About João do Rio
João do Rio was the pen name of Paulo Barreto (1881–1921), a Brazilian journalist, chronicler and playwright who reported on the streets and people of Rio de Janeiro at the start of the twentieth century. His books include As Religiões no Rio (1904) and A Alma Encantadora das Ruas (1908), and he was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 1910.
Works by João do Rio
1 essay to practice
João do Rio’s writing style
João do Rio writes as a reporter walking the city: he quotes the people he meets, describes what he sees in quick strokes, and then steps back to reflect. His crônicas move easily between dialogue, lists and lyrical passages.
How to write like João do Rio
Pick one of João do Rio’s essays and retype it word for word. Copying slows you down enough to notice how each sentence is built: where it starts, how long it runs and which words carry the weight. Keep the style notes above in mind as you type, then write a paragraph of your own in the same voice. New to this? Read what copywork is and how to do it.