You guys,
When I’m engrossed in a great book I’m not thinking about the author’s writing style.
But as I try to improve as a writer, it’s important to dissect why I enjoyed the book and how the author made me feel a certain way.
Once I pinpoint the how and why, I can then mimic my favorite writers.
That’s what Hunter S. Thompson did. Literally. He typed out The Great Gatsby word-for-word because he wanted to know what it felt like to write a masterpiece. He then went on to write Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
So how can I emulate one of my favorite writers, J.K. Rowling?
I’ve read each book in the Harry Potter series at least three times. It’s only been in my fourth pass that I’ve started to analyze each chapter. But I’ve been analyzing each chapter for the story and trivia. Keeping a bible of characters, places, spells, facts, and the (spoiler!!) love stories between Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny.
But I never thought to analyze how J.K. Rowling made me feel like I was snuggled under a blanket sipping on a steamy, frothy butterbeer and hanging out with my best friends in a magical nook.
Approaching it from this new lens, I opened The Sorcerer’s Stone to Chapter 7, when Harry first experienced The Great Hall.
Here were some lines that stood out:
“Harry had never imagined such a strange and splendid place. … The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. … Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. … On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard’s hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. ... As Harry helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to their families.”
The imagery Rowling created through alliteration and descriptive words made me feel like I was there in The Great Hall. If I want to transport my readers somewhere, maybe alliteration and descriptive words could help me achieve that.
Or maybe I can take Thompson’s approach and the next time I open a Harry Potter book it won’t be to read it. It will be to write it.
…Seriously considering this.
Essay of the Week
During Week 4 of Write of Passage, David Perell challenged us to imitate our favorite writers.
So I took an actual page out of Harry Potter and applied J.K. Rowling’s use of alliteration and descriptive words to write about my recent fantasy now that I’m fully vaccinated: a trip to the grocery store.
This was an exquisite exercise. Enjoy.
Side Effects
The second dose of the COVID vaccine had me on the bathroom floor the following morning.
My germaphobe husband doesn’t understand the appeal of the bathroom floor when I’m feeling sick. “Why is the bathroom floor your go-to, of all places??”
But there’s nothing like cold, hard tile on my bare skin and the reassurance of a toilet within crawling distance when I’m feeling nauseous.
Sam also doesn’t understand how when I’m actually sick, I can drape my arms on a toilet seat and stick my whole head inside.
I honestly didn’t think there was any other way.
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Until next week,
Charlie
Charlie, I love all your descriptions! So fabulous and I feel like I am there.
It's been a while since I've laid down on a chilled tile floor of a bathroom, but that was my go-to throughout my childhood and twenties! Either that or the cold-ass bathtub.