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Category Archives: Writer’s resource
How to play the words well
Do a little bit of research on the internet and you will soon come up with vast lists of literary devices in addition to the ones that I have discussed. But it is too overwhelming to start employing them all. … Continue reading
Wilde words
Sometime in the eighties I noticed a shift in the focus of television sitcoms–the humorous situation was gradually being replaced by humorous banter. Witty retorts were more important than amusing events. In fact, often the events would be minimal. The … Continue reading
Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Writer's resource
Tagged epigram, euphemism, Humour, irony, literary device, litote, Oscar Wilde, Satire, wit
2 Comments
The merits of fictional characters
Having seen discussion boards in which people spend time arguing about the merits of fictional characters, I would assume that a number of readers prefer these imaginary people to real ones. Fictional characters may be braver, more beautiful, or have … Continue reading
More than what you see
The term ‘imagery’ brings to mind, of course, images–verbal pictures that allow us to peer into the world which an author has dreamed up. Imagery sometimes implies page after page of descriptive detail–in which case you might risk having the … Continue reading
Posted in Literary devices, Style and voice, Writer's resource
Tagged allusion, imagery, schizophrenia, Synesthesia, Writer, Writers Resources
2 Comments
Playing musical words
One of the quickest ways to make your writing voice stand out from the crowd is to master the use of literary devices. Some devices are just fancy names for specific types of diction and syntax. For example, anastrophe is … Continue reading
Posted in Literary devices, Style and voice, Writer's resource
Tagged alliteration, anastrophe, Assonance, cacophony, consonance, euphony, hyperbaton, Literary devices, Star Wars
2 Comments
Deciding on a direction
“Say what you are going to say, say it, and finally say what you have said.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this rule for organizing the written word repeated in the educational realm. But rules are meant … Continue reading
The speed signs for writing
The way we string together words and the type of words we use contribute to the “pace” of writing. Longer sentences with a plethora of subordinated clauses provide an intellectual sound to the writing. The reader takes more time to … Continue reading
Order matters how?
While diction determines word choice, syntax determines where the words are placed. Language without syntax are words strung together with no method to the madness–in other words, nonsense. Our normal syntax mimics what we have heard before. Unique syntax requires mixing … Continue reading
Posted in Style and voice, Teaching writing skills, Writer's resource
Tagged Sentence (linguistics), Star Wars, Syntax, Writer's voice
3 Comments
Tone of voice
Tone of voice… you have probably heard this phrase used frequently, such as in “I don’t like your tone of voice.” As a child I often assumed that phrase was the adults’ way of reprimanding someone whose statement was not … Continue reading
Write or wrong word
Diction is one of the building blocks of voice that pushed far enough can become a two-edged sword, making the written word dangerously inaccessible to readers. When teaching Shakespeare’s plays to students I frequently pointed out that it was not … Continue reading
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