How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut

How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut

Newspaper reporters and technical writers are trained to reveal almost nothing about themselves in their writings. This makes them freaks in the world of writers, since almost all of the other ink-stained wretches in that world reveal a lot about themselves to readers. We call these revelations, accidental and intentional, elements of style.

These revelations tell us as readers what sort of person it is with whom we are spending time. Does the writer sound ignorant or informed, stupid or bright, crooked or honest, humorless or playful --- ? And on and on.

Why should you examine your writing style with the idea of improving it? Do so as a mark of respect for your readers, whatever you're writing. If you scribble your thoughts any which way, your readers will surely feel that you care nothing about them. They will mark you down as an egomaniac or a chowderhead --- or, worse, they will stop reading you.

The most damning revelation you can make about yourself is that you do not know what is interesting and what is not. Don't you yourself like or dislike writers mainly for what they choose to show you or make you think about? Did you ever admire an emptyheaded writer for his or her mastery of the language? No.

So your own winning style must begin with ideas in your head.

1. Find a subject you care about
Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.
I am not urging you to write a novel, by the way --- although I would not be sorry if you wrote one, provided you genuinely cared about something. A petition to the mayor about a pothole in front of your house or a love letter to the girl next door will do.

2. Do not ramble, though
I won't ramble on about that.

3. Keep it simple
As for your use of language: Remember that two great masters of language, William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. "To be or not to be?" asks Shakespeare's Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long. Joyce, when he was frisky, could put together a sentence as intricate and as glittering as a necklace for Cleopatra, but my favorite sentence in his short story "Eveline" is this one: "She was tired." At that point in the story, no other words could break the heart of a reader as those three words do.
Simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even sacred. The Bible opens with a sentence well within the writing skills of a lively fourteen-year-old: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

4. Have guts to cut
It may be that you, too, are capable of making necklaces for Cleopatra, so to speak. But your eloquence should be the servant of the ideas in your head. Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent, does not illuminate your subject in some new and useful way, scratch it out.

5. Sound like yourself
The writing style which is most natural for you is bound to echo the speech you heard when a child. English was Conrad's third language, and much that seems piquant in his use of English was no doubt colored by his first language, which was Polish. And lucky indeed is the writer who has grown up in Ireland, for the English spoken there is so amusing and musical. I myself grew up in Indianapolis, where common speech sounds like a band saw cutting galvanized tin, and employs a vocabulary as unornamental as a monkey wrench.
In some of the more remote hollows of Appalachia, children still grow up hearing songs and locutions of Elizabethan times. Yes, and many Americans grow up hearing a language other than English, or an English dialect a majority of Americans cannot understand.
All these varieties of speech are beautiful, just as the varieties of butterflies are beautiful. No matter what your first language, you should treasure it all your life. If it happens to not be standard English, and if it shows itself when your write standard English, the result is usually delightful, like a very pretty girl with one eye that is green and one that is blue.
I myself find that I trust my own writing most, and others seem to trust it most, too, when I sound most like a person from Indianapolis, which is what I am. What alternatives do I have? The one most vehemently recommended by teachers has no doubt been pressed on you, as well: to write like cultivated Englishmen of a century or more ago.

6. Say what you mean
I used to be exasperated by such teachers, but am no more. I understand now that all those antique essays and stories with which I was to compare my own work were not magnificent for their datedness or foreignness, but for saying precisely what their authors meant them to say. My teachers wished me to write accurately, always selecting the most effective words, and relating the words to one another unambiguously, rigidly, like parts of a machine. The teachers did not want to turn me into an Englishman after all. They hoped that I would become understandable --- and therefore understood. And there went my dream of doing with words what Pablo Picasso did with paint or what any number of jazz idols did with music. If I broke all the rules of punctuation, had words mean whatever I wanted them to mean, and strung them together higgledy-piggledy, I would simply not be understood. So you, too, had better avoid Picasso-style or jazz-style writing, if you have something worth saying and wish to be understood.
Readers want our pages to look very much like pages they have seen before. Why? This is because they themselves have a tough job to do, and they need all the help they can get from us.

