Oscar Wilde: A Study of His Work and Writing Advice

Oscar Wilde was a man of many talents. A poet, playwright, novelist, writer of short stories, children’s book author, and essayist, Wilde was a literary Renaissance Man. But having been born to a well-off family in Dublin, Ireland with a respected surgeon as a father and a political poet as a mother, Wilde was destined for great things from the very beginning.

As a young scholar, Wilde excelled academically in his study of classics, earning top prizes throughout his many years of schooling and becoming fluent in English, German, and French, as well as proficient in Italian and Greek. In 1874, Wilde earned the prestigious Demyship scholarship that would allow him to study at Magdalen College in Oxford, and it would be at Oxford where Wilde would begin writing creatively for the first time. He would go on to win Oxford’s Newdigate Prize for his poem “Ravenna,” which was deemed the best English verse composition among undergraduate students. This very moment would serve as the beginning of an incredible literary career for Wilde.

In this article, we’ve compiled Wilde’s most notable pieces of writing advice into a blueprint on all things writing, with a special emphasis on the incredible work that built Wilde’s legacy. Let’s begin!

I. Read What You Want to Write

In 1882, Wilde made several comments about the work of the incredible poet Walt Whitman, most known for his poem Leaves of Grass, to a reporter from the Philadelphia Press, saying, “I admire him intensely….There is something so Greek and sane about {Whitman’s} poetry; it is so universal, so comprehensive.” He would later personally meet Whitman, who would become a sort of mentor for Wilde and who would advise him on his writing pursuits. Wilde would later write that, “There is no one in this wide great world of America whom I love and honor so much.” It is clear that he found much value in reading and studying the powerful works of those he most respected. He did not shy away from his admiration, but instead let it propel him to new heights in his literary career.

Wilde has gone on to write that, “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” There is certainly something to be said about all that writers can gain from reading works they don’t particularly enjoy, but as Wilde has stated, taking the time to read the works you admire can do nothing but enhance your own writing. Take a moment to recall the last time you read a particular line or passage that was so unique, so foreign to you, that you couldn’t help but pause to take in the beauty of the words. When we experience the endless possibilities of writing through reading the work of others, we are also able to realize all that is possible for us to achieve with our own writing. Wilde read the literary works of those he most respected; he dedicated himself to the world of literature and poetry and went on to craft the incredible works that continue to be revered today.

If you’re writing a novel in 3rd person for the first time, read nothing but that. If you’re attempting to create the kind of intrigue that you first found in your favorite historical novel, read it again and study it, this time from the writer’s perspective. If you just want to write beautifully, with no care for genre or tropes or setting, simply read what you admire most and remember Wilde’s words.

II. Strive to Create Art, Not Perfection

Every writer knows the frustration that comes with the revision of a work-in-progress. You start out small—cutting a purple prose description here, re-working a section of dialogue there—and all of a sudden, your piece has drastically changed, and perhaps not for the better. You may start spiraling with thoughts like, “Did this small change ruin the emotional impact of this scene?” or “Did cutting down this description actually do a disservice to my writing style?" It’s certainly a stressful experience for all, filled with second-guessing and constant rumination. Wilde knew this process all too well himself, with him admitting that, “I was working on the proof of one of my poems all morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.” So many of us can likely relate to moments like these!

One method that’s seen as a staple for many writers is setting aside your piece of writing for several weeks, or even months, before returning to it for revision. When you work on a piece for too long, you become ultra familiar with it, but when it comes to the revision process, this can actually cause more harm than good. Taking some time away from your writing allows you to return to your work with a fresh mind, a new perspective, and the ability to feel the emotions of different scenes with a greater impact. It’s important to remember that to strive for constant perfection is to pursue a fruitless goal. Our work can’t always be perfect, and that’s okay! It’s far more important to ensure that the pieces you write are achieving what you set out for them to achieve—whatever that may be.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde’s first and only novel, provides commentary on a movement that Wilde fiercely believed in: Aestheticism. Wilde believed in the idea that art, in its many forms, could be created for the sole purpose of providing beauty, without any underlying intentions or practicalities. He thought that art could exist for its own sake, to be admired in its bare form, without the goal of providing anything else. The Picture of Dorian Gray is known to have sparked ideas that Wilde “… uses Dorian Gray not as an advertisement for aestheticism, but...to warn against aestheticism’s hostility towards morality when uncontrolled,” as is stated in Patrick Duggan’s article, “The Conflict Between Aestheticism and Morality in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Wilde is known to have been a highly influential member of the Aestheticism Movement, as confirmed by his lecture tours and many of his works, such as his 1889 essay The Decay of Lying and his 1891 essay collection Intentions, both of which discussed the subject. Wilde set out to create “art for art’s sake,” and he achieved this goal.

III. Your Writing is Yours Alone

In his 1891 essay The Soul of Man Under Socialism, a work that discusses freedom and individualism, Wilde writes that, “They are always asking a writer why he does not write like someone else, or a printer why he does not paint like somebody else, quite oblivious of the fact that if either of them did anything of the kind he would cease to be an artist.” It is far too easy to fall into the trap of comparison, where thoughts of uncertainty and failure most commonly surface, and begin thinking about adopting the style of another writer. But if you attempt to mimic the writing of someone else, as Wilde has stated, you risk losing the ability to call yourself an artist.

Many believe in the merits of writing in different styles as a writing exercise. It's often been used to rid writers of lasting writer’s block or to reignite their love for writing after working on a particularly challenging piece. While this remains a helpful tool for many, it’s important to not confuse mere writing exercises with professional writing pursuits, which demand a personal writing style that each writer must hone. Writing is so deeply personal and individualistic, as is every art form, and when you lose these vital aspects of your writing, you’re also losing the artistry you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. To write like another is to relinquish the ability to write freely, to focus not on your work but solely on the status and recognition you hope to achieve. Once you've found your distinctive writing style, don’t run from it. Let your style develop and mature as you do but remain true to yourself and your writing throughout this process.

Conclusion

Wilde left behind an infamous legacy, a gorgeous collection of work, and several invaluable pieces of writing advice that remain relevant today. It’s no wonder that the writers of today, and no doubt the writers of the future, continue to look to Wilde’s words of wisdom for the tools that can bring them great literary success. Wilde’s brilliance will live on not only in his own writing but also in the work so many others have created under the guidance of his words.

We hope Wilde’s writing advice has left you inspired and ready to tackle your next project! Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective and a few pieces of advice to propel you forward. For more tips and tricks on how to achieve your writing goals, check out our blog! We’ve got everything from information on different outlining and drafting methods to valuable advice on how to write particularly challenging characters. Our blog post, “How to Write Red Herrings to Mislead and Surprise Your Readers” is a great place to start! Good luck, everyone!