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Practice your writing by typing out classic literature. This method not only enhances your understanding of rhythm, structure, and nuances but also connects you deeply with the timeless flow of literary history.This is a BETA version.

Type the words from the book. We gave you 4 words to start with.

Mrs. Dalloway

by Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Dalloway is a novel by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1925. It is a modernist novel that follows a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a society hostess in post-World War I England. The novel explores themes of time, memory, and the human psyche.

Read more about Virginia Woolf
Mrs. Dalloway
perfect order; he had shown it to the makers; there was no reason,
they said, why it should ever wear out; which was somehow to Hughs
credit, and to the credit of the sentiments which his pen expressed (so
Richard Dalloway felt) as Hugh began carefully writing capital letters
with rings round them in the margin, and thus marvellously reduced
Lady Brutons tangles to sense, to grammar such as the editor of the
_Times_, Lady Bruton felt, watching the marvellous transformation,
must respect. Hugh was slow. Hugh was pertinacious. Richard said one
must take risks. Hugh proposed modifications in deference to peoples
feelings, which, he said rather tartly when Richard laughed, “had to
be considered,” and read outhow, therefore, we are of opinion that
the times are ripe ... the superfluous youth of our ever-increasing
population ... what we owe to the dead ...” which Richard thought
all stuffing and bunkum, but no harm in it, of course, and Hugh went
on drafting sentiments in alphabetical order of the highest nobility,
brushing the cigar ash from his waistcoat, and summing up now and then
the progress they had made until, finally, he read out the draft of a
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Why Type a Masterpiece?

Typing out classical literature is not just an exercise in patience; it's a deeply immersive way to understand the rhythm, structure, and nuances of great writing. By manually reproducing the works of renowned authors, you engage with the text on a level that reading alone cannot offer. This method allows you to feel the flow of sentences, the choice of words, and the intricate construction of paragraphs that make these works timeless.

Style is a very simple matter; it is all rhythm. Once you get that, you can't use the wrong words.

– Virginia Woolf

literati is a unique platform where writers can select from a vast collection of public domain classics to type out. This practice is akin to a musician playing pieces by the masters to internalize the elements of composition and performance. Just as the musician learns the subtleties of each note and chord, the writer learns the power of each word and sentence.

Prose is like hair; it shines with combing.

– Gustave Flaubert

Engaging directly with masterpieces allows writers to absorb the rhythm of the text, the ebb and flow of its pacing, and the beauty of its imagery. It cultivates an appreciation for the craft of writing and provides invaluable lessons in how to construct compelling narratives, develop characters, and evoke emotions in readers. Happy typing!

The only truth is music.

– Jack Kerouac

More on this topic:

"Imitate then innovate", an article by David Perell