Better writing habits;
- This topic has 28 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated Sep 9, 2008 at 12:13 am by
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These are my observations.
Make notes, use a mind map before starting out, and also consider you images as “notes” – take pics that might not be published but that will act as a reference for an incident.
Get the first paragraph right and most else will follow.
Write every day.
Review every day
Use the cut and paste function to shift around paragraphs, this will often improve a story.
Leave a “completed” story to brew for a few weeks then edit it.
It will always read better on paper than it will on the computer screen so print it out and edit the old fashioned way – with a red pen – and use it ruthlessly.
Morsie
Excellent points on this thread. If I can add to Gary’s post, I suggest knowing exactly where you want to go with your work before you start writing.
If you are working on a technical or legal piece, the reader should not need to outline your work to understand your points. For example, if a lawyer needs to write what will end up being a 50 page brief to the Court of Appeals, the lawyer would be wise to spend up to several days outlining the argument. (As Gary said, identify your topic sentences and the subject for each of your paragraphs.) Then, after you finish writing 50 pages, figure out how to cut it to 40 pages. Inevitably, you will find ways to make your points more concisely. (Gary’s rule 3).
If there are any young or aspiring lawyers out there, I recommend “The Elements of Legal Style” and “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.”
Business people will also set themselves apart from the crowd by studying the art of writing.
Many of these principles will also apply to other areas, such as journalism. While creative writing is different, mastery of basic writing skills will help you understand when you should veer away from the basics of writing 101.
Hi Folks,
I’m new here. The site was recommended to me by Kevin Powell at reddirtstudio.com., and I’m glad to have found it.
Thanks for this post Aaron Otto… this is wonderful information. There are a lot of excellent points, and I’ve enjoyed everyones’ ideas.
AO, I really enjoyed reading the short piece that you posted on the Drake a while back, and meant every thing I said about it.
Bob White
Bob. Welcome.
I tend to post more here than on my home site.
For those folks that would like to practice their writing skills and do not have a home on the web, a site of their own or just do not feel secure enough to start sending to magazines. Feel free to come over to my site and submit anything you would like. I am trying to keep it lifestyle oriented and fun but there is definitely a place for you to start practicing getting the content out there. There is no money involved but it can be great practice. If you would like an assignment sort of thing, I have a large list of people that would make great interviews for spotlighting their skills.
This is for all of those articles and or things that might not quite fit the printed word of the magazines. It is sort of set up like the minor leagues in baseball and hopefully scouts will begin looking. I am not a writer and or never claim to be one. I just try to make it look good, which is my strength in the profession. If anyone had writing questions or photography questions, I’ll direct them here because this is where I would go and I have respect for everyone on this board.
I am also in the process of collecting the information for people to submit work to all the major magazines. Just for the case if someone submits something to my site and it needs to go further – I will not publish it and will try to help get it to the next level of the food chain.
I am looking for fishing, food, travel, music, and local people who do great things. If anyone is up to it, please come on over.
However, for really serious writing, especially in winter time, I like to pour off a glass of port.
My kinda guy….
Hi Folks,
AO, I really enjoyed reading the short piece that you posted on the Drake a while back, and meant everything I said about it.
Bob White
So Bob, most likely the piece was mine, but I don’t post on the Drake. That is some of my fans creating accounts in my name and using my writing as their own personal joking points.
Aaron,
A problem I had was usage, and one must be careful as incorrect usage can lead to a loss of credibility. I am referring to knowing when to use one word vs. another, per the following examples: obtain/attain, that/which, who/whom, etc. Some good books have already been mentioned, but you might try getting your hands on an instructor edition of Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers. I have also used Strunk and White and The Holt book or handbook, cannot recall exact title. Also, look for Eats Shoots & Leaves. I recall a book some other instructors had titled Sin Boldly, which they loved, but I never read it.HTH,
Dusty
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