Robert Louis Stevenson improved his writing skills through a disciplined, lifelong commitment to study, imitation, and meticulous revision. He famously described his training as acting as a "sedulous ape" to masters of literature, consciously practicing their techniques to develop his own unique style.
His methods for improving his craft included:
- The "Sedulous Ape" Method (Imitation): As a youth, Stevenson trained himself by imitating the styles of authors he admired, such as Hazlitt, to Lamb, to Wordsworth, to Sir Thomas Browne, to Defoe, to Hawthorne, to Montaigne, to Baudelaire and to Obermann. He would read a passage, and then practice writing in that same style to absorb its rhythm and technique.
- Constant Practice and Observation: Stevenson always carried two books in his pocket—one to read, one to write in. As he walked, he practiced "fitting what I saw with appropriate words," treating writing as a craft to be practiced like carpentry.
- Meticulous Revision and Pruning: Stevenson viewed writing as a form of "pruning" and editing. He focused on choosing the mot juste (the exact right word) and removing unnecessary, "watered" phrases to ensure his prose was concise and impactful. He famously argued that if a thought could be expressed in one sentence instead of two, the shorter version must be used.
- Focus on Rhythm and Sound: He believed that literature, like music, should be pleasing to the "internal ear". He improved his writing by carefully arranging the rhythm of his sentences, utilizing alliteration and assonance.
