Is writing sometimes over pretentious, or not?

femur61

I read The Bomb thread and really liked the story. A thing crossed my mind while reading it. There was a lack of similes and metaphors, and I suppose what you would call flowery language. As I presume, rightly or wrongly, it was written by a man, therefore do women and men like different styles of writing. I, as a woman really liked the piece. Is writing sometimes a bit too pretentious with writers using metaphors that look intelligent but actually have no meaning, or do people prefer ordinary language in writing?

Das Kitty

There's room for all sorts, IMO.

I've read things that were stark and spare and loved them, and equally I adore beautiful or surprising description.

There's no one way to write, thankfully.

I would question though, if someone's motives for writing in a particular way is to appear smart, or to show off. There's nothing wrong with either of those things, but I know when I do it myself I'll often come back on a later edit and cringe at myself and cut it out.