Lessons From the Tedious Writing of The Disintegration Machine
A jerk main character and slow, run-on paragraphs drag this early sci-fi tale to a crawl.
Lessons From Bad Writing: Page 2
Lessons From the Sloppy Writing of The Tommyknockers
How lots of rambling and an uncertain focus turned this sci-fi opening into a slog.
Lessons From Twilight vs Fifty Shades
The world-famous vampiric romance and its kinky fanfic cousin square off.
Lessons From the Awful Writing of A Spell for Chameleon
This unorganized opening leaves readers dozing—except for the painful jolts of sexism.
Lessons From the Vivid Writing of Lovecraft’s Dagon
Lovecraft's early horror story shows his way with words—and his less desirable narrative tropes.
Lessons From the Inconclusive Writing of The Doorway
A confusing and meandering throughline leaves this short story stuck. (Yes, in the doorway.)
Lessons From the Confused Writing of Beyond Lies the Wub
Despite a confusing intro and unclear focus, this sci-fi story pulls through on its novelty.
Lessons From the Fantastic Writing of The Martian
How this story of a stranded astronaut succeeds at getting readers engaged.
Lessons From the Cinematic Writing of I Am Number Four
Too much telling and a lack of emotion hinder what could have been a tense opening.
Lessons From the Awkward Writing of The Sword of Truth
A lack of focus and a tell-over-show mindset hamstring this fantasy story's opening.
Lessons From the Bad Writing of Battlefield Earth
A lack of context and a meandering focus run a good idea into the ground.
Lessons From the Bad Writing of The Mortal Instruments
Clunky dialogue and a lack of context bog down this spooky opening.
Lessons From the Terrible Writing of Eragon
Poor word choice and a comical villain hinder this fantastical story's opening.
Lessons From the Terrible Writing of Sword of Shannara, Chapter 1
A meandering, flair-over-substance approach spoils this Tolkienesque opening.
Cay Reet