5 LESSONS MODERN WRITERS CAN LEARN FROM CLASSIC LITERATURE
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Published 2023-11-14
The classic books from literature have survived all of the storms of changing attitudes and opinions and remain widely read to this day. How were writers able to write their stories in a way that would inspire readers for centuries? What was it that they imbued to their works that raised them above thousands of their contemporaries?
In this video on 5 lessons modern writers can learn from classic literature, we will look at more than writing technique. We explore the way the great classic writers thought about writing.
0:00 - Introduction
2:20 - Lesson 1
7:04 - Lesson 2
10:54 - Lesson 3
15:04 - Lesson 4
20:01 - Lesson 5
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All Comments (21)
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I love how it takes using a great simile to explain a great metaphor
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Something that struck me in my recent (and first!) reading of FRANKENSTEIN was the beauty of the language. And because some of the story is in the form of letters, I wondered if people in real life at that time wrote and spoke that way. If so, I wish we'd go back to that. It was so elegant and expressive. I noticed it even more when I was listening to an audiobook. You could just close your eyes and enjoy the beauty of the language, even when it was describing some tragic or even ugly things. I do transcription for a living. You have no idea how torturous it is to hear and then have to type, "you know", and, "like", and "um/uh", and all the rest over and over. Some days I just despair for the English language.
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Use metaphor, don't obsess about a thrill, dwell on the scene, distill to draw out meaning, embrace the perspective of each character.
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This video is exactly what I needed 🤎 I always study the writing style of classic authors and I read books from the perspective of a writer instead of a reader. I even take notes while reading. :) I'd love to see more of these, Tristan!
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While I am not a writer I am intrigued about the setting as a character itself. It creates an ambiance for the entire story, and solidifies the story in my memory. A Moveable Feast by Hemingway did that for me. His descriptions of Paris made me want to visit and I have the entire city built up in my head based on this book (I have never been). My Antonia by Willa Cather evokes a similar feeling. I have a distinct vision of the Great Plains in my head due to that book, and that is what I think of before I actually think of the story and the characters.
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I love the passion that overflows from you in your videos. The second lesson is something I’ve always felt but have had shot down by peers. I want something that may not be tantalizing on a surface level, but will touch something deep inside. Thank you for this.
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Tristan, your videos are always insightful but this one is extraordinary! I've been writing for 30 years and this is the exact advice I've been waiting for! After watching this I immediately applied it to my WIP which I thought was already pretty good, and it has improved by leaps and bounds! All my years at uni I have never received such keen and astute advice! I can't thank you enough!
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This is a wonderful guide on writing literary fiction; there is a lot of advice out there on writing genre fiction, and I haven't found anywhere how to write what I am trying to write. Until now....The thing I want to incorporate most is distilling a truth, and this is taking some time. Truly you have helped immensely, and I thank you.
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Oh dear Tristan, this is my birthday my 84th birthday and you are my birthday present to myself. I am so happy to find you. I have already tried to write a book while I should say I have already tried to start to write a book even worked with an editor. And I recognize that I have distilled my own experience in one slice of life, so that other people have really reacted excitedly when they heard it read by me. Because of listening to you, I want to both continue to work on my book and to read some of the books you mentioned. I’m alive. This will be a good use of my time Thank you so very much Nancy Meinhardt
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This video is so helpful to me, not just for writing but also as a reader. I will recommend this video to my bookish friends.
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Yes please Tristan.....woud love a video on metaphor and simile, and the difference between them. Thanks and best wishes.
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A simile is like a metaphor is like a simile. They're quite similar; they share similitudes.
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Great video...love your stuff. Also neat that you used a simile to describe a metaphor at around 5:45 ; )
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That was a magnificent lecture, Sir :-) I wouldn't call myself a writer, but distilling some frequently overlooked points to the essence, as you did here, is always a great help in everyone's journey, being both writer or reader. Thank you so much!
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Love your lesson on these classics.
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Tristan, have you read or heard of William Gass? He was a literary critic and fiction writer who was obsessed with metaphor. His book On Being Blue is 100 pages about the world in a word--blue. The one I recommend most is Middle C, a great starting point into his fiction. He spent decades crafting the three novels he wrote in his long life. I love your advice and videos, keep up the good work!
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Great advice, love your videos😊
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Talk about perfect timing! I just started writing my first short novel today, took my first break, and this video popped up. Thank you, my good sir!
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This is solid advice I plan to implement into my own stories. I’m really enjoying this writing advice ❤ Hopefully the publishing world will have a classics revival someday; I haven’t read a masterpiece of modern fiction in a long time. 😂
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Great inspiration, thank you!
