Indranil Sarkar

Selection Grade Lecturer in English

Sapatgram College, Sapatgram//ASSAM//INDIA

Any written document has a lasting impact. As such while writing anything , a wr
iter should not leave any scope of misinterpretation or misunderstanding. He sho
uld try to communicate his ideas or thoughts in such a manner so that no one get
s any chance or scope to misinterpret it. This is very important because communi
cation through writing affects eternity. So obviously transparency is the crown
and glory of one’s writing.
We know it very well that no language possesses the power to express our mind li
ke a reflector. The problem becomes more crucial when the same thing is read by
the posterity. Thus a single grammatical misuse or a wrong choice of word may pr
ove disastrous and may ruin not only the charm and meaning of the language but a
lso the thought destined to be conveyed. So any type of writing whether creative
or a simple answer to certain questions in the class room should be done very c
arefully.
Creative writing is the product of one’s analytical and creative mind. It is his t
houghtful imagination. “ I am the subject of my book”, said Montaigne, the French es
sayist, whose aim was self- revelation. E.V.Lucas also said the something , “ ----
personality translated into print; between the lines must gleam attractive featu
res or we remain cold.”

Thus at the time of penning anything, we should not forget the following princip
les-----
(1) Organizing the thoughts--- H.L.Mencken observed that most people write badly
because they cannot think clearly. For we Indians, the job is more difficult be
cause we have to translate the ideas in English instead of expressing them in on
e’s own vernacular . So, before penning one ought to organize his thoughts in a co
herent manner. Failing of this results chaotic. Disordered or haphazard thought
makes the mind inoperative.
(2) Conversational Style--- One should try to write as if he is talking to his r
eaders face to face. As if he is at his best when his ideas flow swiftly and in
a good order; when his syntax is smooth and his vocabulary accurate. That is ,on
e should try to imitate Charles Lamb’s style, in fine. So that like Lamb one’s pen s
hould talk for him. To attain this queries across one’s readers, suggestions and e
xclamations should be used to get a colloquial atmosphere. Conversational style
makes the writer a friend to the readers.
(3)A good beginning--- Someone very aptly remarked , “ Well begun is half the work
done.” A good beginning creates the bridge between the reader and the write insta
ntaneously . The first sentence showcases the writer’s mind . While writing, a wri
ter should take adequate measures to attract the readers attention through the v
ery first sentence. For example we can remember the words of Antony in Julius Ca
esar (Shakespeare)--
Friends, Romans and Countrymen------“Lend me your ears--------------”.
The infuriated and madly enraged Romans felt enchanted at this address and they
not only lent their ears but also worked for him. The enemies turned friends . S
wami Vivekananda in his historic Chicago Speech followed the same trick .The sit
uation was more or less similar to that of Antony.He was not at all a welcome gu
est .The House had least desire to hear anything from the mouth of a Nigger. He
was allowed just two minutes in a neglecting manner to convey his message . He w
as told again and again not to spoil the valuable moments of the Lecture session
and make the learned audience irked. But the very first sentence “ My American Si
sters an Brethren-----” charmed the House and the impatient audience felt enchante
d and went on requesting Him to say more and more. Vivekananda conquered the hea
rts of the Europeans by his very first sentence. This enchanting beginning broug
ht him crown and glory and made him a world leader . This technique is equally v
aluable in both oral and written communication. If the writer fails to create su
ch attraction the result of his writing or speech produces a repulsive or negati
ve impact.
(4) Blending of sentiment and humour----At the time of writing, the writer shoul
d try to blend sentiments with humour. Here again Lambian or Dickensian style pr
oves to be most effective. No body likes non-stop sentimentalism(i.e. too much l
emon squeezing of emotions).No body likes to be lectured because it hurts his pe
rsonal ego. So a doze of humour lightens the burden of the reader and as such he
can keep his attention for a longer time. Just as an alloy is stronger than the
pure metal ---similarly, a blending of pathos and humour suit the reader’s mind b
etter. Here again, Lambian technique is better because self-humour or satire tak
es the author nearest to the reader’s heart. And as we know, emotions are same in
all parts of the globe so why not contribute towards humanity by doing out a lau
gh-pill .So the final say is one should sweeten his writing with a blend of humo
ur and sentiment and leave the reader with a hearty laugh or a wholesome smile.
(5). Brevity -- The writer should deliberately avoid exagge ration and repetitio
n of words and thoughts. He should always remember the advice of Sir Leslie Step
hen to his daughter Virginia Woolf ---” On should try to write in the fewest possi
ble words, as clearly as possible, exactly what one means to convey. “Repetition h
urts the patience of an intelligent reader. Bacon’s epigrammatic style , I think,
is the best suitable technique for the post- modern writers.
(6) Indirect infusion of Ideas --- Nobody likes to be lectured or advised. But t
he main purpose of writing is to infuse or inject some thought or ideas to the b
rain of the reader. Writing without a unique message is worthless. So the writer
has to infuse the thought or message very slyly without the awareness of the re
ader. He should never declare his intention openly. Direct advice or preaching h
urts the ego of the reader and as such can not yield desired results. In truth t
