Tuesday, April 12, 2011

J is for the Jam Donuts of Writing

Some writing is like a jam donut: too sugary and full of unneeded fat. And yet, it’s often addictive. Once you have one, you want more and you think you’re satisfied. This kind of writing can often be fun to read (as long as you can hush your inner editor), just be careful: Read too many and you could pick up bad habits.

Some writing is like aged wine. It takes time to develop and has amazing depth of flavour which lingers long after it’s been consumed. This is the kind of writing we need to revisit, the kind that will inspire us and push us to do better.

What would you liken your writing to? What's your favourite style of writing you like to read?


Pic: I couldn’t bring myself to buy a jam donut because I know I would have eaten it and I’d rather chocolate as my prime fat/sugar delivery system. Instead I tried taking a picture of jam. It ended up looking like zombie brains. I settled for a close-up of sugar.


Note: This post is part of the A-Z Challenge. To learn more about the challenge click the image on my sidebar.

32 comments:

Sherri Lackey said...

That's true. I read Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy and enjoyed it. I did have to hush my inner editor and her stories had holes the size of doughnuts in them but they were enjoyable.

I would probably liken my first book to hers however, and maybe that's why I enjoyed her trilogy so much. I want my writing to develop more substance and depth however.

I recently read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. His writing style blows my mind. He makes the situations being described seem so real, so plausible as if they really happened. He seems to have a firm grasp of the human psyche.

Bonnie said...

With this new series I am trying to have more depth. The entire "situation" my MC's go through is something that could happen to us, the reader, and I try to bring that out in my writing. Hopefully it works!

Old Kitty said...

My writing is stinky cheese at the moment but with aspirations! LOL!

I think my favourite writing style would be aged wine with a dash of sweetness! Take care
x

DEZMOND said...

Although in food I'd never chose wine over donuts, in reading I'd always chose wine over donuts :)

And now I'm hungry!

Anonymous said...

When I was young I was an impatient writer, but these days I sit and sit and sit on a manuscript, putting it away, revising, putting it away, waiting for betas' input, etc. I liken it to pickling, I suppose. The wine analogy sounds classier though.

Terri Tiffany said...

I try to avoid the sugary kind of books as my goal is to go deeper and really challenge the reader to come along for the journey. Not sure I am succeeding though but it's the plan!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sherri, I haven't read Ishiguro's work but it sounds interesting.

Brea, making a story relatable is win

Old Kitty, hahaaha I love stinky cheese! There's so much flavour to stinky cheese ;)

Dezzy, hehe nicely put.

Medeia, haah pickling. I like it!

Terri, and it's a good plan.

Anonymous said...

Interesting post. I'd have opted for getting the jelly donut, of course only to take a picture of it, NOT! LOL

Michael Di Gesu said...

I love to mix lush description with mystery, human conditions, and tragedies.

Desert is my favorite and needs to be there, but I first want the meal.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Susanne, hahaha. I was tempted ;)

Michael, well said.

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

My writing aspires to be chocolate mousse but is currently more like chocolate pudding :)

Robyn Campbell said...

I guess I liken my writing to a slow, hot cup of coffee and a sweet, chocolate bar that is my very own. (No kidlets grabbing it.)

Mmmm, jam donut. Now I want one. Duncan sells them. :-)

Bish Denham said...

I'd like to think of my writing as something akin to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a banana. Fun, gooey and healthy. Gooey

Susan Oloier said...

Depends on the mood, really. Sometimes I want the jam donut; other times I need the wine.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Just say no to jammed donuts! But once a month, say yes.
I like Preston and Child's style of writing, but I'm nowhere near that. Maybe closer to Timothy Zahn, but again, not nearly that level.
And I plan to announce what I got with the Amazon gift certificate - and winning your 500 followers giveaway - on Thursday. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to slip it into a post before!

Unknown said...

Oh donuts. I've just learned of a donut place near my that has bacon donuts.
I read some of the sugary books sometimes but prefer well written books.
Sometimes I read books that have a big buzz about them to see what the writer did and what people like about them.

Susan Fields said...

Great analogy! Mine's probably more like a donut than wine, but hopefully not too much! As far as reading, I really don't like books I have to think too much about, so maybe I'm a donut fan there, too.

Alexis Bass said...

I love food parallels :) This was so funny. I'd definitely compare my writing to an aged wine - better an better with revision.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Susanna, hahaha brilliant! (I love anything to do with chocolate)

Robyn, your writing must be awesome then ;)

Bish, gooey is win :)

Susan, oh definitely!

Alex, I like your once a month rule ;) Oh cool! I've been curious about your prize. I wasn't even sure you recieved it right because I'm not so good when it come to technology and I'd never sent off a gift card before LOL. (I always assume I'll get it wrong hahaha)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Carrie, bacon donuts???? I can't even imagine bacon donuts. lol.

Susan, my tastes are also a little more mainstream--I just hope it's quality mainstream :)

Alexis, oh yes! A full bodied shiraz ;)

Myne said...

The style I go for is something most people will relate to, simple and direct and I hope to pack an emotional wallop. I hope to get better with time, add more depth and psychology as I mature.

Michelle Merrill said...

I like this idea. I don't know what my writing would be like but I know what I love the most. Sour candy. It totally relates to writing. You have to get through some of the sour parts of the book to get to the really sweet parts! Totally worth it. And it makes the sweet that much better :)

Amie Kaufman said...

I must admnit, I love turning off that inner editor from time to time and reading me some fat and sugar!

Anonymous said...

My writing has withered like a neglected piece of fruit while I've been poorly, but gradually my writing mojo is returning. I thibk the best writing is like a delicious meal with moorish flavours. :O)

Unknown said...

I love thinking of my writing like wine. However, some of my fiction can be more like donuts. I'm trying to do more wine fiction.

Rachna Chhabria said...

I would like to think that my writing leaves the reader with a gentle aftertaste that takes its own sweet time to leave. Am struggling hard to cover the holes and avoid the cliches that sometimes crop up.

Loved the previous post. I tie my muse to a chair beside me.

Unknown said...

Fun post comparing writing to wine and jelly donuts is brilliant. I like wine, but can not stomach anything too sweet. My teeth hurt just thinking about it. I go for more spicy writing accompanied with wine and finished of with some coffee, just to keep the reader awake...LOL!

Ann said...

Now you have my craving jam donuts! Is such a thing allowed at 9am in the morning?!

Ellie Garratt said...

LOL. I'm thinking a jammie dodger. You munch through the harder top layer giving birth to your first draft. Then you eat the delicate soft inside while you edit. Finally, it's another crusty layer to go through when you send it out into the world!

Ellie Garratt

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Myne, simple and direct is good

Michelle, haha love it!

Amie, me too ;)

Madeleine, yep, it does that when we neglect it.

Clarissa, hehe I'm in the same boat

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Rachna, lol I love your comment about your muse.

Siv, hehe a little spicy is good.

Book Gatherer, hmm, a jam donut in the morning...you'd be wired until lunchtime ;)

Ellie, hahaha love it!

Unknown said...

This is terrific. I know I get addicted those jelly donut stories, and now I shudder to think what's percolating the brain. Right now I'd liken my writing to jalapeno poppers, bite on the outside with cheesy goodness in the middle. LOL