It's a military acronym. There are several interpretations, but typical are Keep It Simple, Stupid, or Keep It Simple & Stupid, or Keep It Simple & Straightforward. Regardless of the exact translation, the intent is clear.
Oh, I see. I cannot say I fully agree with that, but it has been a base concept for a writing style I want to use that has not yet come to fruition.
I think keeping it simple is finding your voice as a writer, whatever it may be, and then neither adding to or subtracting from it.
I rather love purple prose. Of course, this only applies to writers who can...well...actually write. Novice writers often fail to acknowledge the value of a clear and coherent structure. Instead, they sprinkle remarkably gigantic, inflammable and intangible vocabulary in mega-hyper-ultra inappropriate places in super sanitarioum efforts to convince their holy deep selves they are skilled at the cake-like craft of wringly writing!
why would anyone like purple prose? There is a reason why it's called that...and Stephen King is one of the biggest violators in using it...
Heh. The idea is kind of a mix between just regular writing, and more descriptive writing. Not FLOWERY, just-- lucid. We all learned in school how different words elicit different mental images, such as these: Sprinkle, trickle, gush, flow, splash. The first order of business is to ALWAYS use the more appropriate word for the situation. The second is using words that aptly describe what I want described, regardless of whether people know the word or not. Vacillate: Waver between different opinions or actions. Useful word. I have never actually seen it used in a book, BUT, I was reading a book, recently, and were it not for how comfortable I was; I would have gotten out my dictionary at least a dozen times. It doesn't seem to me that the 'average' person even knows what the word 'superlative' means. (A word that until recently, I did not, either) Therefore, I don't see how it's terribly inappropriate to use words that are widely obscure, as long as the word is sufficiently apt for the situation. So that's part of my 'plan' to write a great book. *Sigh* I miss the good old days, when people would speak with torrents of description to relate menial tasks or trivial happenings that had taken place in their lives. The days of 'peradventure' are not dead, yet!
Do you find you have your own style of writing that stays with you? My style annoys me sometimes, I find when I'm writing a story I always have them speak 'proper' and olden day. That's ok when I'm writing a story set in that time, but I find it just comes out on every story now ahhhh lol.
I think a unique style is essential to every writer regardless of where they are. If there is something you do not like in your evolving style, then try and stamp it out; that is; if you really don't like it. Also, your own style will be influenced by every book you read, now, I read a lot of Poe, and Lovecraft, so my style is quite archaic and prone to using complex/old fashioned words. I irritate myself sometimes by using words like: esoteric, stygian, rugose, eldritch, hitherto and queer when I mean strange. Also I find myself writing very long detailed sentences. But these things are not really bad, unless you really don't like that sort of thing.
Yes, I really love the way I write, It's just a little annoying when I want to try somthing new. But I think I shall keep on with what I love How would you guys discribe your styles?
Well, I don't see a problem, Lemex, with using obscure words, IF they are well-used, and BETTER than a word that is more modern. I mean, esoteric is a useful, specific word. I don't see a reason to disuse it. Same with hitherto, which means 'until the point in time under discussion'. Another good word for 'hitherto' is 'heretofore,' which means the same thing. (Until now) Your others were a bit unclear as to their meanings, when I looked them up. (As of leaves; being wrinkly? That seems a bit of a dud word.) And stygian means 'infernal,' so there is little reason to use it. I don't know what 'writing style' IS, so I cannot tell you mine. Wish I could. It'd be more entertaining if I knew what my style is.
Trust me; you find it very irritating when the little voice in your head keeps saying 'Word: Use it!' when you want to add variety It's not like I have a limited vocabulary, I just find that I have 'Friendly words' as I like to call them. Words I just like the sound of, so try to use them ... then I keep on using them ... then they grow irritating when I'm trying not to repeat myself. Oh, and ... rugose - rough/hard: The wall was a tough, rugose surface that hurt the skin as I pushed myself upon it. eldritch - strange/unearthy: I was affected with an eldritch sense of dread, which I had trouble placing.
i always write in a thing i've called 2nd person (dunno if it exists) but it causes me to keep changing between 1st and 3rd person, past, present and future? tense and all that. its really annoying
"Second person" exists. It's when the story is told to "you": "You entered the room and looked around. Finding the lightswitch on the wall, you flicked it on..." To the OP: I have my own style that sticks with me--the style of my adult erotica serial set in ancient times is much like that of my PG-13 fantasy serial with a modern-day protagonist in older times, which is like that of my modern-day occult novels, which is like that of my shorter stories set in ancient Egypt. (I should say, my writing/narrative style stays the same--my characters have dialogue styles all their own, unlike what the OP suggests for their own writing. Style and character dialogue are two different things.) It doesn't bother me though since it's my style--why let it bother me if it's how I write? That being said, I do wish I could have a shorter style sometimes, since I always end up with really long serials, it seems. People who have actually read my work don't let the length of it bother them, but people who haven't read it yet prejudge it as being "crap" because it's so lengthy, and don't go near it. On learning my main serial series runs over a million words so far, another forum member elsewhere sniffed, "I wouldn't read a million words unless it was a DAMN GOOD million words"...as if I'd be sitting here churning out a million words of crap just for the fun of it. Very rude.
Second person is horrible in fiction. The writer metphorically treats the reader as a ventriloquists dummy, and don't even THINK of putting your hand there!
I read a lot of Poe and Lovecraft, so that reflects my writing a lot. I'm very much influenced by Poe, so I use length details and become a bit wordy at times.[Though there is nothing wrong with that I suppose] I've come to love stories with details, lengthy ones and everything like that. There is something intriguing about something is not abstract, but at the same time abstract. And I just love archaic writing.
I'm a newcomer to this forum, and glad I did. Regarding "purple prose," as one who can quickly fall into this style myself, I'd like to add a few thoughts. First, the writing itself should be clear and the situation being created made clear via one's writing. That said, I want to defend the use of sophisticated language. If the reader needs to pick up a dictionary or gather a word's meaning--ultimately the writer's intent--via context clues, so be it! Must we dumb down language and word choice to feed the needs of the reality-TV subset? There are many genres, writers, books for those who prefer "easy" reading. I enjoy a reach now and again while engaging with literature. If I want to put together a piece of furniture I'd rather my instruction manual be plain and simple. For the literary novel please give me plenty bang for my bucks! IMHO.
My writing style has changed a bit, but only because I'm still experimenting and brimming with new ideas and whatnot. Mostly I stick to the wry, semi-sarcastic, narrative type of "voice" adopted for my favorite works. Every writer has a unique style, why would they not?
"Vacillate" is a great word. But most people would get the exact same information from "waver". Just a thought. (You should see/hear some of the words I use in everyday writing/speech; my point being that I am not afraid of big words.)
There are hundreds of so-called rules. The thing about rules that that we need to follow them, yet be free to throw them all out the window when necessary, so instead of learning rules, it's better to develop instincts.
I never pay attention to rules. I usually write out whatever comes and if I feel the story is important enough, I'll leave the rules to the editors. lol
