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shockabuku
Jun 20, 2009, 3:57 PM
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ive been talking and some reading for a few years now and would like to try writing. is it best to take a class in a school or go with experienced writers to learn What do you think about spell check. is it worth it and is punctuation useful; thanks.
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rtwilli4
Jun 20, 2009, 4:05 PM
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First let me welcome you to the club! You're going to love it if you learn correctly.
It's always best to have a mentor to teach you the letters. If you've already been talking and reading for a few years then you understand the system. You just need to learn how to write safely, and you can really only learn that from experience.
Spell check is great, but you will learn a lot more in the beginning if you use manual editing. Spell check can be disastrous if used incorrectly, and it develops bad habits. It's also quite expensive.
The fact that you are asking about punctuation only reinforces my recommendation to find a mentor to take you writing. It is an essential part of the system we use and without it, you will likely fail miserably.
I will say it one more time. PLEASE have someone teach you in real life, and don't try to learn on the internet!
Good luck and have fun!!
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macblaze
Jun 20, 2009, 4:07 PM
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IN my considered (and vastly experienced opinion), I believe that writing should only be taught by professionals. While you can get away with poorly trained writers for long stretches of time without incident, sooner or later it will catch up with you.
Writing is a delicate balance between skill, knowledge and judgment. Every situation will call for a different solution and without proper training, all too often the solutions will be inadequate at best and disastrous at worst.
Don't be an idiot. Start out on the write ( ) foot and you will be writing well and happily for a long time.
Oh, and be sure to put extra focus on analogy, metaphor and rhetoric: it will save your life.
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bill413
Jun 20, 2009, 4:46 PM
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I think rtwilli4 offers some very good advice. I'd like to add that you should be aware that no one way of writing is appropriate for all situations. I think it's a good idea to try and go writing with a number of different people so that you will see different approaches to similar problems. This will increase your repertoir for those situations where your usual mode may not be the best choice for the topic.
There is nothing quite like that feeling of completing your first essay.
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Rudmin
Jun 20, 2009, 4:53 PM
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Identify this piece of gear:
Do you think this is a safe set up to write a post with? Would you know how to properly use one if the situation required it?
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mr.tastycakes
Jun 20, 2009, 5:21 PM
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A crusty, old writer once told me that both proper punctuation and syntax are necessary to avoid looking like an idiot. Don't test both at the same time.
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rockandlice
Jun 20, 2009, 5:27 PM
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You're gonna die!
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subantz
Jun 20, 2009, 9:18 PM
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I know this one. Its a typewriter. I have seen one of those once at a old persons house back in the 80's.
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bill413
Jun 20, 2009, 11:48 PM
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subantz wrote: I know this one. Its a typewriter. I have seen one of those once at a old persons house back in the 80's.
I wonder where you would place it.
(This post was edited by bill413 on Jun 20, 2009, 11:50 PM)
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rockandlice
Jun 20, 2009, 11:52 PM
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Is it better to use a LOL actively or passively? Also, same question in regards to LMAO's.
I've heard there are quality control issues with ROFLMAO's so I'd rather not hear any suggestions to give them a try.
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bill413
Jun 21, 2009, 2:54 AM
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rockandlice wrote: Is it better to use a LOL actively or passively? Also, same question in regards to LMAO's. I've heard there are quality control issues with ROFLMAO's so I'd rather not hear any suggestions to give them a try.
As far as active or passive, I think the first rule is whichever way it seems to fit best. I don't think there is any magic that makes active phrasing universally better than passive phrasing, each seems to have it's place.
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climbsomething
Jun 21, 2009, 3:12 AM
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On behalf of all the word nerds, I thank you.
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nhgill
Jun 21, 2009, 11:45 AM
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I, for one, am firmly against spell checking. Anyone can take up the old spell checker and throw together a properly spelled essay but by doing so they lose the long tradition writing has to offer. Some will argue that a well placed spell checking is necessary when writing some long difficult piece, that there is no other way do get that writing done. I disagree. If someone can not spell the word he or she needs to, than he or she should write something else and leave the word for someone who can spell it.
Spell checkers can also lead to bad habits and poor pieces of writing. Imagine if someone could not spell, but put together a piece of writing with only a spell checker protecting him or her. If he or she makes a poor word choice or inserts the incorrect word into a piece of writing it can create more problems down the road. At the very least some poor editor must revisit the piece, find the incorrect words that are mangling the writing, remove them, and replace them with the correct words. At the most the writer winds up with a miserable, unclear, foolish piece of writing that no one will wish to read and probably should not for fear of incorrectly interpreting the piece.
Traditionalists of the writing world unite. Together with words correctly spelled from experience we will surmount any writing challenge. If we reach a spot where none of our vocabulary will fit, a carefully considered dictionary consultation is appropriate in order to maintain the integrity of the writing.
-HTG
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Toast_in_the_Machine
Jun 21, 2009, 12:33 PM
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shockabuku wrote: ive been talking and some reading for a few years now and would like to try writing. is it best to take a class in a school or go with experienced writers to learn What do you think about spell check. is it worth it and is punctuation useful; thanks.
Self Coached Spelling. (Writing Essentials).
