That's an interesting thought. I wonder if anyone has actually gone through and methodically shown where Rowling improved as she wrote? I wonder which things she got better at? Did she develop a better ear for dialogue? Characterization? Plot... though, no offense to the master, but she never really did learn the art of foreshadowing.
I'm a HUGE fan of all the books, but I was always annoyed when, right near the end, there would be some long infodump that would end up explaining some key mystery in the book. As a result of this tick of hers, I never really bought into Snape's 'good guy' status. I never felt like she SHOWED him to be a hero. She just kept TELLLING us. (In fact, the things she did show, like how he became the worst Hogwarts headmaster of all time, and, at the very least with his willingness to look the other way, allowed UNDERAGED CHILDREN to be tortured.) For me, that falls into the "unforgivable" pile, much like Ankin Skywalker's part in the destruction of an entire planet. (For my money, Vader never deserved eternal ghost life just because he finally tossed the Emperor into the pit.) However, my nit picking aside, I'm sure she got better at a ton of things.
Plus, Rowling is on the official list of books that can teach us something. One thing I totally believe Rowling can teach a writer is that sometimes a SENSE OF WONDER can trump almost any other skill. I think if people are taken in by your world and your characters, a lot of the rest honestly becomes secondary to a reader's appreciation. I know Rowling's critics liked to hammer her for some her actual writing skills, but, while I noticed them reading out loud, I thought they were VERY MINOR for all the fuss, and I was far more willing to forgive because I was so captivated by her universe.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-04-29 04:22 pm (UTC)I'm a HUGE fan of all the books, but I was always annoyed when, right near the end, there would be some long infodump that would end up explaining some key mystery in the book. As a result of this tick of hers, I never really bought into Snape's 'good guy' status. I never felt like she SHOWED him to be a hero. She just kept TELLLING us. (In fact, the things she did show, like how he became the worst Hogwarts headmaster of all time, and, at the very least with his willingness to look the other way, allowed UNDERAGED CHILDREN to be tortured.) For me, that falls into the "unforgivable" pile, much like Ankin Skywalker's part in the destruction of an entire planet. (For my money, Vader never deserved eternal ghost life just because he finally tossed the Emperor into the pit.) However, my nit picking aside, I'm sure she got better at a ton of things.
Plus, Rowling is on the official list of books that can teach us something. One thing I totally believe Rowling can teach a writer is that sometimes a SENSE OF WONDER can trump almost any other skill. I think if people are taken in by your world and your characters, a lot of the rest honestly becomes secondary to a reader's appreciation. I know Rowling's critics liked to hammer her for some her actual writing skills, but, while I noticed them reading out loud, I thought they were VERY MINOR for all the fuss, and I was far more willing to forgive because I was so captivated by her universe.