JRWard,JessicaAnderson,HumorandCussing

by SB Sarah Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 10:08 AM

Book Cover From the session with JR Ward and Jessica Anderson on Worldbuilding comes a report of an author using humility, humor and cuss words to strengthen her audience.

JR Ward acknowledged that the number of readers who contacted her after Vishous’ book was released and who were confused and upset by the story means one thing: “I didn’t do my job.”

Ward said that if readers didn’t understand the story or were upset by it, she should have explained more and added 10 more pages to the end of the book to allow for the reader to understand Vishous and Jane’s relationship (not Jane from Dear Author). A conference attendee who saw the session told me afterward that she was SO impressed with both speakers, partially because Ward owned up to the controversy and took responsibility for the uproar.

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Categories: General Bitching
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Comments

Picture of closetcrafter said on...
04.17.08 at 10:24 AM |

Very cool

Picture of Anne Douglas Anne Douglas said on...
04.17.08 at 10:33 AM |

Lol - the author time out chair.

But sometimes, eloquence just doesn’t cut it, does it. *dreams of the all times she wanted to tell her boss to shut the fuck up, but instead put on a polite smile*

Picture of MaryKate said on...
04.17.08 at 10:36 AM |

I’ll be buying Jessica Anderson’s book without one word of buzz. If she’s willing to tell JR Ward what the rest of us are thinking, I’m an instant fan!

Picture of fiveandfour fiveandfour said on...
04.17.08 at 10:43 AM |

The better thing for that Vishous book would’ve been some other ending entirely, but I respect Ward for acknowledging and owning up to the WTF reaction it seemed nearly everyone had to that story.

Picture of Rinda Rinda said on...
04.17.08 at 10:47 AM |

I would have loved this!  This is the best kind critique partnership.  I have this kind with mine.

We have different styles and keep this in mind at all times, so a lot of the characterization comments are more suggestion than anything else, but we’re painfully honest. ;)

Picture of Rachel said on...
04.17.08 at 10:49 AM |

Wow, you mean an author actually admitted that people who hadn’t liked her book weren’t all jellus haterz, and that there might have- gasp!- been something wrong with said book if so many readers had issues? Damn. If only LKH had been at that session…

Picture of rebyj rebyj said on...
04.17.08 at 10:49 AM |

I’m glad the audiences reaction was laughter instead of throwing rotten tomatoes lol
I tossed Vishous’s book against the wall with some blue language when I read it, then rushed online to bitch about it!
That said, can’t wait for the next book!

Picture of orangehands said on...
04.17.08 at 10:51 AM |

I’m with MaryKate. Definitely adding Jessica Anderson to my TBR pile.

Both seem very funny.

Picture of karmelrio said on...
04.17.08 at 10:54 AM |

I <3 cussing. 

Picture of KCfla said on...
04.17.08 at 11:01 AM |

Wow! Points for Ward in admitting that she “didn’t do her job”.  That has to take some courage to say in front of all those people.

Oh and too funny about her putting herself in “time-out”, concidering all the cuss words in her books lol!

And I’m with the rest of you- J. Anderson is soooo getting my $$ when that book comes out!

costs38??? Well....maybe that would be a bit much...........

Picture of Elyssa Elyssa said on...
04.17.08 at 11:03 AM |

Wow, that’s really cool of JR Ward to admit that.  I was so not going to buy her next book b/c of that ending but, I might buy the next one.  Sigh.  I know I’ll buy the next one.  It’s Phury’s story after all.

But I’m so with MaryKate… I’m buying Jessica Anderson’s book.  Yes, to JA’s reaction about Marisa and her viewpoint on JR Ward’s heroines.

Picture of Shannon Shannon said on...
04.17.08 at 11:17 AM |

hahahahaha!!!!  I have yet to read any of JR Ward’s books (hey! They are on my TBR list!) After the cussing and owning up to her poor writing choice, I am moving her up to the top of my list. Oh, and Jessica Anderson is being added, as well.  Damn, that TBR list is just growing and growing…

Picture of JessicaMcG JessicaMcG said on...
04.17.08 at 12:04 PM |

I enjoy the J.R. Ward books… though it did take me a while to get over the way they speak.  I guess theres a bit of the editor in me, for a while their expressions would create a little snag in my reading.  Now of course I have gotten over that and just enjoy the sexy sexy men. :)

Picture of Jill D. Jill D. said on...
04.17.08 at 12:06 PM |

I knew there had to be more than just man titty to this conference.  That is so cool about JR Ward!  Fascinating!  Keep us posted.

Picture of Lleeo said on...
04.17.08 at 12:59 PM |

Okay, Jessica Andersen is seriously my hero now. :D It should also be mentioned that for all the ghetto slang and music Ward uses for her characters, there isn’t mention of one black character. That’s always really bothered me too.

But Ward’s writing is addictive and entertaining so I will continue reading her books. ;) And will definitely be buying Jessica Andersen.

Picture of Jessica Andersen Jessica Andersen said on...
04.17.08 at 01:07 PM |

Hey y’all!  Daily lurker and sometimes poster checking in, and having a squee moment at seeing my name in lights, especially associated with a word like ‘cocksucker’

Thanks for the props on the panel- it’s been great fun to bust the
Ward’s chops in public for a change!  [BTW, all of it was said with respect and admiration for the many things she does very, very well.  Okay, so maybe the respect and admiration aren’t exactly obvious when you see us together, but it’s there.  Honest!!]

