How Slow is Slow?

[leo9]

I've got a few comments on my story which suggest that the build up was too slow. I've tried to change this in the new stories I'm working on but I find that I am dissatisfied with the story when it does not have an adequate build up. I suppose I am one of those writers/readers who likes how the action unfolds almost as much as, if not more than, the action itself. I considered adding the slow tag myself but I felt it may serve as a turn off to some readers and the action scenes are fairly fast paced. I have to say I'm still unsure of whether this tag applies to me or not after reading the comments here.

If that's the sort of story you like to write and to read, don't change because it doesn't suit some people. As you've gathered, some people like a good thorough buildup, so write for them, not for the ones in a hurry.

One of the best things about a free self-publishing site is that you never have to trim your style to what some editor believes will sell.

The best piece of writing advice I know comes from Herman Hesse: "Write the book you want to read." Not the book you think someone else might want to read, who might have quite different tastes from yours.

[Ozme52]

P.S. Be your own grammar and spelling nazi. Despite the claim by some that it doesn't matter, they're not the ones reading your stories. They're saying that because they're writing their own stories and are lazy. It matters.

No "His ayes wer pail stealy blew." If they R, U just lost me. Get it?

(That's to everyone in general.)

[Garmonbozia]

The best piece of writing advice I know comes from Herman Hesse: "Write the book you want to read." Not the book you think someone else might want to read, who might have quite different tastes from yours.

Thanks leo9, that quote made my day. I guess I started the thread because I was trying to write something that felt right to me and didn't understand how it would be labelled "slow" or "lacking action". I'm happy with my style and my base of readers so I shan't change the way I write but that quote really summed up how I feel.

Still, I won't ever use the 'slow' story code because I still feel it has negative connotations and I personally don't feel what I write is slow.