Crafting Literature: A Writer’s Position in the Technological World

When Stephen King famously wrote in his book ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’,

“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops. To put it another way, they’re like dandelions. If you have one on your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, five the next day…fifty the day after that.”

He critiqued the sleazy texts that plague almost every writer’s works. He also used the text to shed light on common errors writers make which serves as a hurdle between them and greatness. For instance, JK Rowling filled the first few parts of Harry Potter with a lot more quicklys and sternlys than required. Upon her later realization, she edited the following books with more colorful verbs and an active tone of writing. In the “Fifty Shades” series, EL James used adverbs in dialogue tags, a style choice that has sparked discussion on writing conventions by multiple critics.

It is typical for any writer to fall prey to an excessive usage of adverbs or the repetition of a word they’re familiar with umpteen times. In the initial drafts, small repetitions might slip by without notice, seeming harmless. However, these subtle redundancies can make it hard for readers to grasp the full picture of the author’s world. When editors review and evaluate sentence flow, these repetitions can be stumbling blocks that affect the chances of the work getting published.

Writing is a tough skill to acquire. It requires rigorous practice, continuous reading, and never-ending perseverance. The American Novelist, F Scott Fitzgerald was criticized for his extensive use of exclamation points. In response, he adjusted his approach in “Tender Is the Night,” demonstrating growth as a writer. Likewise, Ralph Ellison faced criticism for his writer’s block during his second novel after the success of “Invisible Man.” Despite the delays, his posthumously published novel “Juneteenth” showcased a different narrative approach and garnered interest.  

George R R Martin too took long gaps to come up with new books and spent long periods sitting with a blank sheet for long hours without forming words. 

It took years of feedback and rigorous practice for them to overcome their challenges. What should writers of today’s generation do to overcome the hindrances in their writing process? How can they facilitate their self-growth by monitoring their flaws? Should they take the traditional route or does a modern solution await them?

It is a boon that in today’s era of technology, writers don’t have to depend on critics to highlight their shortcomings or wait for years to get the epiphany of their inadequacies. Now, it’s possible to visualize their process, find their limitations, and get organized feedback immediately to accelerate their growth. This accelerated feedback loop not only expedites the learning process but also empowers writers to actively engage in continuous self-improvement, promoting a dynamic and responsive approach to their craft. As we know, skill development not only relies on consistent effort and practice but also necessitates prompt feedback. Without timely corrections, individuals risk becoming trapped in a cycle of repeating the same mistakes. Engaging in continuous practice without an understanding of one’s errors renders the effort redundant and futile. Immediate feedback is essential for recognizing and rectifying shortcomings, ensuring a more purposeful and effective learning process.

Process Feedback, a free online platform allows you to write and practice and provides you with a detailed report of your writing so far. Writers can see graphical and visual representations of the amount of time they spend actively and productively writing, get factual data on the number of times they tend to use certain words and discover what part of their stories or pieces consumed most of their time. and use Process Feedback to work on them instantly. The platform provides real-time analysis, enabling writers to identify and promptly address their shortcomings.

While working on their craft-based errors, there is also a risk that dependence on automated assistance might hinder the development of certain skills, particularly for new writers. Aspiring writers may be tempted to rely solely on AI-driven tools for content generation and plot development. If writers lean too heavily on these tools, they might miss out on the opportunity to hone their own creative and critical thinking abilities. They might lose their nuanced understanding of language that comes with continuous practice. Over time, this dependency could potentially lead to a stagnation in the writer’s personal growth, limiting their ability to adapt to new challenges or develop a unique voice in their writing. For fairly new writers who are versed neither at writing nor using AI tools effectively, such a pursuit of AI-assisted writing can often feel engaging, but in the end, produce no valuable results.

Process Feedback strives to help writers strike a balance, using technology to complement, not replace, their skills and creative instincts. It helps them revive themselves through the visualization of their process so that they can learn at their own pace, for free and without paying an expert for the feedback. It is an ideal platform to write, generate reports, analyze and introspect, and eventually grow as a writer.    

The contemporary writer faces a dynamic landscape where technological advancements provide both challenges and solutions. While luminaries like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling have navigated the pitfalls of their craft through years of perseverance and self-reflection, today’s writers can leverage innovative tools like Process Feedback. This free online platform not only offers immediate feedback but also visualizes the writing process, helping authors identify patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. The goal is to strike a delicate balance between technology and craft, coupled with continuous self-improvement and feedback, to evolve, adapt, and thrive in the ever-changing world of literature.