Honesty in writing

[Brian G Turner]

Something Joe Abercrombie's said a few times is that the best advice he's had on writing is to keep it honest. He mentioned it at the end of The Joe Abercrombie Interview we did with him last year, and he just Tweeted the same advice.

I wasn't entirely clear on what he meant. It sounds obvious, in an abstract kind of way.

I've just picked up Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and in those first three chapters I've already seen so much of myself and my own experiences in there. Nothing at all seems contrived.

I guess that's what Abercrombie was trying to say, and I can see it crystal clearly in action in the King novel.

Writing that doesn't simply aim to be real - but remind the reader of themselves, and so put them directly in it. A great ideal but so difficult to do. I guess that's why King is such a bestseller.

 

[Cathbad]

Something Joe Abercrombie's said a few times is that the best advice he's had on writing is to keep it honest. He Tweeted that the other day, in fact.

I wasn't entirely clear on what he means t. It sounds obvious, in an abstract kind of way.

I take it to men "honest to your universe". In my fantasy writing, I have rules I adhere to; magic can't just do what's expedient for me. 'least, that's what "keep it honest" means to me.

 

[Zebra Wizard]

i remember abercrombie talking about the "be honest" thing. He gives an example of description with "eyes twinkled like the stars in the shadows of a waning moon" (or something along these lines) and argues "do eyes really twinkle like stars?"

 

[tinkerdan]

Actually::

i remember abercrombie talking about the "be honest" thing. He gives an example of description with "eyes twinkled like the stars in the shadows of a waning moon" (or something along these lines) and argues "do eyes really twinkle like stars?"

I've seen this. When someone is overcome with emotion and there are tears forming in the eyes, but not overflowing and down the cheeks; there is a moment, when in the right light, they do appear to glow or twinkle.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Honesty in that sense is brutal. Unless you want a Bauhaus architect writing for you I'd suggest letting the odd white lie creep in.

I expect the honesty relates to everything from your voice, universe and characters. To thine own self be true and all that...

pH

 

[Zebra Wizard]

Actually::

I've seen this. When someone is overcome with emotion and there are tears forming in the eyes, but not overflowing and down the cheeks; there is a moment, when in the right light, they do appear to glow or twinkle.

I think you missed the point. I can't remember which panel it was on where he mentions this, but I've heard him comment on it more than once.

 

[tinkerdan]

No I perfectly got your point and his.

Unfortunately I have to say that I have seen people eyes twinkle-just not the way most writers might write it.