Lost in Words

Have you ever been lost in someone else's words?  I've decided to blog about this topic, because of a book review I recently read.  Sometimes I’m horrified by the reviews out there.  Hasn't anyone every heard the golden rule: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all?  I have to wonder...  (Read Nathan Bransford's Don't Be a Jerk for further clarification.)  Still, the reviewer had a point.  The reviewer’s chief complaint was how some writers choose to write in an overwritten/grandiose fashion versus artfully crafting a story. 

This is a topic that often plagues me.  So much that I did some digging and found this one blog post from The Literary Lab from a couple of years ago about the "Overwritten Prose" (an excellent post too for newbie & seasoned writers.)  
As a writer, sometimes I worry about perfecting my sentences/phrases, musing relentlessly over word choice or you name it.  I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Yet, fundamentally, what always comes back to me is….stop obsessing or trying to be so darn clever or eloquent.  Write what comes naturally and tell a compelling story.  Sounds simple, right?  Not on your life.  Call me crazy, but I think the best authors have balance; instinctively knowing when to embellish and when to focus on the plot.   

As a reader nothing irritates me more than being lost in another author’s words.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I get frustrated.  And honestly, I can understand that one reviewer's main gripe which brings me to my question…


As a writer, do you get lost in your style of writing?  Be honest.  Newbie or not, we've all been there.  And as a reader, have you ever read a novel where the writing was so beautiful, but the plot didn't measure up?  Let's not focus on book bashing here...I’m only interested in perspective – all kinds. :0)

Mina B.