![]() Even the obituary column has lessons to offer. And that, ultimately, is the goal of most literature, regardless of genre.īut you don’t have to limit your list of “good writing” to literary classics. ![]() In the same book, Dawkins describes the countless unrealized genetic possibilities as “unborn ghosts” – a potent and evocative image.ĭawkins is bold from paragraph one, and this makes a strong impression on the reader. ![]() One way to make the conceptual more concrete is to use vivid imagery, which can both make an idea clearer and anchor the reader’s imagination. When you want to add a sense of grandeur, take a tip from Dawkins and spice your prose with a bit of poetry.īut say you’re trying to communicate an abstract idea. Solid prose captures your attention by starting strong and avoiding clichés and banalities. Take, as an example of engaging prose, the opening line of Unweaving the Rainbow, by scientist Richard Dawkins: “We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones.” Indeed, studying good prose is central to developing solid writing skills. However, most accomplished writers will tell you that they get their skills not from reading style guides but from paying close attention to other works they’ve read and enjoyed. There are innumerable style guides out there, all designed to help writers master the art of grammar and punctuation. ![]()
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