Basic Introduction to 'What is Prose?' 

I wish I had more teachers like you in high school.

I feel as if I am receiving a free education 😎.

Thank you for this video! Truly! I didn't have any contact with the world of literary critics in the form of RU-vid book reviewers until 2017, when I joined the Malazan Empire group on Facebook. And since then I have been buffeted by the many variations of "I don't like his prose" . I didn't study literature in depth, but we did get basic literature education in school. And for me, prose has always been, like you defined it, writing using normal speech (as opposed to writing that uses certain rules, like the classic definition of poetry). Which is why I always thought "these people don't like the author's style, but why should that mean that the author's 'prose' is bad, and that the author doesn't know what he is doing?" (like the way I just couldn't warm up to Ursula Le Guin's style in the Legend of Earthsea; that, however, doesn't mean that Ursula has a bad prose, only that my preferences don't align with her choice of writing for this particular book) Yet at the same time I had my doubts. I figured these people must know something more than I do about what "prose" is supposed to mean, and that they must base their judgements by a set of predetermined, quantifiable rules. Nor I know that there is nothing more that they knew that I didn't :D Education about literary terms, which are often used both loosely and wrongly, is very much needed, in my opinion. And nobody better to do it than people who studied these things and know what they are talking about. Sadly, I believe that those who need this information the most are likely to be the ones who are least inclined to take these free nuggets of knowledge.

This is one of your best videos. It's clear. Easy to understand. And easy to EXPAND. That's the best way to be reductive imo.

I always love your videos and feel like I learn so much! Great video, and I look forward to future lessons!

Great video! I'm continuously building and restructuring my own narratives. While I thought this restructuring dealt with my Voice, I see that I've actually been reworking my Prose. I suppose I'll have to eagerly await your Voice video so that I can better identify that aspect of my writing. 😊 Thank you for the very informative content!

Good explanation on what is prose. Thanks A.P.

Masterful concise explanation!

Fantastic video thank you so much.

Great! just great! Thanks a lot

I absolutely love videos like this. Its a topic that isnt discussed much i am glad that you are doing this. Prose is book defining for me. These are the type of videos i can show my kids to help them understand topics that i cant explain. Thank you!!

I ain’t one for poetry. Ain’t one for prose. Ain’t one for the scent of a spring time rose. But there is one fact that I do know… I sure get a kick outta that critical dragon!

Great short explanation. 👏

Thank you, AP!

Thanks AP! Would be great to have a similar (or longer!) video on each of exposition, description and dialogue too, loving these types of videos, thanks so much for putting them together! Also, I hope I haven't missed it, but are you and Phillip planning on a Crippled God chat still...?

Thanks for keeping it simple. ;)

Well put!

Feel like I’ve been looking at the trees instead of the forest when thinking about prose and this broader explanation really helped me out thanks! Hey … did I just use a LITERARY DEVICE THERE ????

There once was a man named AP Who uploads videos to the YT Books lining his halls As Professor Fireballs And his nemesis, one Doctor Fanta-C Verisimilitudinous is a tough rhyme.

This is very helpful. You should see the nonsense answer you get when you Google "what is good prose". Also, that's not the limerick I know about the man from Nantucket 😂.