How to Improve Your Prose Writing
A prose is a plain old writing with no metrical structure. The sentences and paragraphs flow naturally without rhymes. If you need an example, just look all around you. People normally think, speak, and write in prose. Most novels and short stories are also composed of prose. Simply put, everything that is not poetry or verse is a prose
How to Improve Your Prose Writing
Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, there are a number of tips that can help you create a better prose. Here they are:
Stay focused
A good prose focuses on its elements: theme, character, setting, plot, and point of view.
The best way to do this is to write an elaborate outline of your prose. The premise or the basic idea should be apparent when you read the outline. Each concept and ideas must connect with each other.
Consult the outline as you develop your writing. That way you won’t get sidetracked halfway through.
State the facts upfront
Never assume that your readers have enough background knowledge to know what you’re writing about right off the bat. Put pieces of crucial information upfront so your audience has a good idea about the main topic of your prose.
This does not mean you have to spill everything right at the beginning. Just give enough to keep your readers well-informed and hooked.
Remove the fluff
Fluff is sometimes necessary. However, adding too much fluff makes your writing longer than it needs to be. Your readers can get lost in the fluff and need a moment to get back on track.
In the same sense, you also need to avoid flowery words.
Flowery words distract readers from the theme and topic of your writing. If you have to use smart words, sprinkle sparingly and ensure the words and phrases support the topic. Also steer away from clichés. Whenever you think you need one, Google it and find an alternative way to write it.
Use passive voice wisely
Some say passive voice is boring, a bad writing habit, or a grammatical error. Passive voice is neither. It’s a writing style. Have a look at these two examples!
Active Voice: Stan Lee created Spiderman
Passive Voice: Spiderman was created by Stan Lee
We use the active voice when we want to talk about Stan Lee and his life achievements. Whereas the passive voice is more appropriate when we’re describing Spiderman as a hero character and his crime-fighting adventures.
Passive voice is often used in legal, formal, and professional writing. When you’re writing a novel with such theme, don’t be shy from using passive voice.
OK, we’re done with the simple ways to improve your prose writing. All that’s left now is for you to practice. The more you write, the better you’ll be. Just remember that, despite being devoid of rhymes, a prose is still an art form. Being creative is not a taboo here.
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Actually, we’re not done yet.
Before you pat yourself on the back, ensure your writing is free from any spelling or grammar mistakes. A typo is cute when you’re a 6-year old still learning to write. Not so much when you’re all grown up.