7. Pity the readers
They have to identify thousands of little marks on paper, and make sense of them immediately. They have to read, an art so difficult that most people don't really master it even after having studied it all through grade school and high school --- twelve long years.
So this discussion must finally acknowledge that our stylistic options as writers are neither numerous nor glamorous, since our readers are bound to be such imperfect artists. Our audience requires us to be sympathetic and patient readers, ever willing to simplify and clarify --- whereas we would rather soar high above the crowd, singing like nightingales.
That is the bad news. The good news is that we Americans are governed under a unique Constitution, which allows us to write whatever we please without fear of punishment. So the most meaningful aspect of our styles, which is what we choose to write about, is utterly unlimited.

Found through StumbleUpon from the site by Peter Stekel

Does anyone know about Cory Doctorow?

The first piece of writing I put into this I was told I write like Stephen King. But it was a short bit I wrote as a writing prompt and an odd style. An off style for me. My second try at it came back:

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I've heard the name Cory Doctorow but don't know a thing about him or his writing.

About Writing

Sometimes it comes easy, usually those are the times when you have a lot to say and can hardly keep up with yourself. It's good to have nimble fingers. I don't know how the one fingered typists do it!

Other times it is an exercise in patience when you have interruptions and have to keep yourself getting back to it no matter how far away it gets as the day and the interruptions go on.

Other times, not so often, I just feel there is nothing I have to say, nothing I want to say and the world is a nasty, dark and horrible place. Why should I talk to anyone? Why should I even let them know a bit of me just so they can knock me on my butt again, nasty bugger that they are. Those days I give myself the day off, or I write it all down, DAMN THE LOT OF THEM!

Originally posted as a comment in Ken's blog. Sometimes I want to remember what I wrote, sometimes it helps keep me grounded in an odd way.

I tried acting when I was a kid. The school wanted me to do it. So my Mother had me join an acting group for kids. We put on a play about fish and a pricness and so on. I might still have the script. I did get a fairly big part. I did manage to do it all and didn't forget what I was supposed to say. But, I'm not a natural performer in person. I have trained myself not to say "ummm" and other stalling things people do in speech. But, I perform much better on paper, in every way. I like the mystery of making the words up as I go along. I also like having the control of being the only one speaking. People who interrupt when I am talking make me want to do bad things.

I'd forgotten about that old thing, the few months of that acting group. Funny how your life can have so much in it when you look back at where you have been. Maybe I just don't look back enough and think only about looking ahead so I miss myself.

Creative Fat Grrl is Back

I've gone back to writing Creative Fat Grrl at LockerGnome. I wanted to be writing for a network again. I applied at LifeHacker, 9Rules and looked at others but at the end of that series of adventures I came back, revamped it and started posting to Creative Fat Grrl again. It was there. LockerGnome gives a lot of freedom to the writers, for the writing part of things and that matters a lot to me. I don't like rules and restrictions. Even when I can make sense of them and understand why they are needed.

That means this blog won't be getting back to daily posts again. But it won't be abandoned either. I will add links to the sidebar so you can visit and see what I'm blabbing about here or there.

Happy wandering.

Personal Listener

One thing I have usually done with my blog is make into into my own personal listener. Some people have personal trainers, I have a personal listener. I don't think of whoever reads this as being a listener in particular. That is asking too much of anyone. Who really wants to be leaned on, to hear all the daily upsets, the big problems and major tragedies and come up with something nice to say about it all.

Anyway, it's not so easy to write to your personal listener and not think about people who read it and will think you only write when you want to whine, rant or complain. That's not how I want to be seen or thought of. But, still, I have used my personal listener during times when I was troubled and really needed to feel not so alone on the planet.

When do you write to just yourself when you just need to see your words on the page?

