft of writing, like everything else, is mastered with practice.
Since I didn’t start writing till I was 50 I feel I don’t have the luxury of time. I know, I’m still a babe really!
I’m up to 57,000 words. Not sure how long mine will be but I try to write succinctly, cutting out the unnecessary.
I’ve got 2 around 54k and one at 75k.