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On Style and Writing Voice
/A Thread\\
/A Thread\\
Style in writing is undervalued and often underdeveloped.
See, Writing online is not like writing at school.
You get *way* more than a few extra marks for outstanding style.
But you donât hear many people teaching you about style.
Until now... https://twitter.com/thomasjbevan1/status/1354838825659457539?s=20
See, Writing online is not like writing at school.
You get *way* more than a few extra marks for outstanding style.
But you donât hear many people teaching you about style.
Until now... https://twitter.com/thomasjbevan1/status/1354838825659457539?s=20
Mastery of the written word is a process of becoming yourself.
Of âfinding your voiceâ as they say.
Think of any great writer and they have a unique and easily identifiable style.
The cultivation of this style is no accident.
It is absolutely intention.
Of âfinding your voiceâ as they say.
Think of any great writer and they have a unique and easily identifiable style.
The cultivation of this style is no accident.
It is absolutely intention.
It comes down to identifying what you do naturally anyway and turning it from being accidental to intentional and purposeful.
In the way that a tall boxer, for example, will train to utilise and take advantage of his long reach, you need to work with your natural writing gifts.
In the way that a tall boxer, for example, will train to utilise and take advantage of his long reach, you need to work with your natural writing gifts.
Iâll give you an example
I tend to use quite long, often comma-heavy sentences. And then short ones. And then (along with repetition of the word âandâ) another long one- I might insert a tangent via dashes- to finish.
Rhythm is the cornerstone here
It moves the reader along
I tend to use quite long, often comma-heavy sentences. And then short ones. And then (along with repetition of the word âandâ) another long one- I might insert a tangent via dashes- to finish.
Rhythm is the cornerstone here
It moves the reader along
Now the problem with a lot of writing advice is it advocates one style.
One size to fit all.
Short, copywriter prose.
Lots of blank space.
Why?
To maximise engagement.
The truth:
It works.
One size to fit all.
Short, copywriter prose.
Lots of blank space.
Why?
To maximise engagement.
The truth:
It works.
And if engagement is all you want, thatâs fine.
But if you want to make art, If you want prose that sings and moves people then you are going to have to do the hard work of finding and cultivating your own voice.
Not someone elseâs idea of how you *should* sound.
But how?
But if you want to make art, If you want prose that sings and moves people then you are going to have to do the hard work of finding and cultivating your own voice.
Not someone elseâs idea of how you *should* sound.
But how?
The best way to cultivate your own voice is a 4 step processes.
1) Practice
2) Get feedback
3) Refine using rhetoric
4) Repeat.
Iâll explain each in turn...
1) Practice
2) Get feedback
3) Refine using rhetoric
4) Repeat.
Iâll explain each in turn...
1) Practice.
Write, write, write,
Write free-associating unedited journal entries. Riff. Pay attention to what words you tend to use and sentence lengths etc.
Try the opposite. Or Double down. Steal some moves from books you read.
When you find things that please you...
Write, write, write,
Write free-associating unedited journal entries. Riff. Pay attention to what words you tend to use and sentence lengths etc.
Try the opposite. Or Double down. Steal some moves from books you read.
When you find things that please you...
Use them in essays, reviews, stories, whatever and then post them publicly.
See what happens.
Over time this will lead to point number 2)
See what happens.
Over time this will lead to point number 2)
2) Get Feedback
You might find some of yr vocabulary choices, run on sentences and metaphors get a lot of flak
You may find you have a gift for description and the way you evoke images gets praise
Maybe people like your staccato style. Or hate it
Youâll find out via feedback
You might find some of yr vocabulary choices, run on sentences and metaphors get a lot of flak
You may find you have a gift for description and the way you evoke images gets praise
Maybe people like your staccato style. Or hate it
Youâll find out via feedback
3) Refine with rhetoric.
You can either take this feedback on board or refuse and say F âem because you know in your gut you are right.
But either way you need to refine.
And you do this via studying rhetoric.
Hereâs a thread on this to start you off. https://twitter.com/thomasjbevan1/status/1352723805337247752?s=20
You can either take this feedback on board or refuse and say F âem because you know in your gut you are right.
But either way you need to refine.
And you do this via studying rhetoric.
Hereâs a thread on this to start you off. https://twitter.com/thomasjbevan1/status/1352723805337247752?s=20
See every technique of word order, manipulative effect, repetition, wordplay,
All of if was catalogued, named and studied by the ancients.
Learn the names of the intuitive rhetorical moves you make in your prose & master how to use them.
Learn the rules so you can break them.
All of if was catalogued, named and studied by the ancients.
Learn the names of the intuitive rhetorical moves you make in your prose & master how to use them.
Learn the rules so you can break them.
4) Repeat.
And then just keep repeating the process.
Write freely, gain feedback, study the techniques and build up your arsenal.
Learn the scales so you can then freely improvise like a jazz musician.
So that it seems effortless.
So that you sound like yourself on the page.
And then just keep repeating the process.
Write freely, gain feedback, study the techniques and build up your arsenal.
Learn the scales so you can then freely improvise like a jazz musician.
So that it seems effortless.
So that you sound like yourself on the page.
If you want more threads on writing, give me a follow.
You can see past threads here:
@thomasjbevan1
You can see past threads here:
@thomasjbevan1
