In all cases the story has to be at least a workman-like example of storytelling or it's not doing it's job. Sure it can be a little cliche, the characters can be similar to ones we've met in a dozen other books, but the story itself has to keep my interest.
Now, if it's a short story, the tale itself can be even more plain if it's being used to illustrate a neat idea or wonderful character. If I had a great idea for a new Gizmo and wanted to do something with it... but had no grand novella/novel framework for it, I might throw it in a short story as an exercise. If that story came out pretty good, I'd say it worked.
Longer pieces of fiction, novellas and novels, NEED a good story. If I'm going to sit through 100+ pages of someone's writing, the actual story has to compel. Sure you can hide some deficiencies behind snazzy writing styles. Certainly your gizmos, special monsters or whacky situations can help add some interest to wishy-washy prose. BUt if you have a crap-ass story, I'm the novelty of your genre will NOT hide it entirely. Rayguns, unicorns and dark-skinned grue under the bed can only distract me from an author's lack of talent for so long.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-08-19 01:02 pm (UTC)Now, if it's a short story, the tale itself can be even more plain if it's being used to illustrate a neat idea or wonderful character. If I had a great idea for a new Gizmo and wanted to do something with it... but had no grand novella/novel framework for it, I might throw it in a short story as an exercise. If that story came out pretty good, I'd say it worked.
Longer pieces of fiction, novellas and novels, NEED a good story. If I'm going to sit through 100+ pages of someone's writing, the actual story has to compel. Sure you can hide some deficiencies behind snazzy writing styles. Certainly your gizmos, special monsters or whacky situations can help add some interest to wishy-washy prose. BUt if you have a crap-ass story, I'm the novelty of your genre will NOT hide it entirely. Rayguns, unicorns and dark-skinned grue under the bed can only distract me from an author's lack of talent for so long.