On Writing: Some advice

Excerpts from a wonderful guide to literary analysis:

• "Avoid empty words: 'interesting', 'fabulous', 'magnificent', 'excellent', 'tremendous'. Words of praise sound too general and empty. Anyone can come up with adjectives of this sort. Not much help.
• Words that are better, if you want to praise: striking, convincing, memorable, impressive, etc.
• Do not use 'sync' or 'psyche' or 'psycho' or 'psychotic' 
• Do not say 'represent'. Literature never represents. It evokes. It works by resonance, connotation.
• Be careful about word choice. e.g. 'Sarcastic' -- do you mean to say 'ironic' or 'wry'?"
• 'Due to the fact that' = the reason that. ----> far crisper.
• Explore types of sentences: Parallelism (google); Try to hear a sentence in your mind. How does it sound, rhythm-wise? Does it "sound" right? Example of a sentence style, and there are many, many nice possibilities: "Turning to her country in search of happiness, Nora discovers in the land only temporary protection."

                                                                                     

"Prose Commentaries.

Just a reminder. What are the sort of things you'd look at? 

1) Place in plot

2. Plot  -- how important is action? is this a reflective piece with little action? is the action in the centre or at the end? does it provide any help in terms of locating a character -- applicable to longer pieces...

3. Structure - do you see a structure -- series of dialogue followed by focus/narration. Where is the focus? internet/external

4. Point of view? effects? Omniscience?

5. Setting - how imp? atmosphere? visually-- intense? sound? connection with the piece? are they conventional/archetypal? figurative? 

6. Mood - how is it created? consistent? 

7. Tone'

8. Style -- spare? cool? lyrical?

9. Characterization: how active, listening, doing, observers? omniscience? what narrative functions do they serve?

10. function

11. ideas/"themes" - debate? action? editorialising? mouthpiece? symbols? satire?

12. Other -- YOUR OBSERVATIONS -- puzzling evocative striking stuff that you found interesting relevant

Avoid simply describing = make sure you interprete, assess, react, conjecture."

                                                              -Examples of On Writing and advice for writing Prose Commentaries 

                                                                                                   taken from T. Dombrowski's Guide to Better Writing