Take a look at classical writers, like Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson, and Charlotte Bronte. They had books, written documents, and pieces of works with probably more than 200 pages. But does all those words really make a difference in how good the writer is?
Possibly
When reading many classic books by classic authors, I also noticed something else: description and details are every where. I've read books and essays and writings in which the writer actually takes up more space than necessary to describe the room or the temperature. It is exactly that, however, that makes the writer so good. He/She is showing up, not telling us about the scene.
In my humanities class, when writing essays, our teacher (Ms. Tran!) is constantly telling us: SHOW, NOT TELL!
These writers are doing exactly that with those long paragraphs, maybe sometimes pages, of description. They are showing us the scene they have in their head so that we can get the same picture. The writing is so long because there are so many descriptions that are to help us envision what we are reading.
When you are able to read a text and understand it completely, getting so many images of what the author has written, that's when you know that the writing truly is powerful.
But maybe the text doesn't have to be so long. Extraordinary details is something that can be applied to books, but not necessarily other kinds of text like poetry or articles.
Emiy Dickinson, Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman are all considered to be great, influential poets. If you have read their work, you will notice that their poems vary in length. Some are long, some are really short, yet they all have the same quality.
Magazine and newspaper articles aren't long either. Elijah Lovejoy, Margeret Fuller, and Samuel L. Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) were all wonderful journalists. And as wonderful as they were, I'm pretty sure they didn't write 15-page reports on women's rights or adventures across the nation. They knew who the audience was and where they were presenting their work.
The Longer the Better?
Eh, maybe. It all really depends on what you are writing. If it's a book, then yes, go for it! The more details you add to your text, the more you will be praised as a powerful writer.
However, when it comes to poetry, articles, etc., it's more about word choices and how writers manipulate words to still evoke the same feelings one gets when reading something like "Native Boy" by Richard Wright or "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
However, when it comes to poetry, articles, etc., it's more about word choices and how writers manipulate words to still evoke the same feelings one gets when reading something like "Native Boy" by Richard Wright or "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
11 comments:
Hello vanessa,
As I commented on Diana about how powerful books are, I feel that the analysis you created in your blog was great. I do agree in every aspect that you mentioned and I do agree that writing is very powerful-just as your title says it.
There hasn't been a case where a short book was filled with details becasue that would be simply not be a short book. I do however, read short stories with a powerful message, but let me tell you there was hardly any descriptions or sensory details. Nevertheless, I feel that each and every writer have their own style and that is why we have different styles of writing. That is waht it makes writing more powerful and very effective. Like i previously commented on Diana, writing can change lives and perhaps minds.
Dear Vanessa,
I agree with you, on the more details the better. My reasoning behind this is because I tend to be really details when it comes to writing a story. The details begin to expand your imagination which then would cause more interesting on the readers behalf that is if you do describe the cinerary very well, and that would captivate a readers mind. In many stories I might not have many details, but the words the author chose are so memorable, but in my own experience it’s rare for me to find a story which would have such impact to me. I usually find poems, quotes, which are short but memorable to me.
I also would like to comment that your various examples are very extraordinary. This proves to me that you took your time, and put a lot of effort in you’re your to get the message through us your readers.
Sincerely,
Masyeli M.
Vanessa
i must say you are one of the strongest writers in this A.P class. I cant really find anything to say about improving anything in your writing because personally i find it flawless. Well that is just me, but i know their is always room to be better. Well really good job writing about writing lol.
I can agree with what you wrote on how good writers usually tend to write more. Though i think this is true i also think that the quality of the work depends on the words and syntax used by the writer. A good writer i believe knows the feeling he wants to give his audience and know the methods required to deliver the specific message.
Overall this is a really good blog. I enjoyed reading about writing. Never thought i would say that but yes i did. lol keep up the good job.
Damn Vanessa,
woo hoo you make writers look so good or like Mr. Seo says" mucho bueno" Well now we know when we shouldn't be writing pages describing something and when it's okay to do so. and yeah that is true Ms. Tran does make you guys show not tell. I should learn that to make my writing more powerful. Well thanks nessa on showing us what good and what's not. Keep up the good work maybe teach me some skills to make my stuff better *wink wink* Bye!
Dear Vanessa,
Reading your blog really tells me what a powerful and good writer an author is. It seems as if the writer makes its writing detail and choses the words that he or she does to get to the purpose. I would say that it is because the author does not want to bore us, but get into the story. By getting into the story we will be able to know what it is that the stry is about. It doesn't matter how long the book is, but if it catches your attention once you started reading it than it is power writing.
For me writing is a little bit hard to do because like you said our teahcers tell us to show, not tell that is a little hard to do don't you think? I feel that with practice we can all learn to be good and powerful writers which to me you are one.
Well vennesa,
I will try to write you a long comment. However, you said it could be long or short and still be the same quality. Soince that is the case i will be just writting a paragraph.I had a fun time reading your blog. Since we are learning about the American Revolutin when you mention Thomas Jefferson my eyes got stick like gum to your blog. I started doing a amall amount of synthesizing my ideas togethere and you are so right. He does use pages just to describe certain objects. I really like that you use examples. You mention writers i never heaard off before and you made me be interesting in them.
Fantastic Job!!!
lol
Hey Flower,
Very nice.
Remember "Quality not quantity?" i believe that all the writers that you mentioned are superb writers that KNOW how to conjure up quality.
For example, you Miss. Flower. I have read enough of your work to conclude: Every sentence that you have written in quality work. Quantity has nothing to do with it.
-Diana
Vanessa,
You are right, there is a lot that can be said in such a short amount of words. I believe that it should be that way. Maybe books and other things wouldn't be so long anymore. But then again without all that imagery we would never get a full picture of what the author was trying to say in his or her story.
I guess it also depends on how easily the author can explain the situation. If it's complicated then the text might be longer, if it's more simple then it might be short.
Either way, I like the fact that you encourage both. Good job on you your blog
-Edwin Garcia
Vanessa,
I agree with what you are telling us. I do think that a great writer doesn't always have to write a lot to be great but it all has to do witht the words they use. I have a question for you though. Do you think sometimes writers write too much? For example, there are times when authros of novels use a significant amount descriptions and then I get confused. lol.But who knows maybe that just happens to me.
Vanessa,
i must agree with the majority. i have notice that back then people would write a lot and the writing is so powerful that i sometimes wonder if they ever got writers block and they had to stop writing and end it where the book ends. but anyway, i must also agree with Ms. Tran because you want to show people what you have done, if you tell them it will get boring and they will tune the person out. it is better to Show and NOT Tell.
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