I agree to some extent. Through language and ways of description a writer creates their own style of writing. That's where originality comes into play.
Sure comparatively she may have been simpler, but her style is anything but simple. The level of description she employed would rival most literature being released today. When I think of simple in the effective sense ie. simplicity embodied in what most would deem a good book, I think of something like James Frey, A million little pieces. It was brutally simplistic, for the most part unadorned by any measure of eloquence or richness in the writing. But that was the whole point of the book. It captures the essence of the main character. Now I try to think of a book, thats simple yet wasn't extreme or focused like Frey's. Buffy books come up, goosebumps. The point is nothing adult-directed which falls into any of the main genres. Thats because it simply wouldn't float. The flowery language, the meticulously crafted metaphors, the elaborate yet well-placed descriptions are what is demanded of a good writer. Your scenes need to be wrapped with texture. Simple writing creates a monotone image. Sure great for conveying a brisk action sequence but not enough to sustain an entire chapter and call it a good piece at the end. You'll achieve anything from mediocre downwards. Ever read fantasy? Description-heavy, text laden with all kinds of metaphors and similes and obscure adjectives. I mean I'm currently reading a book by a guy who started writing it when he was fifteen, and yet the quality of writing is so rich and the level of detail so high... you'd think he could have been excused and try to market it with a 'simpler' approach. Of course not, it doesn't matter how old you are or what your degree of experience, writing fantasy without being able to describe every glade, dell, tussock, crag or brook is like suicide bombing without a clear target. There's not going to be much impact and the whole thing will probably just blow up in your face. But I digress, thats fantasy- where 'simple' can't stand. Theres so much more to books than dungeons and dragons. And yes, Inheritence is a great saga. There are places for a simplified spartan approach to writing, but what I think is that you need to be equipped with the skill to create an intricate, embellished piece akin to what you'll find in most bookstores before you can regard yourself as a good writer. Simply retaining a confined vocabulary and a restrained creative flare for sentence construction, using the excuse that simpler is sometimes better, will only engender complacency and get you nowhere as a writer. Strive to be that author who writes too much and then has to edit out half of what was scribed, instead of the one who writes a few short sentences and then attaches some more to make it flow better. When you've achieved this, this brimming state of excellence where myriad synonyms and phrases clamor to be released onto your page, where your mind is a bountiful vault of eloquent expressions and sweeping words, then you are ready to credit yourself with a title. Now, once you've procured this newfound enlightened state, if you're partial to the style, write simple succinct pieces and write them with purpose. Pat yourself on the back and call yourself a good writer. We'll believe you.
The problem there is that when you reach a certain level you'll be laughed at for the sort of amateur pomposity and pretentiousness that experienced writers avoid like the plague, and which, ironically enough, is what you managed to achieve with that paragraph.
Yes, yes it was all part of the plan... I was trying to express the point, not that grandiloquence should be embraced, but that simplicity should be avoided, if its all you have. And if you have to submit a little to the allure of verbosity to learn a few expressions and practise them, then so be it. It is for the greater good... If you want to be a good writer of course. The average writer can stick to their simplified brand of literature, without pushing the envelope.
Anybody can play with prose. Conjuring words into a coalescence of colour so they stand stiff like blooms in a bed is joyous to write but arresting to read. If you want your reader to be threaded deep into your sub-text without being ripped out by self-celebratory prose then you need to weave with skilled subtlety, and subtlety is the key word that everybody on this thread seems to be confusing with simplicity. I guess they still need to learn the difference.
The nice thing about writers who use a "simple" style is that they appeal to about one third of all readers within a genre. The second third prefer complex or unusually descriptive wrting styles, and you guessed it, the last third enjoy something with more balance. Bottom line; pick a style and do it well. Somebody will like it!
I agree. Subtlety is streamlined complexity. Simplicity is the avoidance of description, using a limited pool of words to create a plot that mostly just conveys action and dialogue. I don't know how to describe it, well, like when you read something and say to yourself "this is too simple." I'm sure everybody has come across stuff like that on this forum. Thats what I mean.
I was wondering about something just now. At times, do you feel like writing, yet feel it is forced instead of flowing freely without you even thinking about it? If you enjoy writing, yet have to force yourself and spend hours on one paragraph just to make it look half decent, can you ever be a good writer? Is writing really for you?
Yes, you can still be a good writer. Writing takes practice, so it's only natural that at times you may struggle with it. My advice is to keep writing. You will definitely see improvement as you write more.
First thing I was ever taught in life is that there are no silly questions . I think you can enjoy writing, but that what you produce can still feel forced. Hard work is the key to success. Even Einstein didn't come up with the theory of relativity at the snap of a finger I'm sure he spent a great deal of time working on it. Maybe you need hours to make a paragraph workable, but that doesn't make the final product any less workable.
