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Good Writing Vs. Good Storytelling
Famous books can still get it wrong (or right?).
I recently finished Stephen King’s “IT” after spending about a year getting through it — that’s right, not reading it, but getting through it.
I listened to the first 40 hours of the audiobook, and the plot had definite highs and lows. Some scenes were excellently paced and included powerful plot points, while others waffled back and forth between the past and present without much forward motion.
Most of my time listening to the audiobook felt like sloughing through filler episodes that, while still well-written, did not tell a good story. I read the final few chapters of “IT” from my friend’s physical copy of the book, which helped me skim through the rest.
I feel bad about skimming, but I just had to. I was so ready for “The End,” and I was starting to feel like I would never get there.
I hate to disparage such a classic novel, but many people I’ve spoken to who read the book agree that it could have used some serious editing and cutting down. I understand why he wrote all that he did, but there were chapters where it felt like nothing happened.
