Transcript Fundamentals of writing

Fundamentals of
Creative Writing
DICTION
One of the most important
ingredients in a good writing is
choosing exactly the right word for
every situation (especially for
poetry)
1. Word Choice

Two kinds of vocabulary
– all d words we can recognize when
we read or listen to someone talk
 Active – all d words we r capable of using
when we write or speak
 Passive

What word to use?
 Words
that we have complete command of in
order to guarantee precision & avoid
unfortunate connotations.
Denotation vs. Connotation
Denotation – literal meaning
 Connotation – more subtle, may include
certain feelings, idea & value judgments
 E.g:
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I
want you to vote for Joe Boss, one of the
greatest politicians (statesmen) in America.
He has always been truthful (sincere) and
all tied up in his work (devoted to his
public duties).
 This
little shack (house) is for sale. It has an
outmoded (old fashioned) fireplace and
curious (quaint) old window. It has recently
been scraped and painted (redecorated). It
is located on a lovely plot of earth (piece of
land) near an overgrown (wooded) area.
2. Clichés (Triteness)

Expressions (usually simile or metaphors)
that have been used so often that they are
worn out
 Busy
as a bee, last but not least, etc
Have lost their originality, colour &
effectiveness.
 Should be avoided (unless it is intended
for a boring character)
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3. Jargon
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Manner of speaking or writing peculiar to a
certain occupation or profession (specialized
language)
Some can be evasive/ euphemistic/ technical
Try to avoid unless if u have characters who talk
that way then write realistic dialogue
E.g:
 Military – retreat = strategic withdrawal
 Businessmen – priority = prioritize
 Sports – underdog upset leading contenders
– human rights, democratic process, the
future lies ahead
 Politicians
4. Slang (+informal lang)
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To say things in an informal & colourful ways
Every lang and generation has its slang
Some appear & disappear quickly – jazz, jazz
up, all that jazz
Created by giving new meaning to an old word –
hock (the joint of the hind leg of certain animals
– to pawn –to shoplift)
Combining of words in a new way – gorilla +
baboon = goon, hangout, hangover
Sheer invention – dork, scam
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Colloquialisms often informal abbrv. of formal
words – phone , comp, prof, math, auto
Illiteracies involves errors in grammars &
spelling but r often part of the everyday regional
speech – ain’t , hain’t, sorta, kinda, hisself,
theirself, heared.
You will have to use informal language in
dialogue but remember that language changes
rapidly & can id the generation of the speaker
 We
had a swell time at the road house. vs. We partied
all night at a club.
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How much to use depends on your style
Formal, classical prose – avoid or use with
caution
5. Accents
Many have done this
 Eg. Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn)
 To put on paper the actual sound of a
dialect (regional accents) means
abandoning grammar & all the
conventions of spelling
 Some readers may find it hard to read
 Solution? Suggest the accent in a limited
way & use more normal language
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6. Glossary (Usage)
Confusing words in terms of usage
 Eg.
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 Advice,
advise
 Affect. Effect
 Aggravate
 Allusion, illusion
 Fun
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Get a standard reference books on usage
SPELLING
Have a good dictionary &
know a few basic guidelines
1. Compound Words
Made up of 2 or more words that serve as
a single unit or modifier
 written as 1 word / hyphenated
 B4 noun almost all hyphenated (adj)
 After noun no hyphen
 E.g:
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 Well-known
well known
painter vs. As a painter he was
2. Final Silent e
Usually dropped when an ending
beginning with another vowel is added –
dine, dining
 Retained
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 to
distinguish similar sounds - dye, dyeing.
 Add ending begin with consonant – hate,
hateful
 Words end with ce, ge + ending begin a/o –
change,changeable /notice,noticeable
Punctuation

Creative use of punctuation would
portray

mood of character
 dramatic action in the story
 suspense