But what makes them so good? Why are they considered great writers? How does their writing stand out from the rest?
Let's look at the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein. This book has been published over and over, been a reference in anything from songs to movies to poems to stage, and has been turned into movies.
But why did this book stand out? Why was Mary W. Shelley such a powerful writer? Does her background affect her writings?
Now, we're going to look at the number of factors that made Shelley's book stand out. For one, she was a woman. That might sound like a really lame factor, but the thing is that she lived back in the 1800's. Women didn't have much of a career choice and were expected to be baby-making machines (who were married of course!). A woman's life was considered to be hard because they basically had no life. But one thing that made Shelley different from your average, typical woman was that she was surrounded by words. Her mother was a celebrated author, her husband was a famous author, and her father was an intellectual rebel. She was among powerful minds and loud voices. It is no wonder that she had such an imagination.
So, perhaps were you grow up, how you lived your life, and what you did in your life has an effect about how your writing turns out to be. It would be pretty ridiculous for someone who lived a wonderful, extravagant, luxurious lifestyle from birth till present to write about living at Skid Row when they don't even know where it is, how it looks like, or how it feels like to live there. Your background can have an impact at how your voice is heard in the words you write because the subject you write about may be about something that you know personally. Using the same wealthy person as before, maybe they could write about what it feels like to have a privileged life or how they wish for a simpler, more meaningful life. The person's text would be more powerful because they know their subject more personally.
There are other factors to consider when asking what makes a piece of literature so memorable. One mean, giant, humongous factor is creativity/originality. Shelley wrote a Gothic, romance novel about a monster brought to life by a scientist (whose name was Victor Frankenstein). This novel can also be considered the first science fiction novel, making it highly original. The name 'Frankenstein' was not made up, but the overall plot of the story is. It practically created the whole 'mad-scientist' genre.
The other factors, well, those are up to you to decide. What do you think makes a powerful writer?
Follow the link to read about the top ten writers through out history and see what makes them so good.
6 comments:
Dear Vanessa,
It's interesting to know that your background can be an impact of your voice and use of words you use when you write. From reading this it tells me that depending from where you come from and the way you speak and use the use of words is and impact of how good you are. This reminds me of the video we saw in AP where the ganster and professional student said the same exact thing,but we would listen to the person that looked profesional. To me a powerful writer is someone that looks that they know what it is they are talking about and catches the audience attention. Do you think that what i said relates to the structure of being a powerful writer? What is a powerful writer to you?
So, you are talking about ethos, like in the video.
To me, a powerful writer is someone that can catch an audience and refuse to let go. I don't believe that the appearance of a writer matters much, even though it does have a slight signifigance. I believe that it's more about what the writer says and does to make sure that they are heard.
Vanessa,
Yes, you are totally right, I will try to find and analyze some of Hitler's and Stalin's speeches, and others. As for your blog though, I completely agree with you, a powerful writer can become a person of high regard who can be admired for years to come. Once again thank you for the great advice and I wish you luck on your topic as well.
Wow Vanessa it is a privelege being your friend. You are the strongest writer i have ever met. I think writing to you truly comes naturally. You mix like water and kool aide. Well i really think your right about factors that affect writting. Writing is something that has to come from the heart. You have to feel what you are writing in order for the audience to be able to agree and understand your meaning or the purpose of what you are trying to say. The background of the person is really crucial to what how their writing is going to be. For example if i became a writer in the future and started writing about how a rich person's life is it would be truly stupid(excuse me for my language) because all my life i would have lived the life of a middle class person. Well your writing and the way you have let out your ideas in this blogs really get to me and i feel every word you have written. Keep it up i know that in the future whatever you choose to be you will truly be sucecesful.
DAYUM AMBER!!
Still with that college type writing, I see. Well, no doubt you are an amazing writer and i still envy you. This blog is up there, man. Its detailed, almost no grammatical errors, has college-like vocabulary and analyzes. Its so captivating and catches the reader's attention to the very end.
Your blog actually taught me something today, Frankenstein was written by a woman {VAGINA POWER!}.
I can't wait to see your last essay of the year, i wonder how much you'll grow.
And apparently, Tupac did write poems, weird huh?
[*FLASHBACK* i got the magic stick]
-Dianasaur
Dear Vanessa,
You have strong words that persuade people like me. I also believe that our own life experience we only know, and that we all have different experience; it doesn’t matter if we all live under the same neighborhood, or the same household, we still have different experiences in life. Many people do have taken their experience as to become stronger, or become weaker than they already are. I would also like to make suggestions on authors like Nicholas Sparks, Cecily von Ziegesar; for me these both wonderful novelist writers know how to use their words; and actually take you inside the book, and fell as if your there seeing on what they have written about. I really enjoyed reading your blogg, I hope to read more about your topic next month.
Sincerely,
Masyeli M.
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