How important is having an original approach to the story-telling? -

Post Reply

Thread Rating:

0 Votes - 0 Average
1
2
3
4
5

AERichards Reading The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

27 Aug 2012, 12:10 PM | Post: #1

Author and Student

Posts: 46
Joined: Aug 2012

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

The majority of books have a straightforward style whereby they are written in the third person or perhaps in the first person. I've tried to come up with an original style in the book I've published and I'm aiming to do the same with my next one.

As a reader I find an original style can really help to make a book stand out, as with The Help or Before I Go To Sleep. Of course it also has to be well written, have a good plot, good characterisation, etc. etc. And I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz whose writing style is very 'traditional'.

So it seems to me that an original approach to story-telling is a bonus but not essential. I'm interested in what others think.

Abby

Avid reader, author of Blackened Cottage and taking an MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University starting October 2012

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

TechnoHippy Reading Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick

27 Aug 2012, 12:49 PM | Post: #2

Posting Freak

Posts: 919
Joined: Jul 2012

Thanked 27 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

If done well I think it makes a difference, although if it's too different it could alienate some readers.

[ Visit my Blog ] [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

joo Reading Punchline by P.A. Fenton

27 Aug 2012, 01:26 PM | Post: #3

Official KUF Reviewer and Interrogator

Posts: 4,563
Joined: Feb 2011

Thanked 15 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

With so many books out there, it's hard to think of an original way to write a book nowadays.
But this topic brought to mind Theft by Peter Carey. He is a booker prize winner and I fancied the story. Oh how I wish I didn't.
The "original" bit was it was from two POVs the one was OK, but the mentally-challenged brother's POV was just awful (in my opinion of course). Most reviews loved it, but I'm with the 1 star ones.
I'm sure if the story was told from third person, I'd have liked it much more.

Please put a bowl of water out for hedgehogs and other night-time visitors, you might just save their life.
While you are at it, feed the birds too. Thumbs Up

And come and talk about it at Garden Wildlife Forum

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

alexroddie Reading "Pompomberry House" by Rosen Trevithick

27 Aug 2012, 04:17 PM | Post: #4

Eccentric wanderer

Posts: 750
Joined: Jul 2012

Thanked 23 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

I think the indie environment helps writers to experiment with things like this if they want to. Nowadays an 'unusual' book would be highly unlikely to be published by a traditional publisher.

Personally I would say that originality is important, but too much originality kills a story--if that makes sense!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Trace Reading

28 Aug 2012, 04:29 AM | Post: #5

Veteran Member

Posts: 369
Joined: Oct 2010

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

This post was last modified: 28 Aug 2012 04:33 AM by Trace.

I think there's a reason that the majority of published works are told third person or first person POV - because that's the style that the majority of readers prefer. A little bit of originality can make a good book a great book but, as technohippy said, you do run the risk of alienating readers if you stray too far from the norm.

Amazon UK http://tinyurl.com/9xjn9z3
Amazon US http://tinyurl.com/3nm9n6o
http://traceyalley.weebly.com/
https://twitter.com/traceylalley
Facebook - http://tinyurl.com/3l26863
[Image: 549078_508377629175582_533032641_n.jpg]

[Image: 549078_508377629175582_533032641_n.jpg]

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

AERichards Reading The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

28 Aug 2012, 07:18 AM | Post: #6

Author and Student

Posts: 46
Joined: Aug 2012

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

(28 Aug 2012 04:29 AM)Trace Wrote: I think there's a reason that the majority of published works are told third person or first person POV - because that's the style that the majority of readers prefer. A little bit of originality can make a good book a great book but, as technohippy said, you do run the risk of alienating readers if you stray too far from the norm.

I agree you run the risk of alienation (that's certainly what James Joyce did for me!). But on the other hand sometimes the risk pays off. I certainly think it did with The Help but perhaps it was because it wasn't too original - first person just with three narrators rather than the usual one. It's a fine line.

And of course James Joyce is very successful and regarded as a classical writer so perhaps the risk did pay off for him.

Abby

Avid reader, author of Blackened Cottage and taking an MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University starting October 2012

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Nick Wastnage Reading Pausing, again, between books

28 Aug 2012, 02:30 PM | Post: #7

Crime writer and optimist

Posts: 324
Joined: Jun 2011

Thanked 13 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

Nothing would evolve without originality. I think new approaches to storytelling should be tried, but it has to be done well and work for the readers, otherwise it'll crash. I don't think it should be done just for the sake of being different.

Nick Wastnage
Blog

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Trace Reading

30 Aug 2012, 02:02 AM | Post: #8

Veteran Member

Posts: 369
Joined: Oct 2010

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

(28 Aug 2012 02:30 PM)Nick Wastnage Wrote: Nothing would evolve without originality. I think new approaches to storytelling should be tried, but it has to be done well and work for the readers, otherwise it'll crash. I don't think it should be done just for the sake of being different.

Agree 100%

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

LindaGruchy Reading The Chandelier Ballroom by Elizabeth Lord

30 Aug 2012, 06:00 AM | Post: #9

Queen of the Typos

Posts: 2,855
Joined: Jan 2012

Thanked 3 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

I think there has to be a driving reason for doing anything differently, not just an attempt to stand out from the crowd.

That said, my first agent liked DISW because it's written in First and Third Person, which, at the time, was a USP (or at least, I think that was the USP). But I could have done everything in Third Person, though I think it would have lost a lot of the immediacy.

Maybe that's it; experimental or unusual ways of writing should only be used if writing in the traditional way would create a lesser story?

Blog

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Jennie Lee Reading The Razor's Edge -- Somerset Maugham

30 Aug 2012, 06:11 AM | Post: #10

Aussie Kiwi

Posts: 850
Joined: Mar 2012

Thanked 12 times

What I Read

RE: How important is having an original approach to the story-telling?

What Happened to Polly is also written in First and Third person.

Readers have commented on being able to live the emotions of the main character (First person POV) and the value of having the full understanding of what's going on with the other characters (Third person POV).

Jennie's Website

Breathe, Relax, Read.

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Subscribe to this thread Post Reply

Currently Reading:The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Last Book I Read:Bared to you by Sylvia Day Favourite Genres:Thriller, Fantasy

Currently Reading:Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick Last Book I Read: Favourite Genres:Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror Favourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading:Punchline by P.A. Fenton Last Book I Read:Seance of the Souls by David Haynes Favourite Genres:Good books :DFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading:"Pompomberry House" by Rosen Trevithick Last Book I Read:"Ballet of the Bones" by David Haynes Favourite Genres:Historical fiction, literary classics, landscape writingFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading: Last Book I Read: Favourite Genres:Fantasy, Crime/Thriller, Mystery, Comedy

Currently Reading:Pausing, again, between books Last Book I Read:Slow Burning Lies by Ray Kingfisher Favourite Genres:Crime Thrillers

Currently Reading:The Chandelier Ballroom by Elizabeth Lord Last Book I Read:Fake Kate Favourite Genres:crime. women's fiction

Currently Reading:The Razor's Edge -- Somerset Maugham Last Book I Read:Poser by Claire Dederer Favourite Genres:Historical, mystery, suspense, drama, romance