We came across an interesting article by hope over at Story Embers the other day that asks the question:

“It doesn’t just matter what you say.

It matters how you say it.

Maybe your story comes to life in full, vivid detail with powerful themes, unique characters, realistic emotion, and a gripping plot without any effort for you.

If so, great job.

For the rest of us, it’s a struggle. We focus on the characters and forget the theme. We weave the theme into the plot, then realize tension is lacking. We plan our themes, characters, and plot with so much carefulness and but when we write the words, they sit there, staring back blandly.

In a sense, every aspect of writing is foundational. Without characters, you won’t have a plot. Without theme, there won’t be a point to your characters. Without plot, your theme suffers because there’s nothing to guide it.

One aspect of writing is overlooked in comparative silence, however.

Prose.

Without prose, the presentation of everything else falls apart.

Prose (the words making up your story) is the window through which readers view all the cool things you create. It’s how we connect with the raw emotions of characters. It’s the reason we hold our breath during a tense scene. It’s why our chest aches when we close the book.

If your prose fails, everything else will suffer too.“

So I’ve got to ask you, is your prose failing?