Writing in an author's style
Write an essay reviewing the genius of John Williams' writing style. Weave in details about core principles that his prose follows.
Open with a quote from Stoner.
The first point of focus should be the narrator explaining that they are in the process of reading Stoner. They are not enjoying the plot. They find it dull and uneventful. However, they find themselves compelled to finish it for some reason. The pacing is just too perfect.
Inform the reader about the relatively recent critical acclaim it has received. Tie in some kind of reference to the common notion that artists tend to be appreciated after death.
Give the essay a feel like Williams' writing. Do not include any spoilers.
"In his forty-third year William Stoner learned what others, much younger, had learned before him: that the person one loves at first is not the person one loves at last, and that love is not an end but a process through which one person attempts to know another." – Stoner, John Williams
There is something paradoxical about John Williams' Stoner. At first, the book feels uneventful, even mundane. The plot is simple, almost unassuming, charting the life of a Midwestern academic whose days seem like a quiet succession of small, unnoticed moments. But despite the apparent dullness, as a reader, I found myself strangely compelled to keep turning the pages. I wasn’t necessarily intrigued by the twists and turns—because there weren’t any. Yet the pacing, the rhythm of the prose, had a magnetic pull that I couldn’t quite shake off.
In retrospect, it’s clear that Williams’ genius lies not in crafting explosive drama but in his masterful control over the subtleties of life’s smaller, unnoticed dramas. Critics were slow to recognize the quiet brilliance of Stoner. First published in 1965, the novel received little attention until a resurgence of interest decades later. It is a reminder of the all-too-common fate of artists whose true genius is appreciated only posthumously.
Williams’ prose follows the principles of restraint and precision. His writing doesn’t aim to dazzle or overwhelm with overt emotion; instead, it seeps into the reader’s consciousness, much like the gradual unfolding of life itself. His style is lean but never barren—each word feels necessary, each sentence meticulously crafted to build an immersive, almost meditative experience.
The book’s recent acclaim, particularly in the last decade, echoes a familiar narrative in art: genius that goes unnoticed until time grants it due recognition. For Williams, it wasn't the plot but the pacing—the sense that every sentence contributed to the deliberate and inevitable momentum of a life—that creates the tension, the magic. It’s as though he understood that life itself is often less about grand moments and more about the quiet accumulation of smaller ones, and he wrote Stoner to reflect exactly that.
Though I wasn’t enjoying the story in a conventional sense, I began to appreciate that this was precisely the point. Williams writes not to entertain, but to reveal, peeling back the layers of a life with patient precision. The subtlety of his style mirrors the understated significance of Stoner’s own existence, forcing the reader to reflect on the meaning that lingers beneath the surface. What makes Williams’ writing so profound is the way it quietly insists that the life of one seemingly ordinary man can be rich with meaning, if only we take the time to look.
In the end, Stoner leaves us with the sense that life’s quiet moments, though fleeting and easily missed, hold the key to understanding the larger arc of human experience. That is the genius of John Williams.
John Williams, the author of Stoner and Butcher's Crossing, is known for his precise, understated, and deeply resonant prose. His writing style is characterized by clarity, emotional restraint, and an almost invisible technique that allows the depth of his themes to emerge quietly but powerfully. Here's a checklist of core principles to mimic his style:
1. Clarity and Simplicity
- Write in straightforward, concise sentences. Avoid unnecessary complexity or flowery language.
- Keep descriptions precise and to the point. Each word should serve a purpose, contributing to tone or meaning.
2. Emotional Restraint
- Convey emotion subtly through actions and understated dialogue. Let feelings simmer beneath the surface rather than express them explicitly.
- Avoid melodrama. Williams’ characters often internalize their emotions, with tension emerging from their silence or restraint.
3. Focus on Inner Life
- Prioritize characters' inner worlds. Use quiet introspection to show how they experience and process life’s events.
- Character development should feel organic and gradual. Use small moments to reveal profound inner changes.
4. Existential Themes
- Embed existential and philosophical questions naturally into the narrative. Themes like the search for meaning, isolation, and the passage of time should arise from the characters' everyday experiences.
- Explore the quiet tragedy of ordinary lives. The sense of inevitability and acceptance of fate is key.
5. Atmospheric Setting
- Ground the reader in a vivid sense of place, whether it’s a college campus (Stoner) or the vast plains of the American West (Butcher’s Crossing).
- Use the landscape not just as a backdrop but as a reflection of the characters’ internal states.
6. Subtle Symbolism
- Employ symbolism sparingly, but with precision. A simple object, gesture, or moment can carry deep thematic weight.
- Let the symbolism emerge naturally from the setting and characters, without heavy-handed explanation.
7. Understated Dialogue
- Craft dialogue that feels real and unadorned. Characters should rarely express their true feelings directly.
- Allow pauses, silences, and unspoken thoughts to carry weight in conversations.
8. Melancholy and Reflection
- Infuse a sense of quiet melancholy throughout the narrative. Williams’ stories often reflect on the inevitability of loss, aging, and unfulfilled aspirations.
- Let the narrative linger on characters’ past choices, mistakes, and regrets, giving the sense of reflection.
9. Pacing and Structure
- Take your time with pacing. Williams is known for gradual, deliberate storytelling, focusing on the small details of life that build toward profound realizations.
- Keep the structure straightforward, without relying on flashy techniques or narrative tricks. Let the story unfold naturally.
10. Focus on Craft, Not Style
- Aim for an invisible style. Williams’ writing is so clean and devoid of excess that the reader is drawn into the story without being distracted by the language itself.
- Eschew flamboyance in favor of a meticulously crafted, polished narrative where every word counts.
By adhering to these principles, a writer can approximate the understated elegance and emotional depth of John Williams' prose, allowing the beauty and tragedy of ordinary life to come through in an unforced, deeply resonant way.
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