Something a bit peculiar seems to be happening in book publishing. Something’s gone wrong.
As Fiction Ed at “The People’s Friend“, I receive advance press information about lots of new novels. Some of them come with quite a buzz. Great, creative press releases that totally fire your interest.
Rave advance reviews.
That happened with two recent titles, “The Love Detective” by Angela Dyson and “The Lost Letters Of William Woolf” by Helen Cullen. Both debut novels with lots of activity around them: blog tours, events . . .
But here’s the thing. I think both are really poorly written.
In “The Love Detective”, the author can’t decide whether she’s telling the story in the present or the past tense. It flip-flops back and forth between them. No, not flashbacks. It’s all “now”. It’s just . . . shoddy. I actually checked if it was a proof copy, with editing still to be done. But no, it’s the real deal, shop-ready. Oh dear.
I had high hopes for “The Lost Letters Of William Woolf”, but it has a different issue.
Chapters 1 & 2 are written in William’s viewpoint. We know only his thoughts and feelings. Chapter 3, it switches to his wife Carol’s point of view. We’re in her head, hearing her thoughts, knowing her feelings.
That’s OK if it’s done in distinct chapters like that. Except that six pages into her chapter, there’s suddenly one single paragraph that begins:
William chose not to dwell on the worrying assumptions his wife made . . .
See how it switches to his point of view? For one paragraph only, before returning to hers. Again, shoddy.
Poorly edited
I didn’t read on.
I’d already flinched at the writer’s use of “span” instead of “spun” — which for me is right up there with “was sat” and “draw” for drawer. This POV switch finished me off.
These flaws are so fundamental l don’t know how they got past their editors. Sadly, though, they’re a common trait in novels now.
That’s what I mean about the something peculiar happening in publishing. Something’s gone wrong. And it’s worrying, because writers learning their craft will see it, think it’s OK, emulate it, and so it goes on.
But “The People’s Friend” is old-school, so please don’t try it in stories for us. Because I’m afraid you’re going to be horribly disappointed when we send them back!
Shirley Blair Fiction Ed Shirley’s been with the “Friend” since 2007 and calls it her dream job because she gets to read fiction all day every day. Hobbies? Well, that would be reading! She also enjoys writing fiction when she has time, long walks, travel, and watching Scandi thrillers on TV.
