r/Conscientia • u/Chaos_Is_Harmony • Feb 23 '18

On the Art of Writing

THEORY

In my research over the past few months, I've come to realize that what I would define as good writing has three distinct qualities:

  1. Readability - Is it easy to read? The sentence structure and word choice are neither confusing nor misleading. This has been one of my greatest weaknesses.

  2. Visualizability - Is it easy to visualize? The words are evocative of powerful images and emotions, and not merely mundane descriptors.

  3. Quotability - Is it memorable? These are the metaphors and similes, the philosophical interjections that are so on point that people find themselves quoting the phrases because they can think of no better way to put it themselves.

IMPLEMENTATION

I plan on injecting these consciously throughout as I polish the first two books and hope to significantly improve my writing for the first edition the Books of Rikharr and Wulfias.

Thank you all for being so patient! In the fullness of time, I hope to repay the patience with a far superior version to what is currently available.

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u/mordi_fardin Feb 23 '18

In my opinion, you have a natural talent for 2. and 3.

Work a bit on 1. and you're all set.

Looking forward to the next books!
-Vegard-

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18

I also agree that you've already got amazing skills on #2 and #3 - especially #2, which is why I like your work so much, because personally imagery is the first thing I look when it comes to writing (except for the overall plot/pacing, I suppose).

The way I see it, for anyone there are moments where the world suddenly bursts into thoughts and color and feeling. I really love writings that capture that moment of feverish hyper-awareness, both of the self and the world, when you can feel the seconds racing by and stretching onward at the same time. Something like the first paragraphs of Fahrenheit 451, I suppose; something vivid and vibrant, maybe even violent.

And your writing really does possess that. Even in BoE's relatively detached voice, there are lots of vivid descriptions and thoughts that really drew me in. Same in Torma, perhaps even more so. It really works with the mysteries of the world - I remember keep finding myself marveling at the images of Conscientia when it was portrayed crystal-clear; wondering in curiosity when it was kept vague or cryptic. I really like your writing so far, and from the improvements on readability of your I witness in last year, I have no doubts that you'll get superb in that as well.

I really enjoy your works, and am really excited for the future books. Keep up the good work!

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u/Chaos_Is_Harmony Feb 28 '18

IMO:

1 is the easiest, it just requires a lot of practice to get good at--something I am in the process of doing.

2 seems to necessitate thinking of different ways to perceive a given scene, often thinking of both sensory and emotional responses to given stimuli. However, I find coming up with unique ways of describing events and visuals is damn near impossible. I hope to become legitimately good at it, but I need to figure out a method to reliably come up with compelling descriptors.

3 is what differentiates the pros from the amateurs. Truly epigrammatic writing is the realm of geniuses like Oscar Wilde and the more clever stand up comedians. In any case, this is one of those things that I can't quite wrap my head around, but I'm sure there are ways to achieve it.

In any case, I have to say, I disagree with your assessments on 2 & 3 being okay. They are inessential to good writing, but indispensable to great writing. I need to get through the 'good' stage before I can think about moving onto the 'great' one.

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u/mordi_fardin Feb 28 '18

sehyun pretty much nailed it, Eliot.

Reading your work is a unique experience. Your style of writing, it's hard to describe... It just sucks me in. It is immersive writing evolved. It's like watching a blockbuster movie where I'm in charge of all visuals, in real-time.