Author’s Style What is it?

Author’s StyleWhat is it?

Narrative Voice • First person – The author talks through one of the characters. One main character tells the story. You see the author using the words “I” or “we.” Notice also the age of the narrative voice. For example is it always a child telling the story? • Third person, limited omniscient – The author uses words like he, she, they (not I), when moving the plot along. He/she does not share thoughts of all the main characters. • Third person, omniscient (all knowing) – The author uses words like he, she, they (not I), when moving the plot along. He/she shares thoughts and feelings of all the main characters

Literary Techniques • Similes (comparisons using “like” or “as”) • Metaphors (“His heart was a rock”) • Symbolism (white = purity, black = evil, dragon = powerful foe) • Rhyming • Alliteration (Sally sells sea shells) • Onomatopoeia (word that makes the sound: “plop” “pop”) • Personification (giving human qualities to things or animals)

Use of Description • Technical • “Flowery” lots of imagery • Minimal

Use of Dialogue • Realistic dialogue • Authentic dialect (y’all…) • Minimal use

Use of Vocabulary • Sophisticated? Written for an older audience • Simplistic • KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!

Genre • What genre are you choosing? Why?

Theme • What theme are you planning to write about? i.e.: love, space-time continuum, personal growth, reconciliation, good vs. evil

Style • Some authors tend to make up funny words, add a lot of technical descriptions, use rhyme to create humor, focus on character development, use a lot of realistic dialogue, etc.

Some examples of different styles • Mildred Taylor: ( Usually tells stories through first person narrative)Road to Memphis“Clarence scowled across at his friends and mumbled, “Well, maybe it ain’t you, Stacey. Maybe it ain’t even Willie here. But one of y’all ‘sides me been messin’ with Sissy, and that’s the truth of it! She already done said so!” He glowered accusingly at Moe and Oliver. “Sissy got no reason to go lying on herself.”Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry“See fellows, there’s a system to getting out of work,” T.J. was expounding as I sat down. “Jus’ don’t be ‘round when it’s got to be done. Only thing is, you can’t let your folks know that’s what you’re doin’. See, you should do like me. Like this mornin’ when Mama wanted to bring back them scissors she borrow from Miz Logan, I ups and volunteers so she don’t have to make this long trip down here, she bein’ so busy and all. And naturally when I got here y’all wanted me to stay awhile and talk to y’all so what could I do?….”

Style continued… • Katherine Paterson: (Creates realistic characters. Shows emotions with actions and descriptions. Uses “kid” terminology. Frequently uses limited omniscient point of view.)Bridge to Terabithia“The anger which had possessed him yesterday flared up again. Leslie, I’m just a dumb dodo and you know it! What am I supposed to do? The coldness inside of him had moved upward into his throat constricting it. He swallowed several times. It occurred to him that he probably had cancer of the throat. Wasn’t that one of the seven deadly signs? Difficulty in swallowing. He began to sweat. He didn’t want to die. Lord, he was just ten years old. He had hardly begun to live.”The Great Gilly Hopkins“Well, she would show that lard can a thing or two. She yanked open the left top drawer, pulling out a broken comb, which she viciously jerked through the wilderness on her head, only to be defeated by a patch of bubble gum. She ran into the bathroom and rummaged through the medicine chest until she found a pair of nail scissors with which to chop out the offending hair. When despite her assault by comb and scissors a few strands refused to lie down meekly, she soaked them mercilessly into submission. She’d show the world. She’s show them who Galadriel Hopkins was – she was not to be trifled with.”

Style continued… • Michael Crichton: (Technical descriptions of events – focuses on plot.)Andromeda Strain“The arguments and counter-arguments were complex, but boiled down to a simple substrate: whenever a worker would announce that he had found a fossil, or a proteinaceous hydrocarbon, or other indication of life within a meteorite, the critics would claim sloppy lab technique and contamination with earth-origin matter and organisms.”

Author’s Style continued… • Roald Dahl: (Uses funny names and makes up words. Creates silly situations for characters.)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“When I went out there, I found the little Oompa-Loompas living in tree-houses. They had to live in tree-houses to escape from the whangdoodles and the hornswogglers and the snozzwangers.”Matilda“I had sent away by post, you see, for this very powerful itching powder,” Hortensia said. “It costs 5p a packet and was called The Skinscorcher. The label said it was made from the powdered teeth of deadly snakes, and it was guaranteed to raise welts the size of walnuts on your skin. So I sprinkled this stuff inside every pair of knickers in the drawer and then folded them all up again carefully.” Hortensia paused to cram more crisps into her mouth.

And finally… • Natalie Babbitt: (Uses personification, similes and metaphors to create visual imagery.)Tuck Everlasting“The table with the drawer that housed the mouse was pushed off, also alone, into a far corner, and three arm chairs, and an elderly rocker stood about aimlessly, like strangers at a party, ignoring each other.”

Author’s Style What is it?