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verticon
Jun 21, 2009, 9:14 PM
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Well, it's only one way to find out wether or not is your writing good enough: send it to Adatesman for a pull test
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wonderwoman
Jun 22, 2009, 2:31 AM
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Moved from General to Campground by WW.
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bill413
Jun 22, 2009, 3:34 AM
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wonderwoman wrote: Moved from General to Campground by WW.
(This post was edited by bill413 on Jun 22, 2009, 3:34 AM)
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wonderwoman
Jun 22, 2009, 3:53 AM
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shockabuku wrote: wonderwoman wrote: Moved from General to Campground by WW. Apparently you're not good with analogy.
Yes - but I took the stupid GRE anyway!
Climbing is to Communicating as:
General is to Campground?
Meatbomz are to Banzing?
Pancakes are to PTFTW?
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damage
Jun 22, 2009, 5:56 AM
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telepathy, all the way
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Gmburns2000
Jun 22, 2009, 2:06 PM
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shockabuku wrote: ive been talking and some reading for a few years now and would like to try writing. is it best to take a class in a school or go with experienced writers to learn What do you think about spell check. is it worth it and is punctuation useful; thanks.
If you're serious, then there are a few different ways to go about this. Taking a class can certainly help, but it depends on what you're looking to get from that class. Some classes are good in that they teach you something, but some are bad in that they force rules down your throat. Some classes are also good because they give you an opportunity to solicit feedback from other writers, but some classes are also bad because some of the other writers can be malicious as they try to make themselves stand out.
Seriously, how ever you do it, just do it and figure out what you need once you start. That may take a while (it took a few years for me), but once you start to figure things out then it becomes easier to pick and choose the help you need.
Some advice:
- Many people say that you should write what you know. However, that depends on what you're writing. If it's non-fiction, then yes, you probably should write what you know. If it's fiction, then throw that advice out the window. Instead, write what you want to read. This does a couple of things: it allows you to write whatever the hell you want without regard for societal rules (a major block for some people) and; it allows you to find your voice a little easier. If you write what you think is interesting then your writing will be stronger, and others may join you. If you write what others want to read then people will see that your writing is contrived.
- Be personal in what you write and be wholly objective in what you read, including what you've written. Don't let the critic edit while you write (take it personally when the critic gets in your way), but understand that nothing is as beautiful the first time as it could be. Objectivity is the key, particularly when you are hearing someone giving you feedback. Just get it down on paper first and then figure out a way to make it better. It's a process, not perfection. This step does this. That steps does that. Put them together and you get a finished product.
- Don't take criticism personally.
- Read the Strunk and White and understand the "rules" as guidelines.
- Write a lot, particularly the bad stuff. Writing is like climbing in that you need a warmup. Don't be afraid to write complete and utter shit. There have been days when I've wrote something similar to the following: fuck. what to write? window. trees outside the window with a bird it in. fucking bird. wish it would shut up. glad it isn't the jack hammer i hear down the street. maybe the bird will get caught in the jack hammer and both will die. fuck.
- Read a lot, the good and the bad. The good so you know what has been done before. The bad so you know that you can do better (and what never should have been done to begin with).
- Don't be afraid of rejection.
- Understand that writing takes time. You'll put up way too many stinkers early on, and yet they may not be enough to really learn.
- It takes 10,000 hours to master something. Don't even think you're close to mastering it until you've reached that point. Always, always, always, always keep learning.
- Most importantly, be honest. Nabakov once noted the "passion of the scientist and the precision of the artist." The scientist can get everything wrong and people will still believe in him enough so long as he keeps plugging away at something worthwhile. The artist can get away with nothing if he is continually wrong. He loses all credibility if he's making something up. It will be obvious if he's not telling the truth, particularly in fiction.
- Good luck.
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stevensaga
Jun 23, 2009, 12:25 AM
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"Wordy Rappinghood" by Tom Tom club says it all...
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
Words in papers, words in books
Words on tv, words for crooks
Words of comfort, words of peace
Words to make the fighting cease
Words to tell you what to do
Words are working hard for you
Eat your words but dont go hungry
Words have always nearly hung me
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
Words of nuance, words of skill
And words of romance are a thrill
Words are stupid, words are fun
Words can put you on the run
Mots pressx, mots sensx,
Mots qui disent la vit? mots maudits, mots mentis,
Mots qui manquent le fruit desprit
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
Its a rap race, with a fast pace
Concrete words, abstract words
Crazy words and lying words
Hazy words and dying words
Words of faith and tell me straight
Rare words and swear words
Good words and bad words
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
Words can make you pay and pay
Four-letter words I cannot say
Panty, toilet, dirty devil
Words are trouble, words are subtle
Words of anger, words of hate
Words over here, words out there
In the air and everywhere
Words of wisdom, words of strife
Words that write the book I like
Words wont find no right solution
To the planet earths pollution
Say the right word, make a million
Words are like a certain person
Who cant say what they mean
Dont mean what they say
With a rap rap here and a rap rap there
Here a rap, there a rap
Everywhere a rap rap
Rap it up for the common good
Let us enlist the neighbourhood
Its okay, Ive overstood
This is a wordy rappinghood, okay, bye.
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
What are words worth?
What are words worth? - words
Hell stop ... dont stop ... stop.
-------------------------------------------------------
BE WARNED--don't listen to the tune 'cause you won't get it out of your head all day!
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