Best of Week: Form is Content

     Writers of fiction often try to be as descriptive as possible in writing a book. In fact, that is what a book mostly is: a bunch of description. However, sometimes words alone cannot do the job themselves. Often times the form of the writing conveys a feeling or idea. In these times writers stray from the conventional form that is widely accepted by grammar freaks. Instead, they opt for the grammatically incorrect or the rhythmic sentence to fuel a feeling that they want to get across to the reader. These sentences, although considered unacceptable to some, make the writing richer and therefore are a useful tool to have in writing.

     When discussing, "form is content", it makes me think about the writing style that Khaled Hosseini uses in his novel, The Kite Runner. Often times he himself writes with a distinctive style to get something across to the reader. Let us start with the decision to write the book in first-person. This decision about form makes a huge impact on the content of the book. It allows for full attention to be placed on Amir and for Amir to express himself in any way he wishes. This is also allowed because of the decision to make this novel a memoir of Amir's past. All these decisions on form have a direct impact on the content of the book and the message that the reader receives. There are also many other small manipulations on form that are used within the writing affecting the feeling and description in that part of the book. Rhyming within a sentence can show a moment in the book that the reader should hold on to. Rhyming often shows significance. There is also the decision to make short brief sentences, or long continuous sentences. The length of sentences can show the author trying to quickly get his point across, or describe a moment in great detail. Both of these forms can manipulate and describe the situation in complete opposite ways.

     The use of form to affect the content of a story connects to my beliefs of what makes a good story. A good story has to be descriptive, but it cannot take the cliché path. Writers must turn to alternative methods to get their writing noticed because of its amazing description. One of the ways is to change the form of the writing. When changing the form, the writer also changes the meaning that is brought across. It is in this way that writers need to improve their writing. A great example of a writer who used form to show significance is William Shakespeare. In his writing, whenever he would rhyme this would show significance in the passage. The way he manipulated his writing to show significance is the work of a great author. It is in this way that I look forward to using my form of writing to get a message across. I will be looking directly at my writing to see where I can show something that words alone cannot. This is where my form will come in. If I can do so, my writing will become richer and more successful than before.

     Great writers of the past have successfully used their styles of writing to make their books strong examples of success today. When these writers start off writing any particular book they have to think about how they are going to get their story across to the audience. It is only the great writers who succeed in this by going far past words alone; they look at the form of their writing. Every writer has looked at their work and edited it beyond imagination. However, what separates some writers from others is the ability to edit the presentation of their writing. Two writers can write a book on the same content, but whichever one has better for will write a better book. Form is content.