his is the hardest task of any writer and most of the writers fail very miserabl
y in this case. I think, it would be very easy and simple if the thought is conv
eyed through relevant stories and anecdotes. The message is easier to convey thr
ough the mouth of some characters. Similarly an incident or rather, a personal a
necdote draws the reader’s attention more and it not only teaches the reader bette
r but also remains in the reader’s memory for a longer time. The job should be don
e with simple literary ornaments like witty humour ,lively satire or a subtle pu
n. If instead of defining the role and function of an Ambassador we say “ An ambas
sador is a person who lies abroad “ , then the pun on the term “lies” makes the whole
proposition unforgettable .
(6) Rich Vocabulary---- Vocabulary is like bank balance. Just as money is of dif
ferent denominations, so is the word. The writer should use proper word in the p
roper place. If a man gives a thousand rupee note and asks the bittle-nut seller
to return Rs 980 .00 after purchasing a packet of Cigarette, the shopkeeper wou
ld definitely feel arrogant instead of considering him a welcome customer. Simil
arly, if a man goes to purchase a Computer and wants to pay by coins, the Comput
er seller would definitely consider him an unwelcome customer. The similar impac
t is created by words. A writer ,therefore , should choose his words very cautio
usly .He should use proper word in the proper place. A large number of words use
d for conveying a single idea makes the language incorrigibly bad. The jugglery
of words is not the sign of a real scholarly thinker. He should not make his wri
ting cumbersome by unnecessary use of a bundle of words where a single word is a
ble to express the idea. The use of unnecessary words makes his writing a garbag
e and naturally creates loop holes for the vindictive criticism.
In the use of verbs, adjectives ,adverbs etc. one should take miserly attitude .
Where a single verb , a single adjective or a single adverb can express the idea
aptly -- what is the use of using these things lavishly? How can one forget the
old maxim “Too much of a good thing is good for nothing” or “Too many crooks spoil th
e brook”.
Proper care is to be taken while using a literary ornament---a proverb or a far-
fetched imagery. These are like Tram- Cards. Improper use not only brings defeat
but also creates jeopardy. While the proper use of these makes the writing attr
active and stamps the depth of knowledge of the writer.
In order to attain all these a writer should possess not only a rich vocabulary
but also an intensive reading on the subject which he desires to write. This mas
tery can not be achieved instantly by following any short-cut means. So ,a write
r should always increase his vocabulary like a miser depositing every possible c
oin to his bank account.
Again, as the Post-Modern mind is very complex or filled with varied ideas, so e
xclamatory or interrogative or sometimes incomplete or abbreviated words and sen
tences can produce better results than a simple statement or a long narrative se
ntences like Victorian or Arthurian Masters. Complexity of mind can best be expr
essed by an exclamation or interrogation not by using long sentences or by using
Johnsonian words. By using this trick a writer can through the ball to the cour
t of the reader and keep smiling in seeing the reader interpreting his exclamati
on in his own manner .In such a case the writer and reader becomes players of a
team .And obviously , this technique reveals his superior intellect. He plays wi
th the readers by allowing them a scope of thinking.
Joseph Conrad holds that a writer’s main task is, by the power of the written word
s ,to make the reader hear, to make him feel .It is before all , to see. So, the
writer should use the exact word for expressing a certain mysterious mood of co
nsciousness. To achieve this , again I have to say, a rich Vocabulary is of utmo
st importance.
Some of George Orwell’s suggestions , I think, would have to remember consciously
.For example----
“ A short sentence ,preferably a simple one, instead of a long or a complex senten
ce should be used. One should always cut a sentence in case it is possible to do
because a long Arthurian sentence is very difficult to understand the meaning p
roperly .For example I would like to refer the invaluable book “History of English
Literature” by Kalyan Nath Dutta.” Although the book is one of the best of its kind
but because of its long sentences , it becomes a burden to the students. Simple
and brief sentences endear the reader. The reader should not put to tax his bra
in in order to grasp the meaning. Next, One should prefer using active sentences
in stead of Passive ones. Active sentences are far more cordial than the passiv
e ones. The difference can be clearly visible if I mention two sentences one sim
ple and another complex to express the same meaning--
Active-- Please, sit down.
Passive -- You are requested to sit down.
Don’t you think and feel as well , the cordial ness of the first sentence and the
distance and formalness of the second one? The active sentences make the warmth
of a kinship between the reader and the writer .
Last, but not the least important matter , is the proper caution while using pun
ctuation marks. Wrong use of a simple comma( , ), or semi colon (; ) or colon (
: ) can ruin not only the meaning of the sentence but also can propagate opposit
e or different meaning. The matter can be well exemplified quoting a line from J
ohn Donne’s poem Holy Sonnet:
“ While Thou hast Done, Thou hast not Done”. and
“While Thou hast Done Thou hast , not Donne.
So , I would like to say that a writer should take care of all the mentioned pri
nciples while penning anything. Violation of these principles make his writing p
ainful to the readers which is obviously can not be the desire of any writer.
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