About Breaking Down Communication

Post 1288:

I’m not sure it’s a dictionary definition, but the purpose of communication is to be understood. When you text somebody or call them about meeting up, it’s best not to give a murky message, open for interpretation. Clear. Brief. Straightforward. That’s the idea.

Then there’s prose writing. Storytelling. Here the purpose is to convey a story. Fundamentally, to lay out a series of events in a fashion that holds the reader’s interest. What kind of language do you use? It’s possible to tell a story as bluntly as you would list off things you need at the store, but is this the most effective way to proceed?

There’s going to be a billion answers. I’ll give a couple thoughts and let you decide for yourself. I think that the language of the story is almost, just, or more important than the story itself. I want to see language stretched beyond the ordinary so that it transports me into a different place. I want to be challenged, not coddled. There’s nothing wrong with feeling a little lower than the writer, that he or she might understand something you don’t. Despite what I said to the majority of my teachers, learning new things is not “stupid and a waste of time.”

I’ve gotten some criticism for using big words in my novels, words not common in modern day conversation. I’ll take the criticism on the chin, realizing that to some extent no word or phrase is worth taking someone out of the story. That sucks. It interrupts the rhythm. And it makes some people think I’m a pretentious dick.

I will defend myself, however, by saying that I’m trying to push the prose past ordinary. This means taking chances. Sometimes they work, sometimes they alienate. It’s not an exact science. Also, when I use “bigger” words, it’s usually because “big” words do the work of five or six. I like economy. I’m not a fan of overly long stories, especially when they don’t need to be.

Let’s sum it up like this. If you’re a reader, don’t easily be put off because you don’t understand a word or a reference or the language seems alien. Give it a try. If it gets to be a total beating, you’ll know when to abandon it. For writers, be intentional. Write because you love to write, but don't get caught thinking this means you’re writing for yourself. Unless you just want to write for yourself. In that case, let it fly.

I think everything I said makes sense. On the other hand, some of the most successful books ever written are completely impossible to understand or enjoy. So what the hell do I know. Maybe that’s the secret. Write something that everyone pretends to understand. It can literally be about anything. Open to interpretation and all that. A “think piece.” Ehh. That made me feel sick. Screw pretentious crap. Unless it makes you feel good or impresses girls. Cheers and see you after.