And thanks to those of you who’re considering checking out the new books.  I’m loving writing them, and hope they’ll find an audience so I can keep on going. . . for the next four years or so, anyway :)

Off for a nap.  Or caffeine.  Or something.  Must recharge for fairy ball thing tonight…

Jess

Picture of Deidre Knight Deidre Knight said on...
04.17.08 at 01:22 PM |

Ahem. Of course I missed this grand opportunity to heckle you two, Jess. :) I’m so wishing I were at RT this year.  I was able to go the last two years, but decided to sit this one out. 

SB’s, you rock.  I lurk a lot here, but wanted to say that I loved reading this recap of Jess and JR’s session.  You made me feel like I was there!

Deidre Knight

Picture of azteclady said on...
04.17.08 at 02:27 PM |

*humoungous pout* Why aren’t I right there? *stomping foot*

(thank you for the reports, SBSarah :sigh: )

Picture of sherry thomas said on...
04.17.08 at 02:33 PM |

Jessica Anderson FTW!

Picture of SonomaLass said on...
04.17.08 at 03:14 PM |

the Chicago manual of cocksucking style

Yes, yes, yes!! OMFG hellz, YES!!

I have never read Ms. Ward, but I love her for that alone.

More thanx to SBSarah for blogging all this fun RT stuff.

Picture of Jaci Burton Jaci Burton said on...
04.17.08 at 03:20 PM |

*bowing down to JR for saying what we all sometimes think of the Chicago Manual of Style*

Sometimes character dialogue is just not representative of proper grammar, ya know?

And it sounds like it was a really fun workshop.

Picture of Susan/DC said on...
04.17.08 at 04:59 PM |

Chops to Jessica Andersen for speaking her mind and more chops to Jessica Ward for being self-confident and gracious enough to take it.  I find the idea of a Mayan mythology book way cool.

My word is question47—there’s got to be some deep meaning in there somewhere.

Picture of Julie Leto Julie Leto said on...
04.17.08 at 06:13 PM |

Jessica Anderson may have her debut single title coming out, but she’s written a bunch of Intrigues and she’s a fabulous writer.  I’m glad this was posted so I could learn about her Mayan book.  I love, love Mayan stuff.

Would have loved to hear that session!

Picture of Maureen McGowan Maureen McGowan said on...
04.17.08 at 06:58 PM |

Boy, do I wish I’d been at that session. Thanks for recapping it. I’m a huge fan of both writers. I actually thought the Vishous book had a romantic ending.  But I do agree with Jess about J.R.’s heroines… But folks, those books are so not about the heroines ;-)

Picture of ShadowDancer said on...
04.17.08 at 08:49 PM |

As someone who has had to slog through the Chicago Manual of Style for way too many years, I laughed myself stupid over the CS comment.

So, is Ward going to flesh out Jane and V’s story in future books?

It’s definitely nice to have an author take criticism.

Picture of Nora Roberts said on...
04.18.08 at 03:49 AM |

I don’t attend many workshops at conferences, but I’d have enjoyed this one. A lot.

Picture of karmelrio said on...
04.18.08 at 07:03 AM |

I also had no problem with the ambiguous ending of V’s book - in this series, Ward continues to develop characters who have been featured in previous books.  I think there is more of V to come.

Picture of Lorelie Lorelie said on...
04.18.08 at 07:11 AM |

Dude, that is filled with the funny.  And the wee bit scary, too.  If the version of Marissa we got was *after* the CP called her a dishrag and she got beefed up. . . . what must the first version have been like?

Picture of S. W. Vaughn S. W. Vaughn said on...
04.18.08 at 07:15 AM |

I just wanted to say…

Best. Poem. EVER!

Picture of KCfla said on...
04.18.08 at 07:16 AM |

Lorelie-
Just be glad we didn’t have to “go there” as it were!
Though Melissa wasn’t/isn’t my favorite, I don’t think she came out a total *dishrag*.

( history51- Yup, that version was history!)

Picture of S. W. Vaughn S. W. Vaughn said on...
04.18.08 at 07:18 AM |

Ahem. And of course, I meant that comment in response to the beefcake-mantitties poem in the post preceding this one - but, alas, technology often confounds me, and I seem to have commented in the wrong place.

Dang. I hate misfiring…

Anyway, this post was awesome too. Looooove the CMS comment - that poor woman!

Picture of Jools said on...
04.19.08 at 08:43 AM |

Ladies:  I personally didn’t have a problem with the ending of V’s book, and I certainly didn’t have a problem understanding how/why V did the 180 thing after meeting Jane.  But I did think Ward could have given more insight into Jane and V’s relationship.  I didn’t like the ending but I understand it.  That being said, perhaps some felt that Ward, having given us a female lead that was actually strong enough to counter the male lead felt that she really disappointed us by taking her out with the gunshot!
WTF was my response and I’m sure everyone else’s too.  Jane is such a complete opposite of Marissa (did I mention I hate Marissa) or Mary (she’s not much better) and even Bella (who has a special problem of her won with the twin thing).  So my hope is that Ward will clarify things on the Jane & V relationship.  After all, we can’t have the characters and stories all go our way, then we’d be the author.

Picture of Nike said on...
04.19.08 at 04:05 PM |

Okay, I have got to give JR Ward major props now. “The Chicago Manual of Cocksucking Style”? That is awesome. I’ve read the entire Black Daggerhood series and rolled my eyes through most of it. There were times when I was reading her dialogue and thought to myself, “Damn, this woman is so white.

But I really enjoyed Love Eternal—and even though I think all the books have some flaws I give Ward a lot of credit for how addictive her writing is, and her spin on the vampire genre.

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