In the last article, I had launched into the question of style and I want to continue on that line, picking up from where we left off at suggestion 3.
Suggestion 4: Writers often use a special style – rather than just special words – in order to create an atmosphere. The feeling of oppressive authority for example in the very opening paragraph of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens:
“Among other public buildings in a certain town, which for many reasons it would be prudent to refrain from mentioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born… the item of mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this Chapter”.
Dickens means Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. It takes time to get used to the style – but it’s worth it! Using a special style is also effective if you are quoting the writing of another person: Continue reading Additional Ideas About How To Write Fiction
