Flaubert

My writing style was influenced by Flaubert's ideal: a fluid, seamless rhythm with nothing wasted; no needless repetition of words. Sentences and paragraphs are shapely, balanced and varied in shape. There are no poetic rhythms, but the rhythm is carefully crafted as verse. I can easily not write that well, if I am not trying very hard. But the effort does pay off. The Dean told me that several of my letters of support (for a recent nomination) praised the grace of my prose. The grant coordinator told me that my grant applications were far better written than almost anyone else's here.