The Art of Writing Like George Orwell: A Deep Dive into Literary Craftsmanship

The Peculiar Challenge Before Us

Right, then. We’re about to embark on something rather ambitious: dissecting the literary DNA of one of the 20th century’s most influential writers. It’s rather like attempting to explain how to paint like Rembrandt – technically impossible, but very well worth the attempt.

The Foundation: Understanding Orwellian Clarity

The Psychology of Simplicity

Let’s start with something that might seem counterintuitive: Orwell’s simplicity wasn’t simple at all. It was the product of rigorous intellectual discipline and what I suspect was a rather exhausting process of self-editing. Think of it like those Japanese rock gardens – what looks effortlessly minimal actually requires painstaking daily maintenance.

The War Against Pretence

Orwell waged a relentless campaign against what he called ‘pretentious diction’. But here’s the fascinating bit: he wasn’t just battling against fancy words – he was fighting against the entire psychological mechanism that makes writers reach for them in the first place. It’s rather like our modern tendency to say “let’s touch base” when we could just say “let’s talk” – we use complexity as a sort of social armour.

The Technical Toolkit

1. Sentence Architecture

Orwell’s sentences were built like well-designed bridges – each element serving a clear structural purpose. Let’s break this down:

Short Sentences as Foundations

• Use short sentences to establish facts
• Deploy them after complex ideas to reinforce points
• Place them strategically to create rhythm

Medium-Length Sentences as Workhorses

• Use these for explaining relationships between ideas
• Perfect for cause-and-effect explanations
• Ideal for descriptive passages

Long Sentences as Special Operations

• Deploy sparingly
• Use for building tension
• Perfect for creating atmospheric descriptions
• Must be grammatically impeccable

2. Vocabulary Selection

The Common Word Principle

Here’s something fascinating: Orwell didn’t actually use simple words exclusively – he used common words strategically. The difference is crucial. Consider these examples:

Pretentious Version: “The celestial body commenced its diurnal appearance.” Orwellian Version: “The sun rose.”

But then he might surprise you with: “The sun rose like a diseased orange, casting jaundiced light across the morning.”

See what he did there? Simple base vocabulary with precise, unexpected modifiers.

3. Descriptive Techniques

The Concrete Over Abstract Principle

Rather than writing about ‘social inequality’, Orwell would describe:

• The specific smell of a working-class kitchen
• The exact texture of cheap bread
• The precise sound of a coal miner’s cough

It’s rather like the difference between reading about temperature and actually touching a hot stove – one leaves a rather more lasting impression.

The Advanced Techniques

1. The Art of Political Writing

Truth Through Detail

Orwell had this remarkable ability to make political points through seemingly apolitical observations. It’s rather like how the best advertising never appears to be selling anything at all. Consider his approach:

• Start with a concrete observation
• Build to a larger truth
• Never explicitly state your conclusion
• Let the reader do the final assembly

2. Character and Scene Construction

The Power of Selective Detail

Orwell would describe people and places with what I call ‘strategic incompleteness’. He’d give you precisely three or four perfect details and let your mind fill in the rest. It’s rather like those brilliant cartoonists who can capture a likeness with just a few lines.

Example structure:

1. One physical detail
2. One behavioural observation
3. One revealing interaction
4. Leave everything else to the reader’s imagination

3. The Architecture of Essays

The Hidden Structure

Orwell’s essays were built like well-designed buildings – all the engineering hidden behind a seemingly simple façade. Here’s the typical blueprint:

1. Opening Hook (Usually a personal observation or surprising statement)
2. Context Setting (Brief but essential background)
3. First Major Point (Supported by concrete examples)
4. Counter-Argument (Acknowledged and addressed)
5. Second Major Point (Building on the first)
6. Practical Implications
7. Conclusion (Often circling back to the opening observation)

The Psychology of Style

Understanding Mental Barriers

The biggest obstacle to writing like Orwell isn’t technical – it’s psychological. Here’s what you’re up against:

1. The Imposter Complex (Making you reach for fancy words)
2. The Complexity Bias (Assuming difficult equals good)
3. The Academic Hangover (Writing to impress rather than communicate)
4. The Originality Trap (Trying too hard to be different)

Overcoming These Barriers

Practical Exercises:

1. Write your first draft normally
2. Highlight every word over three syllables
3. Replace each highlighted word with a simpler alternative
4. Read it aloud to someone who doesn’t read much
5. Note where they lose interest
6. Rewrite those sections
7. Repeat until clear

The Advanced Implementation

The Daily Practice

To truly write like Orwell, establish this daily routine:

1. Morning Pages (Write without self-censorship)
2. Observation Exercise (Describe one ordinary thing in exact detail)
3. Simplification Exercise (Take a complex text and rewrite it simply)
4. Reading Aloud (Test your prose against the ear)

The Editing Process

First Pass: Structure

• Check the logical flow
• Ensure each paragraph has one clear point
• Verify that transitions make sense

Second Pass: Language

• Eliminate passive voice
• Replace abstract nouns with concrete ones
• Cut unnecessary adjectives and adverbs

Third Pass: Rhythm

• Read aloud for flow
• Vary sentence length
• Check for natural breathing points

The Final Paradox

Here’s the delightfully ironic bit: the more you try to write like Orwell, the more you should focus on not writing like anyone at all. The goal isn’t to mimic his style but to adopt his relentless pursuit of clarity and truth.

The Ultimate Test

Take your finished piece and imagine explaining it to:

1. A bright twelve-year-old
2. Your grandmother
3. A stranger in a pub
4. Someone who disagrees with you

If you can’t do all four, it’s not clear enough.

In Conclusion (Though Orwell Would Strike This Heading)

The true art of writing like Orwell lies not in copying his style but in embracing his intellectual honesty and commitment to clarity. It’s about having the courage to be clear when others are being clever, to be simple when others are being sophisticated, and to be honest when others are being impressive.

Rather like choosing to serve a perfect roast dinner at a molecular gastronomy convention – sometimes the best way to stand out is to do the simple things exceptionally well.

P.S. If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably noticed I’ve broken several of Orwell’s rules in explaining how to follow them. But then again, as the man himself would likely agree, understanding why rules exist is far more important than blindly following them.