Quick and Dirty Tips Network

Quick and Dirty Tips is a network of blogs and podcasts I wandered into today. It looks good and I like the addition of podcasts. If you are looking for a network to write for take a look. I noticed no one is doing a home and garden theme yet.

I came to it through Grammar Girl.

Updateable Updating

I've never had a real plan for this blog so I'm not really starting one now. But, I do want to get back into the flow and discipline for writing a regular column again. Weekly will be enough discipline. Having done a few weekly columns (at the same time) before I know how tough it can be to keep up with that schedule. But it will be good to be productive and feel I am at least accomplishing that much.

Also, will be doodling more often. I won't go back to the daily posting thing. It was too much and eventually I was feeling the whole thing was a real chore more than something I can do just to enjoy and annoy myself.

Last of all, the Valentine look will soon be changing. I don't know what to, yet. No clue at all.

Language is a Virus

Language is a Virus- Site for writers. Will write more about it when I am home again. Just stashing the link here so I can find it again.

200 Characters, Or Less

200 Characters. Can you write something using 200 characters (not counting spaces) or less?

Late Nights, Caramel Coffee and The Sims.

My body craves bed, all snug and comfortable. My face feels tired and wants to close off for the night. But here I am, playing The Sims, drinking caramel coffee long after midnight has come and gone.

A good way to twist your words around to fit into a tight spot. Count your letters online at Letter Count. For those who can't do 200 letters try 200 Sacred Words. (Found this the next night).

I also found the Word Count Journal:

Sometimes a little bit really does go a long way. In Word Count Journal, by gradually building up your writing stamina and discipline, you will see just how easy it is to get a whole lot done. By simply writing a set number of words each day, every day, you will write a whopping 66,795 words at the end of one calendar year. Little by little, through the power of series, the total of your written words will add up to more words than contained in the average novel.

A Field to Write In

"Have compassion for yourself when you write. There is no failure - just a big field to wander in." Natalie Goldberg

Hello.. My Name is Laura and I'm a Skimmer...

I confess, I am a skim reader far too often. It gets me into trouble at times, most of the time I just miss some basic and important piece of information that would have been very helpful and made my life easier if I had focused and read instead of skimmed.

It is good to know your shortfall, or shortcuts in this case. Not only are you aware that you may be leaving yourself open to future trouble but you won't be surprised when you realize something you were sure about was totally wrong. I have in the past written a lovely, well thought out blog review where I second guessed each word and phrasing but assumed the wrong gender of the blogger. A simple, basic fact I could have discovered if I had checked and read carefully a bit longer or at least a bit better. Or, of course, if I had just asked. Anyway, that was a while ago and it was only me that looked stupid. I did apologize and confess that I am a chronic skimmer when I am online.

Making Envelopes from the Best of DIY Blog

I really like this idea of making envelopes. I found it on The Best of DIY blog which had card dropped on Doodle Week. (Thanks). You could use all kinds of scrap and junk paper. Even all that junk I keep getting from Rogers and Bell trying to sell me more services I already have or don't want.

The only downside is that I have a ton of paper I could use up this way but very few letters I can write. It's been a long time since I was penpalling and all my Grandparents are deceased. Still, if I joined up to exchange postcards (which I would like to do) I could make my own fancy and unique arty envelopes to ship them off in. :)

Strawberry Jam with Ginger

"My Mother isn't coming for a social visit, she wants to inspect us, dissect everything I've done with the house, the girls and you." Blair pulled the blankets back over her head.

"Your Mother is coming to see the girls and us. You make her sound like a hyper critical bitch and she's really pretty sweet." Bob pulled the blankets off the bed, trying to force Blair to get out of it. "I had Alice and Claire all dressed up but they wanted your strawberry jam on toast and now they're all sticky. But they loved the jam Mommy made."

Bob sat on the bed next to Blair while she curled up, tried to pretend it wasn't too cold to go back to sleep.