Answer to first question: Yes. Answer to second question: I don't know. Answer to third question: I DON'T KNOW....???!!! I hope this was helpful. yours in Chaos, Scarlett
The only silly question is one you already know the answer to. And what you've described is perfectly natural. Even the pros have difficulty writing sometimes. My personal response to it is just to keep going. Eventually, I push past the obstruction, and everything seems to regain its natural flow.
Any writer can be a good writer. It's not about style it's about competancy. So don't worry, simple/complex/surreal/straigh forward - whatever, they won't hold you back, but you application of them might. I wouldn't worry and just enjoy writing - there's a market out there for everyone. One of my favourite bits of description ever was from one of Stephen King's Dark Tower novels where he describes plucking a guys eye from his head 'like a grape'. It was so simple it was horrific - and brilliant. So don't worry about it.
Being a good writer isn't just about ease of doing it. Like anything you have to be dedicated, persevere and put some hard graft into it. For this reason I think that forcing yourself to write is not a bad thing. It's just you pushing yourself. Think of it like being a professional athlete and going to the gym. Your sport comes naturally you enjoy it and it's a satisfying experience. But inbetween the good bits where your competing, you've also got strength/flexibility/stamina training and often you have to force yourself to do those. But it's worth it. It makes you better, and it proves you've got the determination to make it happen, rather then sitting back and waiting for it to happen to you. That's how I've always thought of it. So I put my head down, suck it up and wade through those three hour paragraphs, gritting my teeth all the way. That said, I hate the gym.
I think we all feel that way on occassion. Writing isn't just a job or a hobby. It's a mental illness.
Even the greatest of writers I am sure, have found themselves in this predicament. I think that no matter how good you are at writing, there will be times when you have to force it instead of it flowing freely. I know I have had to with my poetry at times, and sometimes it has been for the best, other times... it was the biggest mistake I had made for the piece I was working on.
There are so many different ways of approaching writing that one can only tell they're meant for it if it feels like they are. Meaning, only you can answer your own question for sure. Writing is usually very easy for me--I've done it all my life and it's almost like breathing--but there are still times when I have to force it to come. If you're forcing your writing to come, at least you're doing SOMETHING--you're writing--as opposed to all those people who say they're writers but they just can't be pressed to actually write anything unless they feel like it (which is very rarely). However, if you're making a habit of working for hours on every paragraph, there might be a problem--you might just be trying too hard. Sometimes you have to learn to let something go and move on. You can always return to it later. If working on a single paragraph keeps you from finishing a story in a decent amount of time, then it's true, you'll never get anything written, and you might even grow to resent writing.
It happens to ppl at work all the time...that doesn't mean you retire. Keep at it, there are highs and lows to everything.
Hemingway We discussed Hemingway in the Harry Potter thread and I think it applies here. Hemingway had a simple style, yet he was a good writer. I think he was great with dialog, but I don't much care for his narration.
I'd like to share a quote with you by a certain Anthony Trollope: "There is no way of writing well and also of writing easily." Most of my writing feels "forced". Many writers feel "forced". The important thing is what feels forced? Do you feel forced to sit in the chair and do your work? Or to come up with ideas? Oh, and if you're spending that much time on one little paragraph (in the first draft, anyway,) then stop it. I'll even throw a tantrum about it: stopitstopitstopit. I'm going to put on my Old Lady hat and tell you that, from about twelve years of (amateur) experience, whenever I feel like my writing is forced, it's usually because (1) I'm not writing the correct story, (2) I'm being lazy/procrastinating, (3) I'm sick from depression/flu/etc, or (4) it's time to take a break. It's easy to get tired when you write. It's such hard work. Sometimes the words come to you fast as you can put them to paper. Other times you have to hop in a spaceship, or mount your horse, and seek them. This happens almost every day you write. No, it does, one form or another. When your writing feels "forced", keep going. What you're fighting is partly inertia. Now, is writing really for you? Well, that varies on a person-to-person basis, and only the one asking the question of themselves can get the answer. There you go. A novella.
It happens to me quiet often. My best advice is to do you best to push through it. Sometimes, just fighting through it will help you "regain" the flow of your writing. If not, I wouldn't worry to much as you can edit it later on. If you just can't do it, then stop and do something to stimulate your brain. If I can't force it, then I may just watch a film or read a book in a similar genre. Another alternative might be to work on a different section of the project or to work on the plot (if you don't already have it all laid out). This way, you can stay in the "writing mindset" while taking a break of sorts at the same time. Recently, I've found that exercising can also help as it clears you mind. You can try something as simple as a few pushups or maybe going for a quick jog or bike ride. I hope this helps! Good luck!
Chuck Palahniuk uses very simple sentence structure and language. However, he writes moderately complex plots. I happen to like Palahniuk's style if I don't read many of his works in a row.
