Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different

by Chuck Palahniuk

The idiot character is more fun to hear because he bends the language for his purpose. So does the ESL character or the child. When we read The Color Purple the language demonstrates the narrator’s innocence from the book’s first word. This instantly primes us to care for and root for the character. Beyond that, no abstracts (no inches, miles, minutes, days, decibels, tons, lumens) because the way someone depicts the world should more accurately depict him. Unless, of course, you’re depicting a scientist who scores high on the autism spectrum. And no perfect newscaster language because the story should not sound fake, as if written by a writer. Lastly, avoid what Spanbauer and Lish call “received text.” Meaning, no clichés.