"Did you like the jam?" Blair said.

"I did. Now get up. I said we could make the jam this morning, together. You didn't have to stay up so late just to make jam. I offered to just buy some so you could put it in the mason jars and let her think you made it."

"She would have known." Blair laughed. "I wanted one really homemade domestic thing done before she comes out here. I wish I could have made bread too. I just couldn't keep myself awake long enough for it to rise twice."

"Come on, get up, your Mother isn't as evil as you want to think she is." Bob gave her a playful swat on the butt. "I'll change the girls, you have to get yourself changed and showered. I can put coffee on once I've got the girls all frilled up again."

"Thanks." Blair rolled herself out of bed. She avoided looking at herself in the mirror. Just turned on the shower, peeled off her nightie and stood under the hot water, letting it sink into her befogged brain.

Half an hour later as she was pulling her hair into order with a big 'bad hair day' barrette she heard her Mother arrive. "All hail the Queen." She murmured quietly.

It wasn't that her Mother was a demon in disguise she just had higher standards than Blair could ever meet. Over the years she had given up on ever being good enough or having everything done well enough. Her Mother would come in and take over. Blair hated having to be nice and let her Mother re-wash her dishes, re-order her closets and re-arrange her flowers on the table even.

Then came the advice, always well meant. The girls should have another hair cut. Bob really should be treated more like the man of the house and why can't Blair just let him sleep in instead of expecting him to be up with his daughters every morning. Not that Blair never helped out. She worked nights and Bob worked days. It wasn't easy being a couple that way but they wouldn't have to do it forever. Bob liked his mornings with the girls, especially on weekends when there wasn't a rush for school and work. Blair was the afternoon shift, home after school, until Bob was there to get them into bed.

Blair pulled a shirt over her bra, put a smile on her face and went out to bell the dragon.

"Blair!" Her Mother's eyes lit up and she came over for a hug and kiss. No, dragon wasn't fair. Her Mother really did love everyone, the family. She just needed a few boundaries... just as they say on those afternoon talk shows.

"Hi Mom." Blair hugged her back.

"Bob and I have just been having coffee with your great jam. I think you put ginger in it? It's really good. I just wish you had waited... you and I... we always make the strawberry jam together. I nearly stopped and bought two flats of strawberries on the way here today, just hoping we could make the jam this weekend."

Her Mother, the dragon, the demon in disguise, gave Blair a watery smile. "I like that we can still do some things like the jam making and the crafts for Christmas. I don't get to do much of that with you any more. Your sisters never did those things, it was always you and I. Kind of silly to get emotional about it. You did just fine without me. You're good at so many things. Always have been."

Blair felt her own tear attempting to leak out. "I wanted to make bread to go with the jam too. Just got home from work so late last night... I have everything, fresh yeast, flour... Claire and Alice can help and Bob is really good at taking over the kneading when my arms get tired."

Blair laughed. "I'm glad you're here Mom. I always liked making jam, bread and holiday sewing things with you. Now that you're here a few days we can teach Claire and Alice how to do those things too."

Blair's Mom smiled, wiped a tear remnant away and sat at the table. She sipped her coffee, looked at the girls in all the frills and bows on the pink dresses they wore. Bob really had outdone himself on pink and frills. "You know... later we could take the girls for a little hair trim. Maybe a little styling up too. They have such nice curly hair, it's a shame you don't do just a bit more styling with it Blair..."

Blair smiled patiently but inside she was rolling her eyes... Mothers!
--

For the Short Notice Short Story Competition at Hunting the Muse. Let me know if you catch any typos. I think I have them all and then I seem to find one more each time I check it.

The Ultimate Creative Writing Exercise!!

Lift fingers to keyboard... now type!

It really is that easy. If a million monkeys can come up with something at random just think how much better you could do!

Don't stop yourself.

