What Makes a Bad Story?

Published by

Brianna Wilson

August 25, 2024

I’m taking a fiction writing class this fall, and the first assignment is to create a story that is “bad”. Being new to the world of writing outside of nonfiction, what does that mean? At least with nonfiction, “bad” is oftentimes simply untrue or unclear. Maybe the logic doesn’t flow or your paragraphs need reordering, but “bad” is arguably more objective in nonfiction writing. What does it mean for fiction to be “bad”?

I started by thinking about writing and story elements that I don’t enjoy. For instance-characters that lack depth, awkward or non-engaging dialogue, or lack of scene setting. Or, in terms of writing-word choice (unnecessary, superfluous, or overuse), awkward paragraph separation, or lack of author voice. These are just some of the thoughts that come to mind.

However, all of these are arguably subjective. My views on character depth may be entirely different than yours, or anyone else’s. Maybe you can picture the scene with only a few descriptions, but I need more information to be able to visualize what’s going on. Even though there are generalized rules for paragraph separation, what if I think there’s a clear need for separation that remains undefined?

I truly do believe that this is a large part of the assignment-the realization that bad stories absolutely can be subjective. Sure, there are standard plot points to pay attention to, or entire equations that set your writing up for success (see Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody). There simply has to be enough differences from person to person in what they deem “bad” to maintain and increase variation in the world of entertainment.

I am interested to learn what “bad” writing looks like in the eyes of my classmates, both to improve my own and to understand how much we agree or disagree. I would also love to hear from anyone who has strong opinions of their own on the matter or believes in more standardized definitions of “bad” writing that they are interested in sharing. Let me know what you think.

One response to “What Makes a Bad Story?”

versatile95126aaf73

August 31, 2024

When first deliberating the meaning of a “bad” piece of writing or “bad” story, many seem to determine the stylistic, artistic, or proper English etiquette first and foremost. The way the words flow off of the page is the stand out feature for those just looking for a good read. Missing context such as a piece of important information thrown into the plot without a proper explanation, or a scene that the characters magically find themselves in can be jarring to the reader, and of course, make the reading experience less than ideal. This seems to stem more from a general lack of experience/ practice, and less from the skill it requires to draw the reader in.

The skill I mentioned is the actual reason the reader is reading the book. While reading a well written and flowing novel, one can appreciate the hard work and dedication it took to get the piece to where it is now, into the readers hands. This does not, however, directly correlate to the reason it was written. Sure, we could say that it was written because the author wanted to write it, though that can be said about virtually anything if given the right context. All I am saying is that, the deeper meaning needs to be discovered before determining the quality of the piece. Without a message within the passage waiting to be discovered, what is the point of reading? A writer who writes without meaning would be writing just to write… a story that starts and then ends. An example of a deeper meaning within a piece would be, Dune (the first book in the series). Dune shows the deep and struggling connection between the powerful and the poor, while at the same time working through the inner difficulties of a young Duke fighting to keep his new found powers and recourses under control. Though the reader is siding with the young master and cheering him on while he finds his purpose in the universe, the underlying tone of political prowess and disconnect between the people on the planet dune, and the resources brought from another planet provide a deeper hidden meaning that keeps the reader not only more engaged, but constantly thinking about how this undertone relates to them in the real world. This connection between the story, the changes, and the challenges going on all around us is what makes a fantastic story or read in my opinion. Not only does this constant relation help in deliberating whether a story is good or bad, but it also makes us better, and more inward-reflecting in return.

Of course, this is all up to interpretation. Just a thought I wanted to share.:)

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I’m Brianna

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