Purple Prose: Atmosphere over Clarity

Purple prose is distracting
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Have you ever picked up a book with lots of lush prose? I have — both the good and the bad kind.

Luckily for us readers and reviewers, there’s a name for that: Purple Prose.

Sometimes, the writing is lush. Which is the word I use to describe flowery writing that works well for the story. But I’ve also read books where this didn’t work at all; the writing came across as ostentatious or overwrought. Why does this happen?

What is purple prose?

Purple prose is a literary term to describe overly ornate, flowery, or dramatic writing. The key word is “overly.”

We can characterize this writing by its excessive use of adjectives, adverbs, and figurative language. The term “purple” is used because the color itself has often been used as a symbol of luxury and grandeur.

Readers can find purple prose in poetry, fiction, and even non-fiction. When poorly done, it can feel like the author is just navel-gazing. But when done well, it can transport a reader.

Is that a bad thing?

Critics often call it pretentious and lacking in substance.

When writers overly embellish their prose beyond what the story calls for, the writing becomes distracting. It often may not match the scene, character, or story. It’s just excessive description for the sake of it, which can come across as amateurish, or self-indulgent on the part of the writer.

Excessive use of figurative language can also make the writing confusing, as the writer may be more concerned with sounding impressive than with communicating their ideas effectively.

But like anything else, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some may find this kind of writing beautiful or perfectly descriptive, and that’s okay too.

What is a good use of purple prose?

It can be done well. Some writers may use purple prose to create atmosphere or evoke emotion. I see it most often in gothic stories like A Dowry of Blood, where atmosphere and character-driven storytelling reign supreme.

The context of a story or character may also necessitate the use of ornate writing. For example, if we’re in the headspace of a character who thinks in a strangely flowery or poetic way, it may be fitting for the prose to match.

While purple prose can be effective in some contexts, it is generally seen as a negative.

It is essential to strike a balance between using vivid descriptions to create atmosphere and keeping the writing concise and to the point — for most stories. There are always exceptions where it works well.

Last updated: 11/20/24


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One response to “Purple Prose: Atmosphere over Clarity

  1. So much to learn about writing! Purple Prose is sure interesting & understandable it can be over used.

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