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Quote: Either way just pick the one that you think is the strongest (meaning the least just about your mere preference), and I'll show everyone what I'm talking about.
The conclusion to the Donald Blake story. Show me why that isn't bad writing. You know what my critique is, as we've discussed it several times.
I think the Blake ending shows clearly why Cates is a bad writer. Prove me wrong -- without invoking your personal preference or citing mythology. The story and the conclusion must be able to stand on their own legs.
Here's some help:
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You and I aren't making equal kinds of claims. And if we were you would have every reason to ask me to PROVE it's good. But ultimately I have a more modest claim. I think this is good, you think it's bad, but I'm admitting up top that's it's ultimately a matter of preference. What I think we CAN disagree about rationally is whether or not our theoretical explainations of why things are good or bad or work or don't work, make any sense, are consistent, comport accurately with the work we're considering. But I will say insofar as Cates's writing is enjoyed to the degree it is by the amount of people it is, it must be doing something right at the mechanical level. And I don't go in for the well a lot of people are dumb, cynical tack. I think there are as many dumb people on the internet not liking things as their are simpletons enjoying stuff they shouldn't. As an analogy, in order for a car to even run, a lot of has to be correctly in place and calibrated. Writing is hard. And composing a story that most people like isn't something that you should assume anyone can do, such that it's easy. So, in other words, the fact that such a large number of people like it must mean it works (that's it's good!) at some level.
What I CAN do is break down WHY I think it works for the people that like it. And why criticism that testify to the poor quality of the writing are arbitrary and preferential.
I should also add that with this particular selection you've included here, it's a portion of a larger story. This portion probably isn't the strongest example of the story for a few reasons (e.g. it's probably not the actual conclusion with what happens to Blake, it's likely more open ended than definitive, it's the part that puts our hero in the most questionable moral light, etc.) So even if I concede this is bad writing (which I don't), the rest of the story might be good enough that it, on balance, is still a good story despite this weaker part.
My break down coming later tonight. Set your watches lol
cheers,
---the late great Donald Blake
