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Literary Lights

Priscilla Fagan

Part IV The Elements of Fiction – Style

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. Samuel Johnson

A good style should show no sign of effort. What is written should seem a happy accident. W. Somerset Maugham

What? Two accomplished Literary Lights at odds? Not at all. Writing without putting effort into the story and a story, seemingly written without effort, is as different as night and day. The difference is ‘style’. Style is the way YOU choose to show and see your story. Style is the way YOU choose the words to give life to your story.  This is your very own ‘style’. Your ‘style’ is made up of all the basics: active voice, the way you show and don’t tell, the way you appeal to the senses, the way you place your words.

Your ‘style’ will emerge with experience and skill. Don't worry about it, let it evolve.

Katherine Anne Porter tells us, You do not create a style. You work and develop yourself; your style is an emanation from your own being.

William Zinsser also says, Don’t say you were a bit confused and sort of tired and a little depressed and somewhat annoyed. Be tired. Be confused. Be depressed. Be annoyed, Don’t hedge your prose with little timidities. Good writing is lean and confident. Remember back to when you first learned to write as a child. You said what you saw and felt. You didn’t, and weren’t able yet, to fill up the page with adjectives and adverbs which hide the original meaning.

The best advice on writing I’ve ever received was from William Zinsser: “Be grateful for every word you can cut.” Christopher Buckley

As I said before, your ‘style’ will emerge with experience. You can’t force it. Jonathan Swift says, Proper words in proper places, make the true definition of a style. Style cannot be learned. The great writer finds style as the mystic finds God, in his own soul. Havelock Ellis

An author arrives at a good style when his language performs what is required of it without shyness. Cyril Connolly

Be proud and confident. Listen to your soul. You have your own style, and it will emerge. Keep writing. You’re well on your way.

Priscilla, the eternal optimist