Aug 5, 2014 / Inspiration

“Writers don’t need tricks or gimmicks.”

The late Raymond Carver, a master of literary minimalism, has choice words for those of us who try too hard.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/saladisiac/6046018173/in/photolist-adgqyD-adjf8S-7TvFg1-4rSbtG-dMEn8-9V9kKv-4Wjgs8-9jESdN-5i53F5-fJ2uKj-4AEhUr-4riuTV-9DpLfL-bD7N32-o4WJx-5xsi6V-53tW1Q-4F9sim-Gh1GT-38aYxj-GgX5K-5pXYcE-6psMMc-41J5UC-fJ2sJf-5kK4Y-5kK55-fM3uXp-9vNi9B-aABYx-Fmy9g-4F8W7h-a2jsqc-5xs3aR-5kK56-5k7Lq-5xwyvJ-5YMoV-nujmaS-dDfdR7-dfbK4d-8Q9FVM-nwKZnZ-nTypKp-oiZ1te-fwYHyy-o2Mhq2-hLq3US-9NaMMY-ah3UQn">Image</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/saladisiac/">Jean-Baptiste Maurice</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>)

If you write for an audience — be it millions of strangers or your mom — you inevitably think about how your words appear to others. Very often, this self-consciousness results in overstuffed prose and too-clever storytelling. Here to remind us of the virtue of simplicity in writing is Raymond Carver, a master of narrative and linguistic economy:

“I hate tricks. At the first sign of a trick or gimmick in a piece of fiction, a cheap trick or even an elaborate trick, I tend to look for cover. Tricks are ultimately boring, and I get bored easily, which may go along with my not having much of an attention span. But extremely clever chi-chi writing, or just plain tomfoolery writing, puts me to sleep. Writers don’t need tricks or gimmicks or even necessarily need to be the smartest fellows on the block. At the risk of appearing foolish, a writer sometimes needs to be able to just stand and gape at this or that thing — a sunset or an old shoe — in absolute and simple amazement.”

Raymond Carver, Fires: Essays, Poems, Stories

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  3. I think we all use tricks even when we’re making an effort to be simple. On some level the key is to use them but not let the reader mind. I just really love reading hidden meaning. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad really.

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  6. This reminds me of Kant and his idea of disinterestedness on judging beauty. My teacher used a sunset as an example. We think it’s beautiful because it simply is. We have no reason for thinking it, no reason for judging it other than the fact that it leaves us in awe.

    I’m not sure this really relates to what you’re talking about.

    haha Let’s see…*rereads post*

    Oh, no…it kind of relates! Hah! Brain! You kept on topic, I’m so proud!

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  9. I’ve only just started writing for “public view” and seems to have changed my writing entirely. I’ve contemplated going private numerous times for this exact reason. Thanks for boost in confidence!

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  12. I agreed with you, when you write the ideas come naturally. Most of writers don’t use any tricks remaining depends on skills..

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  14. Truth! Much of my commentary is based in complete speechlessness. I wish I could truly spell out half of the “guffaws” I do when listening to an incredible new track. It’s about being real and expressing that realness for entertainment and/or information.

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  17. It is interesting, I am writing a book and in reading it I felt like I had to write something clever, but the truth of it is, when you try too hard in anything it shows. Even people that try to hard in character ending up looking phony. In the end you cannot relate to anyone because there is no flow.

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  22. A man after my own heart. I love the post and the quote, in particular. Like good acting, good writing must appear effortless. Some of the best blogs I’ve read are short and simple. Literary minimalism that makes an impact is an art I constantly strive to master.

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  23. I dont much think about my language… Perhaps I should. Mine is a difficult one to deal with and thats hlw I deal with it. I find myself more upset over typos & dyslexic moments when I throw or type words that dont belong there. Its not conscious. Its faulty wiring. Happens when I’m overheated or overly stressed. Catch is writing is my therapy. I do worry about my readers though as in some of my recent blogs. Keyboard acting funny must end.

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  25. True words, to the point & speaking to the genuine writers, who i see as “simple, pure,expressive &real”…thanks for this article, now I’m going to read Raymond Carver!

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