Ulysses: The figure seated on a large boulder...

Continuing our discussion of how creative writing should give readers an experience, I've invited James Joyce to be with us today. Joyce's Ulysses was named the best novel of the twentieth century by the Modern Library, and without doubt, this author is a master of his craft. Consider the following passage from Ulysses:

"The figure seated on a large boulder at the foot of a round tower was that of a broadshouldered deepchested stronglimbed frankeyed redhaired freelyfreckled shaggybearded widemouthed largenosed longheaded deepvoiced barekneed brawnyhanded hairylegged ruddyfaced sinewyarmed hero. From shoulder to shoulder he measured several ells and his rocklike mountainous knees were covered, as was likewise the rest of his body wherever visible, with a strong growth of tawny prickly hair inhue and toughness similar to the mountain gorse (ULEX EUROPEUS). The widewinged nostrils, from which bristles of the same tawny hue projected, were of such capaciousness that within their cavernous obscurity the fieldlark might easily have lodged her nest. The eyes in which a tear and a smile strove ever for the mastery were of the dimensions of a goodsized cauliflower. A powerful current of warm breath issued at regular intervals from the profound cavity of his mouth while in rhythmic resonance the loud strong hale reverberations of his formidable heart thundered rumblingly causing the ground, the summit of the lofty tower and the still loftier walls of the cave to vibrate and tremble."

What makes this writing effective? What do readers experience as they read this passage?

"r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r"

All systems are go.

Again, welcome to The Elvynwyd, a blog dedicated exclusively to the art of creative writing. It's taken the better part of the last two months to work out all - or at least most - of this site's technical hiccups, but I'm excited for this blog to finally reach "mostly-functional" status. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Shall we start?

In the earlier half of the 20th century, E.E. Cummings wrote a poem that absolutely bursts with creative resonance. That poem is entitled "r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r":

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
who
a)s w(e loo) k
upnowgath
PPEGORHASS
eringint (o-
aThe) :l
eA
!p:
S a
(r
rIvInG .gRrEaPsPhOs)
to
rea (be) rran (com) gi (e) ngly
,grasshopper;

The central idea behind these curious lines is to capture the mental sensation of seeing a grasshopper leap. Readers stumble through the awkward letters and punctuation, yet at the very end of the poem, the chaotic elements (be)(com)(e) an epiphany of familiarity; the final word, ",grasshopper;" dispels much of the undecipherable jumble clouding the preceding lines. (Commentary on the poem available here.) Cummings thus gives us a wonderful example of the creative writing commandment of "Thou shalt show, and not just tell."

Of course, "showing" doesn't necessarily entail such a marked departure from literary conventions. However, "showing" does entail giving readers some sort of experience. By running our eyes over "r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r," we not only imagine the leap of the grasshopper, but we experience it, which makes Cummings' writing especially effective.

As a writer, what do you want your readers to experience? What can you do to give them that experience?

Coming Soon!

Welcome to the Elyvnwyd, a blog dedicated solely to the art of fiction! Launching on May 9, 2007, this site will feature national writing contests, publishing venues, and advice columns to help creative writers of all levels refine their craft. Stay tuned...