2 replies to this topic

[emerald]

Here's an excellent blog post examining REH's writing style, by fantasy author Howard Andrew Jones, up on the Black Gate site.

http://www.blackgate...obert-e-howard/


There has never been near enough examination of Howard's literary style to please me.  His prose has hypnotised generations of readers and there's damn good reason for it.
The post has already engendered a nice set of thoughtful responses and the whole makes for great food for thought.

Next time you're reading some REH and feeling the power of his writing coming off the page at you, stop and think (especially if you want to write yourself!), "Why is this so goddam good?"

[deuce]

HAJ did a great job! Thanks, John.

[Fierro]

Yeah, that's a good piece. What really jumps out in the passages selected is the vivid, propulsive verbs. There's always action, even in the descriptive passages. The prose moves. Anyone who spills ink on a page can learn from this.

And the quality of REH's writing is all the more remarkable when you consider that he was churning it out to make a living. He did not have the luxury of taking seven years between books like a Martin or a Tim Willocks.