You’ve no doubt heard someone say that you should be writing books or short stories that are simple before you attempt something more complex or poetic. This may seem like practical advice and there are some good reasons for it. But is it a rule every burgeoning writer must follow? I don’t think so. This blog discusses why this advice is given to new writers and why it might be important to follow it; or in some cases, break it.
What is Meant by Simple or Complex Writing?
When we refer to “simple” writing, we are typically trying to typify a style that is easy to understand and follow. The writer has a modest approach to a story or idea. The plot is structured well and it follows all of the right conventions. This doesn’t mean that the story is boring or that it isn’t “good” writing. It just means that the writing isn’t risky and it follows a particular formula.
So what does complex writing mean? I think of complex writing as something with more poetic or lyrical pose. The reason new writers are often told to steer away from more flowery phrases is that it can be difficult to pull it off without sounding trite or pompous. When I started writing, I was interested in some authors who seamlessly pulled off this lofty prose. I was fascinated and infatuated. This style I naturally wanted to infuse into my own writing. But here’s why simple writing would’ve probably benefited me more when I was starting out: it’s hard to find your “voice” without getting down to the basics first.
This advice is also parroted in screenwriting circles as well. A lot of young filmmakers and writers want to replicate Tarantino. His screenplays are unconventional, to say the least. And it makes sense why so many people love his style; you can’t blame anyone for that. But what makes it so hard to get right as a new writer?
Why Starting Off Simple is a Good Idea
Starting off simple allows you to get familiar with the basic elements of writing and storytelling. Things like following a plot structure; learning how to write dialogue; finding a good balance of exposition; learning how to execute a transition. These things are difficult to learn. Some writers will find that they're more intuitively or naturally better at executing one of these elements when they’re learning. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes the learning process is clumsier than that.
Second, choosing to write something more complex can be daunting. If you’re like me, sometimes you get high off of your own story ideas. Some of them are a little “out there” and they excite you. You might think that nobody has ever done it before. But then once you start writing or editing, you find that you didn’t quite stick the landing. The web of details becomes overwhelming. And when you’re overwhelmed or confused by your own story, you’re less likely to want to continue writing. You might give up and shelf the project, then who knows when you’ll decide to start anew or continue.
Why You Don’t Have to Start Off Simple
There’s an argument against the above and it goes like this: who cares? So what if you want to write something poetic or unconventional? Writing something is better than writing nothing at all. And if you’re someone who refuses to compromise on an idea that you think might have a higher execution, then you should go for it.
For me, I did this. I wrote two books that would be considered stylistically unconventional. And in my case, that’s just a nice way of saying that they sucked. I just wrote; I didn’t think about the correct structure or having a more modest approach to writing. I wanted to go big or go home. Those books I shelved and they required tons of editing. They never went anywhere.
My Advice for New Writers
The advice I would give to my old self would be to start off slow. Don’t rush to finish a book just for the sake of getting it done. Take your time and really try to learn the basics. Don’t expect success on your first go. Success defined as a publishable book. If you want to put something out there that you can be proud of, you’ll have to be patient. Be willing to fail and fall flat on your face sometimes. That’s part of the learning process. Read more. Do some writing exercises, like writing prompts. Get into the habit of writing and learn about plot structure and genre conventions.
But sometimes you just gotta go for it and not care about the rules. You don’t have to take anyone’s advice. But consider that it’s there for a reason. There is infinite freedom in writing and the choice is always yours.
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