Metro Review

It was Robert Browning who first coined the phrase “Less is more” in his 1855 poem, “Andrea del Sarto.” In retrospect, were Browning more in touch with the Japanese arts, he probably would’ve included his most famous line as part of a Haiku to further illustrate its meaning. A haiku is a form of poetry defined by its basic syllable structure. In order for a poem to qualify as a haiku (of course who really knows what qualifies as a poem), the passage must be exactly three lines long. The top line should contain 5 syllables, the second line expands to 7 syllables, while the final line reverts to 5 syllables, giving the collective work a sense of symmetry. Aside from those basic rules, almost anything goes in the haiku world. Take for example,”Breakfast, lunch, dinner,Jackpot hippopotamus,Once upon a time.”-Anonymous, 2010 (more…)

For American wordsmiths across the country and abroad, the Pulitzer Prize is the highest honor attainable, aside from perhaps the Nobel Peace Prize, which everyone should strive for regardless of chosen profession. Still, for such a distinguished award, it seems as if an excessive amount of recipients across varying disciplines claim to have won a Pulitzer. This is in part due to the diverse categorizations eligible to receive the prize, spanning the arts from journalism to creative writing. In the field of journalism these categories include Public Service, Breaking News Reporting, Explanatory Reporting, Local Reporting, National Reporting, International Reporting, Feature Writing, Commentary, Criticism, Editorial Writing, Editorial Cartooning Breaking News Photography and Feature Photography. The remaining writing-based categories consist of Fiction, Drama, History, Biography or Autobiography, Poetry and General Non-Fiction. (more…)

The fundamental point of maintaining good grammar is to establish clear guidelines so that written words can be understood properly, staying true to its desired interpretation. Of course, on the other hand, if one were to write the phrase, “I’m gonna go home,” nearly everyone would clearly walk away knowing exactly what was meant. The debate between proper grammar, as defined by say the AP Stylebook, and linguistic styling continues to rage across all disciplines of the written word. Some writers contend that in creative writing grammar is simply a restrictive measure that stifles creativity. Particularly in an age when everyone with a computer and an internet connection can become a published author within the day, is there even really a point in policing or condemning the writing of others simply for lack of punctuation? (more…)

Even great writers aren’t great all the time; we all have our on and off days. Have you ever sat back and read something you’ve written, literally struggling to turn the page out of sheer boredom? Granted sometimes people have interests or assignments that cater more towards an encyclopedia than the best seller list; still, just because something is accurate and informative doesn’t mean it has to read like an obituary. For those who struggle to naturally think outside the box, rarely incorporating a whimsical allusion or descriptively quirky adjective, here are a few tips to help uncork your creative juices and spice up your everyday writing.Mind-mapping Mind mapping is common practice among creatives in the field of advertising, the root of some of the most memorable, off-the-wall commercials that have ever graced the television set. The process starts with the central product and maybe an attribute or two you are trying to emphasize. (more…)

No matter how technically proficient your grammar skills may be or how succinctly and poignantly you can convey information, the greatest influence on good writing is inspiration. Whether fiction or non-fiction, long form or short form, inspired writing simply makes for better reading. However, even the most creative word wizards in the world can suffer from writer’s block from time to time, making it difficult to put pen to paper. Here are a few tips to help out when all of a sudden your narrative voice is rendered speechless.Write something No, this isn’t intended to make light of your extended brain freeze. The advice is simple; write something, literally anything. Keep a running diary of your mundane daily tasks, transcribe conversations you’re having with friends and family, finally get started on that never-to-be-seen love letter to the ex-girlfriend you’re not allowed to talk to. A working connection between your writing hand and whatever form of self-monologue monitors your decision making process is an integral part of the writing process. (more…)