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First of all, please remember
that this is an equal opportunity enterprise: The point is not prove your
intelligence, your wit, or your fabulous schooling (although you certainly
may try), but to share within our happy community of readers what you
like as well, and pique their interest along the way. Any kind of reading
is good reading; any kind of writing is good writing. Why? Because intelligence
is the exercise of working the mind. Of simply trying. And trying new
things. Reading and writing are a couple of the best ways to do it. Many,
many others will appreciate your efforts regardless of the result.
In any event, say you've not
done this before - written down your impressions of a favored author.
No problem. Your dear editor is here to help. Your piece doesn't have
to be brilliant, or even well written; it just needs to address a few
things: biography, history, style, themes, and genre(s). If you'd like
more information and examples, read on. Or, if you feel like you can go
on from here, feel free. Thank you!
1. Biographical
information. It's important
to know the origins of the author, because this informs the author's
style, chosen subjects, and other proclivities. Style, in particular,
is a big one, and something that's of more import to us than mere plot
design. You may have noticed, for example, that British authors often
tend to maintain a certain style of writing, a certain common thread
found among most British writers. Russian writers, too, have a special
quality shared by all, from Chekhov to Tolstoy. Same goes for the author's
lifespan: This or that era carries within in it common themes, feelings
and plotlines. So while you might not know a whole lot about the styles
peculiar to one region or era, be sure to at least mention what you
do know as it'll be helpful regardless. You never know what other people
know and enjoy as a result. Origins can usually be found in introductions
or even more simply, on book jackets.
2. Historical
information. Here,
too, you may not know how you might connect historical information with
an author's work, but again, just mentioning it will do. For instance,
if you are describing an American author writing before, during, or
after the Civil War, say so. You might not know what that would have
to do with the book, but just bringing it up can give countless others
an idea of what they might be getting into. (Please also note that your
dear editor can fill in some of the spaces for you, because I know everything.)
Don't hesitate to ask questions. In fact, others wondering about the
answer may pick up your author and let you know.
3. Style.
This is a biggie, folks. We've checked out a couple other book sites,
and they link books together by plot alone. Fictionarium thinks that
it's not just the plot a reader reaches for. It's a style, too, whether
it's the way the author handles characters or plot, or the way the author
handles something as simple as the sentence itself. Your dear editor,
for example, very much enjoys reading Japanese authors, all of whom
have a particular perspective. Likewise, I enjoy works written by just
about any talented writer during the first half of the twentieth century.
I enjoy writers who handle language in a lyric fashion. And so forth.
So it's important to say what you think the author is doing with the
language, the characters and the plot, even if you don't have the official
literary terminology with which to describe it all.
4. Theme.
If you've read the oeuvre of one author, surely you've noticed that
s/he tends to revisit some of the same things over and over. No matter
how much an author claims to avoid autobiographical information within
their work, an idea of special import to an author will continually
rear its head. Here's a good example. Junichiro Tanizaki, the acclaimed
Japanese writer, was, ickily enough, breastfed until he was six years
old. Six years old! As a result we find recurring in his work the idea
of the very powerful and often sadistic female, as though he constantly
tries to justify the feminine power against which he must have been
helpless as a boy. (Please note that your editor has an English degree
and so I'm trained to practically belch this stuff out. Which is to
say, it's just my opinion.) You yourself do not need to make such bizarre
connections, although all your opinions are welcome - and encouraged.
But in the end you need only just to bring up recurring themes as you
find them.
5. Genre.
This is important, too, since we place authors not only in our master
list but also within their genre. That's because we've found that readers
often enjoy reading works within a certain genre: say, horror or romance.
Plus, the truth is, your dear editor doesn't know everything. There
are many genres about which I know nothing but, being an equal opportunity
site, we want sincerely that every type of fiction writing be represented.
You are helping not only us but so many others by including your favorites
within their proper genre. You are also welcome to note any cross-over
you might find applies to an author. Paul Auster, for example, can hold
a clinic on how to write, and so is found in the "literature" section
of a bookstore, but what he writes are mysteries. If you've found an
author that can fit into any two genres, please say so.
So that is that. It's really
simpler than you think. Even if you send in a page of bullet points, so
long as you address these five main points in some detail, you're helping
everyone out. We look forward to your submissions with great anticipation.
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