Writing Style as Inborn Talent Nurtured by a Heart - Essay Example

Helpful Order 506823 Topic: Helpful advice on how to write with style Writing Style- inborn talent nurtured by a heart with positive feelings and intelligent labor: How does a sculptor chisel a statue from a block of stone? He removes from it that which not statue! He takes out the non-essential parts from the stone and a beautiful statue of his design and imagination emerges. Writing is a similar art. What one writes is important; how one writes what one writes is more important. To write beautifully, apart from the control on language and vocabulary, one’s internal world needs to be free from negativities. One can feel the heart-warming and invigorating fragrance in a rose garden, not in the garbage dump. Good literature emerges from noble language and feelings. Various factors influence the evolvement and development of a language. It influences the thought-processes of an individual. For example, the impact on the mind of a reader by reading Karl Marx will be different from reading the dramas by Shakespeare or by reading the love-poems of Keats! In addition, political and economic causes also contribute to the decline of a language. George Orwell (2004) in his essay Politics and the English Language, writes, “….it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely.” If the social conditions are bad, its influence on expressions of the people and language will also be bad. Thought processes of the individuals needs to be refined for good thoughts to sprout. The wise saying goes—when the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed. When the Helpful….2 mind changes for the better, it will generate better thoughts which in turn are the cause for producing good literature. Good style will flow automatically. Writing in style is the gift of God, intelligently cultivated. Hard work is the foundation for success in any area, and so is the case with good writing style. Some of the important points that contribute to writing in style are: 1. Avoid ugliness and repetition of the same feelings by using synonyms. 2. Write precisely, read the essay several times, and edit it constructively. Delete all the verbiage. 3. Do not say something the meaning of which is unclear to you. Your opinions need to be without ambiguity, for their clear expression. 4. The reader forms his opinion on the basis of your writing, not on the basis of what is in your mind. 5. Incompetence or incompleteness of the information tendered cannot be condoned. Research your facts well, before incorporating them in your essay. 6. Let the metaphors that you use create before your mind vibrant thought processes and a likeable visual image. Shun worn-out metaphors. 7. Remain strongly interested what you are saying and let it be the reflection of your true thought processes. Helpful….3 8. Do not pervert the phrases, if the meaning is not clear to you. 9. Give preference to active voice. 10. Avoid slovenliness and vagueness. 11. Borrowing words from Greek or any language for the sake of style is a misconception. It doesn’t contribute to the enhancement of the writing style. 12. Let the sentences be stronger, shorter and clearer. They will be more effective. 13. Do not develop your writing style with the perspective of readers. Do not get confused with the pre-assessment as to what would be the opinion of the readers. When your teacher tells you to improve your style, he is not asking you to give up your original style; he only suggests improvements to make it more elegant and persuasive. 14. Proper communication of the ideas is important. Acquiring knowledge is fine, but not imitating other’s style. 15. Give your frank opinions, but when in doubt, be conservative. 16. Hold the attention of the readers by being just and equitable. 17. Filler words and common phrases may irritate the readers. This is as good as taking a circuitous route to reach the destination instead of opting for a straight one. Be brief and convey the points precisely, not to frustrate the readers. Helpful….4 18. Use qualifiers, like very, often, hopefully, practically, basically, really and mostly on a moderate scale. Avoid two words that mean the same thing. With all the drawbacks that you may have in your style of writing, be confident about your style and act to improve it. The writing may invite different responses from instructors. Do not get discouraged by it. Just as you have liking for a particular style, your instructors too have a liking for a particular style. Your writing may have certain deficiencies, and their understanding may also have certain lacunas. Control yourself, and try to fall in line with the instructor’s guidelines, because you need to satisfy the instructor first. George Orwell cautions against using meaningless words. He writes, “Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way. That is, the person who uses them has his own private definition, but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different. Statements like Marshal Petain was a true patriot, The Soviet press is the freest in the world, The Catholic Church is opposed to persecution, are almost always made with intent to deceive.” The alphabets are taught to the children by the teachers by writing them on the blackboard or through the picture books. As a child reaches the higher standards and becomes adult, it gradually acquires control on the language by association and with verbal interactions with teachers, pals and family members. He is also exposed to the print and electronic media, wherein he learns the art of conversation, dialogues and the finer aspects. Orwell observes, “The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between ones real and ones declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like Helpful….5 a cuttlefish spurting out ink.” A pure and uncontaminated heart will be able to produce beautiful thought currents which can be recorded into beautiful prose/poetry. Such literature turns out all-time great. Corrupt thoughts are like a bad business; one may profit from it, without the internal peace and satisfaction. The guilty feelings will pound the heart and will haunt in your relationships with both the external and internal world. To justify the unprincipled actions an unethical language develops of its own and will become part of the personality of the concerned individual. Study about servicing of the appliances. An air-conditioner, car, various types of machineries, instruments etc are serviced in regular intervals to keep them in working condition. Painting of the house and polishing of the furniture is also done periodically. Similar operation is needed for the language. Words and idioms, that have outworn their usefulness, time-value, need to be scrapped. Orwell sums up his observations thus “i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do. iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Helpful….6 iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active. v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.” In his article How to Write with Style, Kurt Vonnegut observes, “Why should you examine your writing style with the idea of improving it? Do so as a mark of respect for your readers, whatever youre 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 chowder head --- or, worse, they will stop reading you.” The winning style begins with sincere ideas within your mind. Your ideas are your assets and you should hand over their richness to your readers. The subject of your writing need not be the expression of profound life-philosophy. A letter of complaint to the municipal authorities on the bad road conditions or a love letter to your second-love is equally important if your concern is genuine. Let the sentences be short, crisp and like the arrow that hits the target. The profound truth can be revealed in simple language. Example: God is truth. Health is wealth. While writing, identify the utility of the sentence. If it doesn’t serve true purpose, delete it. All languages are beautiful, like the different varieties and hues of roses in a garden. Write what you mean and not for the sake of pleasing the vanity of the readers. Helpful….7 Works Cited Orwell, George: Politics and the English Language24 Jul 2004 ... Politics and the English Language, the essay of George Orwell. First published: April 1946 by/in Horizon, GB, London Retrieved on February 28, 2011 Vonnegut, Kurt: Advice to writers How to Write; Newspaper reporters and technical writers are trained to reveal almost nothing about... Retrieved on February 28, 2011 Read More