Can JKR write dialogue? Her use of "Swifities" says "No."

[feetmadeofclay]

No: HPFGUIDX 82899

David wrote:
> > When I read OOP aloud to my son I really noticed this habit.  
> > On many, many occasions I interpreted the speech, came to the 
> > adverb, and had to go back and re-read in a different tone of 
> > voice.  I didn't like it at the time.
> > 
> > I think it's an interesting question whether this adds to or 
> > detracts from the story.  JKR kept overriding my interpretation, 
> > but maybe there's a point to that.  I am not sufficiently good 
> > or experienced a writer to know if she could have written the 
> > dialogue slightly differently to ensure that the appropriate 
> > tone of voice would come out of the printed words.
> 
> Haggridd wrote:
> 
> You pose the crucial question: Is JKR deficient in her use of 
> dialogue, or is your ear for her dialogue defective? I would be 
> extremely interested if you would cite a number of examples, 
> either onlist or offlist. I would like to see whether I interpret 
> these exchanges differently from JKR, as demonstrated by her 
> choice of adverb. 


OMGoodness, are you actually suggesting her writing might be flawed?

The excessive use of adverbs and overly dramatic verbs throughout 
Phoenix is nothing more than a crutch which prevents Rowling from 
establishing a true voice for her characters or really visualising 
many scenes.  If it is intentional, it is still done to no or poor 
effect.  Owls are always swooping.  People are always speaking in 
over exaggerated tones.   It's all very silly, really.

While the constant use of 'said' was useful for weaker readers in 
Azkaban, it is unecessary for Phoenix which is aimed at an older 
reader.  Presumably one that can remember who is speaking to whom 
and the conventions of dialouge.  Not to even mention the fact that 
Azkaban is far more restrained.  Phoenix is nothing more than 
streaming excess.

Rowling can write dialouge, she simply chose to do it poorly in 
Phoenix.  She' a much better writer than this book shows. 

I suspect that it isn't any sort of resistance on her part but 
rather an over-eagerness n part of her publishers.  Or perhaps we 
are simply seeing how Rowling's first really perfected pre editing 
draft usually looks like.  

Golly