The role of aesthetics in creative writing can be difficult to pin down. On the one hand, you have the craft of writing and the freedom to experiment with words and sentences. On the other, you have a reader’s judgment and, ultimately, the acceptance or rejection of your work.
While there’s no one rule that determines what is “aesthetic” in creative writing, certain qualities prevalent in high-quality writing often serve as a litmus test. Here are some of the criteria that instructors, editors, and readers typically use to evaluate the aesthetic quality of written work.
Prose Is Accessible
Prose is, simply put, the written language of literature. As a genre, it can be enjoyed for its own sake or for the ideas that it presents. There is no wrong way to write prose, but there are some ways that are more common than others. When writing prose, it is usually a good idea to keep your language simple, elegant, and accessible to as many people as possible. As you develop your writing skills and become more experienced, you will naturally learn how to write prose that is more complex and refined.
Allusions To Other Literary Works
An allusion is a word or phrase that is used to refer to a person, place, thing, or event in other texts. Allusions function as little literary bridges, connecting the works that they reference with the reader.
Since allusions allow the reader to make connections between seemingly unrelated stories and ideas, they frequently appear in the work of geniuses like William Shakespeare and J K Rowling. In creative writing, allusions can be used to great effect, helping to establish literary links between stories while adding a dash of entertainment value.
Diction
Diction is the correct use of words and the style in which they are used. When applied to writing, diction can be used to describe the way language is used and the level of expertise and craftsmanship evident in a piece of work. Since the correct use of words can greatly improve the effectiveness of a piece of writing, choosing the right words represents a vital part of the writing process.
Writers often strive to create a lyrical quality in their writing, evoking emotions in the reader through their choice of words. When done well, the effect can be entrancing, transporting the reader from one world to the next through the power of language. If you are ever fortunate enough to read a piece of lyrical fiction, you will understand what diction is referring to.
Pace
Pace is simply the presentation or organisation of words on the page. When reading, we often look for works that are well-paced, employing a measured and regular narrative punctuated by bursts of excitement and dramatic scenes. Since pacing is such an important element of a story, it makes sense that instructors would want to see quality in this regard.
In creative writing, a fast pace can be exhilarating, pulling the reader into the action with bursts of dialogue, memorable characters, and elaborate plot twists. However, if the pace seems chaotic or lacking in coherence, the reader may lose interest and devour less material. Knowing when to slow down is a delicate matter and something that you must learn as you go along.
Stylistic Elements
Since there are no rules defining what is “aesthetic” in creative writing, writers often experiment with different elements to see what works best for them. Some writers opt for all caps, using words like EXPRESSIONISTICALLY to emphasize the importance of this quality in their work. Others prefer to use fewer words, employing long, descriptive sentences to paint vivid pictures in the reader’s minds.
Experimentation with different stylistic elements is, in itself, a mark of a skilled writer. While many find that using different fonts and colours adds style to a piece of writing, it is not essential. What is essential is using the elements in a way that suits your story and your needs.
Organic Growth
Since writing is frequently seen as a solitary activity, carried out in isolation, it can be hard for a new writer to know when their work is good enough to merit publication. This is where testing your work with a beta reader comes in. A beta reader is a person other than the author who provides feedback on the work, frequently comparing it to previous drafts and pointing out weak areas that need to be strengthened. This helps to provide a continuous flow of feedback throughout the creative process, ensuring that the work is of a high enough quality to be published when finished.
Iteration is the act of revising a piece of writing, presenting it in a different way, and continuing to revise it, again and again, until you reach a point where you feel comfortable presenting it to the world. Since writing is an organic process that evolves as you go along, it makes sense that instructors would value this facet of your work highly.
Knowing when to stop revising is a delicate matter. You must stop when you reach a point where you feel that the piece of work is approaching its final form. Only then should you feel confident enough to present it to the world. Publishing a piece of work that you have continued to revise and edit is, in and of itself, a mark of great skill.
In Conclusion
Throughout this article, we have discussed various aspects of the craft of writing and how they relate to the aesthetic quality of written work. From choosing the right words, to structuring the narrative, to editing, revising, and proofreading, each step of the process serves as a building block for more complex literary structures. While there is no one rule that defines what makes for beautiful prose, the quality and coherence of a piece of writing can only come from putting in the effort to achieve it.