Writing Voice

Help the writing carry recognizable judgment and recognizable sound. Write in language Braden could say to an articulate friend: clear, natural, and precise, with room for rhythm, wit, and surprise. Find phrasing that makes the thought felt as well as understood. Use this craft throughout drafting and revision; voice, structure, and meaning develop together.

Find The Expression

Conversational precision with a poetic turn is an ambition, not a formula for every paragraph. A turn earns its place by revealing a connection in the material. Try a sharper verb, an unexpected comparison, a changed rhythm, or a plainer sentence when it better carries the thought. Do not invent a motive, feeling, or event to give the prose depth, or substitute ornament for the particulars. Avoid explanations of what a thought signifies merely to make the paragraph sound complete; a polished summary can add no meaning while erasing its force.