Writing Theory

Ninva

Анна Ахматова
Reaction score
377
What is writing theory you ask? Well, it’s a line of thinking most authors (famous to poor) use to write their famous/infamous works. In this tutorial I’ll repost, find, and give you a fair amount of knowledge to help you in your literature careers.
There are many forms of writing and many terms that are used for certain forms. Expositional, explanatorily are two very basic styles that most writers use, but in most cases these two styles are combined to make a very deep and long novel.
Before we move on, let’s go deeper into these different styles.

Expositional: This is the form of writing most philosophers use to get their point across. A very famous writer by the name of Kurt Vonnegut has written many stories (Cat’s Cradle and Slaughter House Five, to name a few) with this style of writing. To master this style of writing you must write an outline (or know the whole story outside and in). This style also requires you to go back and edit your entire story so it’ll blend and go into order. Order is a key to this style of writing. Another thing to keep in mind is symbolism.

Explanatorily: This is the form of writing most women use (to be blunt). This style of writing demands for a very active imagination that will not die on you when you’re creating every action, every word, and every facial expression. This is probably the hardest form of writing there is, but it’s also very beautiful if done correctly. A good thing to keep in mind is a good plot, character, and a ton of hooks for the reader to dig into.
Another thing to keep in mind is the setting (at all times). Use each of your senses in a new setting. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, or taste? A large vocabulary of descriptive words will easily get you through this task.

Now that we know two different styles of writing we can go into the key terms that should be recognized and kept in mind each time you pull out a piece of paper and a pen. Here are a few of them:

Character: A character brings the story to life. He/she is a portal for the reader to enter. Once you’ve made a convincing character, you can create more for that character to interact with. Depending on the style of writing or theme, you must go deeper into his/her appearance or/and mental state. This requires thought and inspiration.

Conflict A conflict can be many things: nature versus humans, human versus human, humans versus humans, and the list can go on and on. A conflict is almost an necessitate for any novel. From my personal outlook, I believe that a conflict is required.

Hook: A hook is used by authors to attract their reader into their story. According to (female) teachers a good writer will use many hooks, but I believe this is not required. A very excellent writer (Kurt Vonnegut) became famous without them. Hooks should be used for those who use an explanatorily style of writing.

Plot: A plot is what happens to a character(s). There’s no helping it, a plot is necessary for all stories. 

Symbolism: Symbolic means can be hidden within actions of characters, clothing, proverbs, poems, etc. This is up to you to figure out for this is one major factor that makes a writer unique.

Theme: A theme is a phrase, a word, or a noun that the whole story/essay is surrounded by (also what the story means to us in real life). With a theme in mind you can make the impossible real. A theme does not have to be revealed directly, but can always be revealed indirectly. I'm too lazy to find some examples and point out the themes, but if you're interest you can always check out a book at a local library or ask a teacher. Both sources will get you started.
Here's one example, though. I wrote a story not too long ago.
http://ninva.deviantart.com/art/I-ve-Felt-Better-71834440
"I've felt better dead" is the theme.

Links:
Writing Tips - massinfantry

Story-Writing Guides – Fatmankev

Explanatorily Stories:

"A Short Story" / Light v.s. Dark – Fatmankev

Hellhounds – Fatmankev

The Radio Shop – Mark Saline

Expositional Stories:
Goat Sh*t – Mark Saline

The Reason – W. Brown

Great Reads:
Corruption – Seth Cross

The Silver Cross – Rachel

3878508 – Iris Shaw

Post your questions or suggestions. :)
 

esb

Because none of us are as cruel as all of us.
Reaction score
329
Pretty nice :D

I love symbolism in books, main ones are by John Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men and The Pearl.

I think you forgot Theme though.
 
J

jimothy

Guest
I think I remember hating Steinbeck. Haven't read any of him in a while, though.
 

esb

Because none of us are as cruel as all of us.
Reaction score
329
I liked his books, if you get the symbolic meanings of what he does there.

In Of Mice and Men the theme is loneliness.
The Pearl it can be Irony, Hope, being Humble, Religion, and others.

Themes are all different, people apply what they read to their lives, depending on their situation.

Take Little Red Riding hood. The wolf knew she was going to grandma's house and he ate grandma, and tried to eat grandma. I could translate that to the wolf is a gang, I'm visiting someone and the wolf tries to kill me. etc.
 

Halahan

To die will be an awfully big adventure.
Reaction score
52
I think theme is usually the same for people but can be interpreted really however people want.
Expositional: This is the form of writing most philosophers use to get their point across. A very famous writer by the name of Kurt Vonnegut has written many stories (Cat’s Cradle and Slaughter House Five, to name a few) with this style of writing. To master this style of writing you must write an outline (or know the whole story outside and in). This style also requires you to go back and edit your entire story so it’ll blend and go into order. Order is a key to this style of writing. Another thing to keep in mind is symbolism.

Explanatorily: This is the form of writing most women use (to be blunt). This style of writing demands for a very active imagination that will not die on you when you’re creating every action, every word, and every facial expression. This is probably the hardest form of writing there is, but it’s also very beautiful if done correctly. A good thing to keep in mind is a good plot, character, and a ton of hooks for the reader to dig into.
Another thing to keep in mind is the setting (at all times). Use each of your senses in a new setting. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, or taste? A large vocabulary of descriptive words will easily get you through this task.

I read these and they never seem to say how to write them or really what makes them what they are... wondering if you forgot or meant it that way
 

esb

Because none of us are as cruel as all of us.
Reaction score
329
Expositional: EVen the smallest detail affects the story.

Example: In the book The Pearl, a character is described how he looks over two ants fighting, and how he feels like a God, being able to save, or kill either, or both ants. This could foreshadow how later on he needs help of a greedy doctor to save his son.

Explanatorily: Very descriptive, most things have a meaning, like Colors, positions, etc.
 

Ninva

Анна Ахматова
Reaction score
377
I read these and they never seem to say how to write them or really what makes them what they are... wondering if you forgot or meant it that way

There really isn't a way to write a style. It's art, not mathematics.
 

Halahan

To die will be an awfully big adventure.
Reaction score
52
Alright, sorry let me rephrase that, like... What are they?
 

esb

Because none of us are as cruel as all of us.
Reaction score
329
I think if they(literature) were to be described on a writing type, those two might be some of the categories a writing work could fall in.

I could be wrong :p
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.

      The Helper Discord

      Staff online

      Members online

      Affiliates

      Hive Workshop NUON Dome World Editor Tutorials

      Network Sponsors

      Apex Steel Pipe - Buys and sells Steel Pipe.
      Top