The Great Strawberry Jam Writing Contest

Brady on Hunting the Muse is having a writing contest. The prize... strawberry jam, home made. (Other stuff too). 5,000 or fewer words. Due April 28th, 2008.

The Theme:

The theme for this competition will be Strawberry Jam. The theme must play an important part in the plot of your story. It can be subtle or a very prominent part of the storyline. But it must exist and entries will be judged on how well it is pulled off.

I'm licking the jam off my fingers just thinking about it. ;)

7 Random Things About Me and One Mini Rant

Mummified Times Five tagged me. She has one of the most colourful blogs on EntreCard, I have always liked pink and orange together. :)

Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I'm more girly and romantic than I would admit to anyone face to face. I really do like pink, yellow and orange, though red is still my favourite.

2. There are days when I get to work and realize I forgot to brush my teeth... and my hair. Luckily I carry a comb in my purse or usually a clip I can stuff it all up into.

3. My favourite reading at the moment is paranormal romance though I would never pass up a good science fiction. If you're looking for a good paranormal author try: Michelle Rowen, Kelley Armstrong, Lynsay Sands, or Kerrelyn Sparks. Life or Something Like Bit can give you the real scoop on paranormal romances.

4. I seldom buy a new book from the bookstore, usually get them second hand. But when I do get a brand new book I always go back into the pile for the third one on the shelf. I want to make sure it still has that new book smell and no dog earred cover.

5. I started colouring my hair this year. It's still weird to catch my reflection and see myself with a hair colour different than the one I grew up with. Almost like having a different face. I tried to match my real colour but it doesn't seem to come out exactly as it is shown on the box.

6. I have my bedroom fully set up now. Messy, but fuctional. I've got the computer on my desk, the TV on my bookshelves (radio too) and my bed in the corner. It's like my own corner of the universe in here. I never leave for hours at a time.

7. If I won the lottery I would not take another job working for someone else. I understand why the rules are there but I'm really tired of trying to follow all of them when some of them just don't make sense in day to day practical situations. People need to listen to and think about marketing less and people more.

I read an article about buzz (word of mouth marketing), how people are turning themselves into commercials. This goes far beyond the guy walking around as a human billboard. How can you trust a friend who has her mind on how she can work selling you insurance and hair gel and a pyramid scam into the conversation more than she is actually listening to you? That whole buzz thing just makes me feel kind of sick. Like the worst of the Internet and weblogs is coming out of the computer and into the real world now. How would you react if you were spammed by your friend over coffee one day?

Six Sentences: New Fallen Snow

6S - Six Sentences -

It’s simple. Just write six sentences. Say anything you like.

A snowflake fell past the window, softly, like a teardrop. Beyond her dark silhouette, reflected on the window, the motel room was quiet. The man on the bed, silent, like the snow. Only the good die young; she could expect to live a very long time. Outside the snow flew past the window, faster, becoming a blizzard. She picked up her coat and left, a fire breathing dragon disappearing into the snow.

Six Word Memoir Meme

My Six Word Memoir
I noticed this meme on Book Calendar. Too bad this wasn't a blogroll. I've been looking up other blogs which have this and some are really, really good. I considered linking to them but don't have enough time to find them all.

Here are the rules of the meme:

1. Write your own six word memoir.

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post.

4. Tag five more blogs with links.

5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!"

I'm not tagging anyone. I just did it for fun.

Need some writing inspiration? I found out that Six Word Memoirs is a book actually. You can find other six word memoirs at SmithMag, a gallery on NPR, comments on Digg too.

One Dollar Jackpot

One Dollar Jackpot - 25 Words or Less Competition

OneDollarJackpot.com is an online competition that's open to anyone with an email address.

A simple competition, all you need is a brain, some creativity and 25 words to win it with.

Each day the winner is drawn and written about on the blog. A tip for the daily competition is also given along with the greatest help - how many people entered yesterday.

The Need for Bathing

Found on Drops of Blood

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily. — Zig Ziglar