writerly
Of literary style
Writerly describes qualities associated with writers or literary craft.
A writerly style shows careful attention to language, structure, and technique—the hallmarks of someone who takes writing seriously as an art form.
The term can be complimentary, suggesting sophistication and skill, or slightly critical, implying prose that calls too much attention to its own cleverness.
The novel's writerly flourishes impressed some readers but exhausted others.
Writer of prose narratives
- essayistAuthor of short prose
- poetWriter of verse
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
biographer · columnist · copywriter · journalist · memoirist · critic · editor · scribe
Tending to summon memories
- vividIntensely clear and bright
- descriptivePortraying with specific details
- lyricalMusically expressive
- poeticOf or like verse
eloquent · articulate · nuanced · atmospheric · resonant · poignant · incisive · lapidary
Unversified language
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- dictionChoice of words
- voiceSound from throat
- styleDistinctive way of expression
revision · drafting · editing · phrasing · cadence · rhythm · wordplay · punctuation
Imagined narrative work
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- novelNew and unusual
- essayShort argumentative prose work
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
genre · critique · canon · intertextuality · allusion · symbolism · motif · epilogue
Storyline or land parcel
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- arcCurved line segment
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
dialogue · setting · pacing · tension · denouement · exposition · climax · narrator
novelist
Writer of prose narratives
- essayistAuthor of short prose
- poetWriter of verse
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
screenwriter · biographer · columnist · copywriter · journalist · memoirist · critic · editor · scribe · wordsmith
evocative
Tending to summon memories
- vividIntensely clear and bright
- descriptivePortraying with specific details
- lyricalMusically expressive
poetic · eloquent · articulate · nuanced · atmospheric · resonant · poignant · incisive · lapidary · mellifluous
prose
Unversified language
style · revision · drafting · editing · phrasing · cadence · rhythm · wordplay · punctuation · sentence
fiction
Imagined narrative work
drama · genre · critique · canon · intertextuality · allusion · symbolism · motif · epilogue · preface
plot
Storyline or land parcel
characterization · dialogue · setting · pacing · tension · denouement · exposition · climax · narrator · point-of-view
writerlyconversational
Relating to informal dialogue
colloquial · informal · chatty · casual · vernacular
writerlyoral
Of the mouth
spoken · conversational · oratorical · speechlike · colloquial
writerlyartless
Lacking deceit or cunning
unpolished · rough-hewn · unstudied · prosaic · unaffected
- writer's blockInability to produce text
- copy writerCreates promotional text
- Irish writerAuthor from Ireland
- screenplay writerAuthor of film scripts
- ghost writerHired anonymous author
- mystery writerAuthor of whodunits
writer, writers, scriptwriter, ghostwriter, rewriter, cowriter