Improving one's prose

[Anonymous No.23386109]

I'm an ESL who wants to write English novels. Aside from the obvious need to improve my grammar and such, how important is it learn stuff like Meter, Rhythmic structure, time notation, etc...I'm not writing poetry but are these concepts useful for a novelist? If so where do I start and how much do it need to learn?

[Anonymous No.23386125]

>>23386109
so far so good, i'd say being merely interested in these things is a good sign. most likely you would get the most benefit reading the sort of thing you wish to emulate. poetry can hurt, in the sense that it's not always a rigid process. most of the great poems i've seen have meter stumbles or fuzziness, or novel attitudes towards grammar which can sometimes lead to a new cant.
i'd focus on recognizing idiosyncrasy, taking great works, chopping them into quotes, and trying to identify who writes them by their texture or style. this will force you to gather the sort of skills necessary to shape your own voice, which above all, is what you want.
always challenge yourself.
like i said, so far so good, you write better than many rural fellows i know already.

[Anonymous No.23386246]

>>23386125
Thanks. By chance, Have you read Mark Doty's The art of description?

[Anonymous No.23386256]

>>23386246
i've not, but i only read fiction. you might have luck with non-fiction and guides, so i won't dismiss them.

[Anonymous No.23387747]

>>23386109
Bump. Also interested in this question.

[Anonymous No.23387795]

>>23386109
Mate, you’re better off writing literature in your native tongue - you’ll simply never be able to write anything better.

[Anonymous No.23387846]

>>23387795
>you’re better off writing literature in your native tongue
My native tongue is more or less dead. I consume art/media in English for the most part. I've seen more Japanese media than ones in my native tongue at this point. There's barely any literature to take inspiration from. Vocabulary is underdeveloped. Native cinema is by and large trash. Even villagers here can't complete a conversation without English words.

[Anonymous No.23387860]

>>23387846
Damn man, do you speak Gaelic or something?

[Anonymous No.23387902]

>>23387860
I'm just a third worlder. My situation is fairly standard.

[Anonymous No.23387915]

>>23386109
>how important is it learn stuff like Meter, Rhythmic structure, time notation, etc
Your post reminds me of this image, the takeaway being no great writer ever focused on the functional aspects of writing as much as you do. They spoke english and thought in english, so any intelligent thoughts or endeavors they decided to undergo were naturally done in english, and they had been doing so since they were toddlers and thus had a lifetime of experience. To imply you may be on their level at whatever age you are, starting now, is nothing short of oblivious arrogance.

Write in your native tongue. Things translate pretty easily.

[Anonymous No.23387925]

>>23387846
>>23387902
NTA but you or your children will regret it, believe me.
It happened where I live. Everyone 100 years ago started speaking french because muh social assenscion, muh prestige language, and now our language is almost dead and everyone has regrets.
And let me be 100% honest too. Writing in the language of the culturally dominant people won't make you as successful as them. Are there many nigerian authors (from nigeria, not immigrants) on US bookshelves? I doubt it, despite all of them writing in english.

Writing in a language that isn't your native one is cuck behavior, and I say this as a person who writes more in english than my native language too. But at least be aware of it

[Anonymous No.23387931]

>>23387915
retard

[Anonymous No.23387940]

>>23387915
>No one great has ever put any effort into their craft.

[Anonymous No.23387946]

>>23387940
It's true lol.

[Anonymous No.23387957]

Once you achieve a fully understanding of the English language, it will come to you naturally, as if it were your own tongue. Most native English speakers, mainly UStatians, don't even know basic grammar, so don't worry. And besides, further corrections can be made.
All of this that you worry, matters little in a novel. Try just to not repeat your words.

[Anonymous No.23387967]

>>23387946
It's not lol.

[Anonymous No.23387971]

>>23387946
Some of the greatest writers, scientists, and philosophers were utter losers and failures until their 40's or 50's.
Even that shitstain muhammad was an errand boy for his rich wife, until his 40's, and started selling his islamic snakeoil until his death 23 years later.

[Anonymous No.23388434]

>>23387940

Correct.

[Anonymous No.23388522]

>>23386109

i don't think so but being aware of those things helps you find beautiful ways to express the same thoughts as everyone else. most english speakers have read enough "foreigners" that they can look past culture specific formulations or find them novel or inspiring