Whatever kind of fiction we write, most of us want to give our prose that extra flair and sparkle. How do we learn to do that? How casual can we be while still looking ‘correct’? When is prose powerfully poetic and when is it purple, stodgy and even ridiculous?
Today I’m at Multi-Story.co.uk, exploring what makes an effective prose style – and the knots we can get ourselves into as we try to develop it. Do come over.
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Whatever kind of fiction we write, most of us want to give our prose that extra flair and sparkle. How do we learn to do that? How casual can we be while still looking ‘correct’? When is prose powerfully poetic and when is it purple, stodgy and even ridiculous?
#1 by Hugh on January 27, 2014 - 1:33 pm
Congrats, Roz. Excellent advice, enjoyably put.
#2 by rozmorris @NailYourNovel @ByRozMorris on January 27, 2014 - 3:22 pm
Thanks, Hugh!
#3 by acflory on January 28, 2014 - 12:03 am
Great post, Roz. All your points were things I had to learn the hard way as I transitioned from technical writing to creative writing. Even now, over ten years down the track, I recognize that my first drafts are always going to be a kind of mental shorthand that needs to be decoded before it’s fit for human consumption. Spare, precise writing may get the message across but it will lack any kind of emotional content, and prose is ultimately a vehicle for empathy.
#4 by rozmorris @NailYourNovel @ByRozMorris on January 28, 2014 - 12:50 pm
Fortunately, Andrea, our first drafts are a secret between ourselves and the computer.
#5 by acflory on January 30, 2014 - 1:48 am
Amen to that! :D
#6 by Jonathan Moore on January 28, 2014 - 12:30 pm
Ah the old purple prose, so seductively it lies on the page, flattering you for your creative genius, telling you that no one else has used the english language as good as this before. “Admire me.” it says, “I put all the other sentences around me to shame.” One of these days I’ll learn to recognise it the first time it bats its curly eyelashes.
#7 by philipparees on January 28, 2014 - 12:33 pm
Purple was never a robe I liked but a gentle magenta sometimes has me hooked.
#8 by rozmorris @NailYourNovel @ByRozMorris on January 28, 2014 - 12:49 pm
Or a spruce puce.
#9 by rozmorris @NailYourNovel @ByRozMorris on January 28, 2014 - 12:51 pm
Precisely, Jon.
#10 by Carol Riggs on February 1, 2014 - 5:17 pm
GREAT article, Roz! I read it through and bookmarked it. :)
#11 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on February 2, 2014 - 10:57 am
Thanks, Carol!
#12 by annstanleywriting on April 10, 2014 - 6:30 pm
I really liked this article, Roz. I’m going to share it with my writing group on facebook.
#13 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on April 10, 2014 - 7:51 pm
Thanks, Ann!