The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve

16 th February 2024

Hello out there,

Welcome back. Last week I commented that opinions are like noses – everyone has one. I wrote it because I disagreed with what I felt was an untrue and unfounded statement of absolute posted to an author-centric Facebook group. It caused me to ponder so many other “absolute” statements and admonishments I’ve read over the past ten years regarding the craft of writing.

It’s been my (albeit limited) experience that most of these proffers of advice come from people who are either not published authors, or if they are, unsuccessful ones. I’m remined of the old saw: “Those who can – do. Those who can’t or won’t – teach.” Here are just two that came two mind that I felt were worth sharing.

A now-deceased supposed writing “expert” by the name of Bickham had an entire chapter in his book entitled “Don’t describe the weather.” He goes on with the added admonishment to never begin a book with weather. Well, perhaps he had in mind the infamous and much-maligned opening of “It was a dark and stormy night.” But to never describe the weather, something that is such a big part of our daily lives? Something that is a great source of the all-important conflict essential in a work of fiction? I humbly beg to disagree.

Early in my ten-year author journey, I attended a two-day writers’ conference. One of the instructors, a purported bestselling author, told the class she hated the use of “he said or she said” in attributing dialogue to characters, and it should be avoided at all cost. It occurred to me sitting there that she probably hadn’t read many classics, or legitimate bestselling books. One of my favorite authors, the late renowned Robert B. Parker, sprinkled “he said” and “she said” all over his pages of dialogue. And as an added note, I saw that same admonishment against the use in a
recent Facebook author group posting. Oh, well.

Until next week … Vaya con Dios – and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Larry B. Gildersleeve