That #FanQuestion Moment

So, with the increasing volume of Fan Questions, I figured that I’d make a banner for said occasion. Maybe even give it a name. Probably something like “Sessions with C. Desert Rose”.

Oh, wow! I kind of dig that! :D

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the first ever (not so first, really) “Sessions with C. Desert Rose”.

BOOM! Banner! :D Lol

Anyhow, on to the question. I was asked:

What are the biggest criticisms readers have about your writing? Do you think they are valid?

First off, I’ll start with the latter part of this question. This is because I find it a tad bit more relevant, as well as relative.

What do I mean by that?

Well, validity is in the eye of the beholder, just as opinions are relative. The secondary part of this question speaks of just that, “Personal Opinion”.

Everyone that gives their opinion does so because they believe their points are valid, however askew those points might be from fact.

These things are not interchangeable; opinion, validity and fact. They typically go hand in hand. A person gives his/her opinion, portraying that opinion as fact, and later on seeks validity for said opinion.

For example:

Person One: That ball is red!

Person Two: Not it’s not, it’s pink.

Person One: Actually, pink is in the “red family” therefore, it’s red.

Person Two: While you have a “valid point” the “fact” is that the ball is not red, but pink.

Person One: Well, at least you saw my point. Thanks.

What most people express about what they do not so much like, in regards to my works, is the style.

Yes, that’s right. The style.

I like to think that I have a style all my own. But, before I get into that, I have to say a few things which revert back to what I was initially speaking about.

Just because your opinion says that my works “style isn’t right”  by no means makes it a fact. If you need to find validity in your opinion, then that’s fine. However, you won’t get that confirmation from me. In the realm of style, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Contrary to popular belief, NOT EVERY AUTHOR has to fit into this preordained template of writing style that society has concocted.

Now, that that’s out of the way. Allow me to elaborate a little bit about my style of writing.

Like many authors, my characters whisper in my ear and narrate the story that they want me to tell on their behalf. Like many authors, several of my stories are in first person.

Here is where my style differs from other authors.

I write the story exactly how my character narrates it. I listen to their words intently; the pitch, the emotion, the passion or lack thereof, the personality. Then I take all of these things and write them exactly how I see them.

Azriel, for example, is a character that is centuries old. While his words are few, they have a profound power. This translates into him, many a time, using one word sentences. Sometimes two or three worded sentences.

Here is an example of that.

EXCERPT

Bed two.

The doctors, the running, the yelling. The focus on bringing her back, futile. It was incredibly sad to say that she was just a child. A baby. Five years of age. Why did ‘fate’ find it necessary to take her? She had yet to even commence to live. It was not my choice. I merely followed orders.

Her soul was lovely, just like a little girl’s should be. A soft pink. Like a princess, I mused. Beautiful. “Come child.” I extended my hand so that she would take it.

“Where am I going?” She asked. The innocence in her voice was heart breaking. Or would be, if I had a heart.

“I’m taking you to a safe place. Somewhere where you will never feel pain again. You will be happy there sweet child.”

“Cindy,” she said. “My name is Cindy.”

“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Her smile seemed as though it could quite literally light up the room. “Well Cindy, do you see that very pretty light just there?” I pointed.

“Yes.” She responded with bright eyes.

“Walk into it. Go on child. Pretty Cindy.”

In the above excerpt you can see how powerful Azriel’s words are. Short and sweet.

YET, many so called Editors would dub this as incorrect because it does not follow the EXACT rules of “Editorial Engagement”. Some sentences may seem choppy to certain people, however in my mind, that is exactly how Azriel told me it should be, because THAT is his pattern of speech. Who am I to argue?

I often think that Editors (and other authors that consider themselves editors) want to extract the originality, soul and personality of a character, all in the name of the work being grammatically correct.

To them I say this;

A work CAN be grammatically correct and still possess the characters independent personality.

Here is what I am trying to say—it’s the “Catch 22” of first person narrative—there are too many of you not giving leeway to character personality. You are TOO fixed on it being “correct” that you fail to hear the character’s voice.

At any given moment, if my work were a 3rd person narrative, then I would comply 100% with ANY Editor in regards to grammar and punctuation! That’s a guarantee. As a matter of fact, my most recent novelette, “Nethanyel’s Lady Lune” is 3rd person narrative and the syntax is immaculate. Why? Because in 3rd person narrative it’s up to the author to tell the story from an outside perspective, which gives no room for the character to show his/her personality throughout the narrative. In this predicament, the character only has his/her dialogue to demonstrate their persona.

Yet, very few times, if any, do you encounter a person that speaks with 100% proper grammar. So, in first person writing, I think that it’s important to show that.

I know not of a single person that says (when speaking aloud), “I am going to go to the store.” Usually, it’s more like, “Hey, Imma go to da store.”

I say all that, to say this; my personal style stays true to the characters independence and demeanor. If that makes it editorially/grammatically incorrect in some aspects, then I’m perfectly okay with that. I see it like this; I am being true to whom the character is telling me they are. Nothing more and nothing less. Why? Well, because I wouldn’t want someone to portray me like something/someone I’m not. So, I doubt my characters would want me to do that to them.

Here is what I am trying to say, as well as my answer to the fan question.

You out there whom call yourself “ Literary Editorial Experts “, please, remove the rod from your anal cavity and give “CREATIVE WRITING” a break from once!
If you’re so much better than me, then show me what you got! Write a story in 1st person that won’t depict the characters as robots, but shows their true independence and temperament.
Yes, people often complain about my “writing style”, believing that their points are valid just because they say so. Do I think they are valid? Not so much.

Well, that’s is for this installment of “Sessions with C. Desert Rose”. If YOU have a question you’d like to ask me, email me: cdesertrose1@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Or, hey, why not just comment below? It’d be great to hear your thoughts.

Toodles,

Rose