WEEKLY WORK IN 305
These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week. Furthermore, if you are in the habit of writing everything on Saturday you will not receive full credit. Why? There would be no time for others to interact with your writing. Write early; write often! Right? Right!
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.
These rules are very appropriate to remember when writing anything, whether a research paper, a story, or an informative paper. I thought the rule about metaphors and symbols was interesting. It is difficult for me to think of metaphors to use in my writing, so I think if I keep that rule in mind, it will be easier in the future. I wish I had known these rules earlier in my college career, but they should help me in the future to keep my writing clearer and simpler. In the past, my rules for writing have been simply to keep it simple and stick to the point, refrain from flowery and uncommon words or phrases, and to not wander from what I want to say and confuse the reader. I will definitely add these rules to my list of rules so that I can further improve my writing.
ReplyDeleteThe rules in the readings reminds writers and authors how to write a novel, a poem, and an article. Readings 2 and 3 stood out to me. Reading 2 talks about how an author should do a tale or a story. Reading 3 talks about how not to use verbs and exclamation points in a certain way. I have never seen these rules in the readings ever in my life. I also haven't seen the rules since I've been in college. These rules can definitely help me in future writing. The rules I knew for writing were simple and basic. These rules are kind of more complex and some what difficult to keep in mind or memorize. The most important rule to writing for me would just be to get to the point, unless the writing is about some sort of drama or mystery. If the writing is about some sort of drama or mystery, then you should have to sort of try not to get to the point ,for example, don't get to the point in the first chapter or first paragraph or sentence. These rules in the readings will help me in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThe writing rules both confused and made me laugh, especially reading number three. The rules Elmore Leonard says to avoid describe most of the fiction books on the Kindle store. Actually, Leonard describes almost every fiction book I have ever read in my life. He does not approve of prologues or descriptions which are my favorite parts of the book. The prologue gives the reader a setting and a detailed look into the history of the characters, and/or a different point of view for a scene later in the novel. If Leonard’s rules of writing are for expository articles or nonfiction writing specifically then this reinforces my dislike of both styles. Nonfiction books and articles are generally boring and dry. They lack all the fluff that fiction novels give the reader like the extensive detail, the dramatic word choice and the unnecessary description of the weather. The first reading from Orwell is the easiest to comprehend and therefore gave the most information. By posing each phrase as the question the reader would feel as if a teacher or professor is asking them personally and then be able to effectively edit their writing. However, the rules about making sentences or words shorter are confusing. I know these rules are exclusive to expository writing since I took a class on it in high school and was told the same thing but as a student this concept is difficult to grasp. For over 12 years teachers have been forcing me and peers to reach a page count or word count on numerous assignments. These same teachers also demand more variety in vocabulary and lecture about the importance of using a thesaurus. Now, after years of having the rules of writing forced on us, Orwell is saying the opposite. Reading number two from Mark Twain was long and elaborate. It mostly confirmed every rule to writing that I have heard over the years. Although, I expect nothing less form the author of Tom Sawyer and countless other classics that English teachers have encouraged students to read. Cleary his rules are for stories; beautiful fictitious novels filled with excitement and thought provoking story lines. My most important rule of writing is simply to convey meaning in an effective way.
ReplyDeleteThese three rules of writing is a great guide to go by. The ones that stood out to me is Orwell and Elmore. Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” is straight to the point. It is a simple guide to follow. I like that it is straight to the point. Elmore Leonard’s rules of writing are simple as well; however, what grab my attention is keeping exclamation points under control. I laughed because I know I am guilty of it. With text messages, I tend to use exclamation points when it is not necessary. I do not mean to use it to say my messages loud. I guess I use it because I was exciting. It’s just a habit of mine to use exclamation marks. Hopefully, I will not use it in this English class when it’s not needed. I think the most important rule is making sure you are making it clear about what you want to say, so your readers can understand. Using Orwell’s rules would help.
ReplyDeleteThese readings make me second guess what I have been taught me whole life. Well maybe not that dramatic. In the first reading, Orwell says to not use long or scientific words. However, when I was in middle school the teachers would tell the students to use dictionaries to find bigger words, so that is something I have done with almost every paper I have written since then. The same goes for the third reading, by Leonard. He argues to not use a verb other than "said" when characters are talking; yet, my teachers would go crazy if they received a paper and there was no other word than "said" to carry a dialogue. He also says to not go into much detail when discussing character, places, and things. Once again I was told the opposite. The second reading follows the best of what I have been taught. Twain says that the writing has to mean something, it cannot just be a writing about random things it has to have a purpose. The writer should make it clear to the reader who each character is and how he, she, or it is involved in the story. Ultimately, the writing rules that stands out the most is to use good grammar. Almost anyone can write a paper, it can contain important information, and can be one of the best papers the person has written. However, if the person does not use good grammar the paper can go from great to not as impressive. I feel that grammar is something that everyone should learn and practice all the time. I still find it difficult and need help a majority of the time.
ReplyDeleteThese writing rules hold a lot of insight on how to write a piece of work, and makes sure it sustains a substantial amount of insight for its readers. The first one states the do's and don’ts of the writing world where the second instructs the idea that there should be a sense of fluidity about your paper. I find these rules to be quite insightful to young writer. If you want someone to have interest and ability to follow your message, then these rules are a good foundation to bridge from. The rule for me that stands out the most would have to be "Never use a long word where a short one will do". I think that this particular rule held my interest so strongly because I feel as though we are generally taught the opposite. Through all of my years in school I've been told to expand my vocabulary and to use the words that are considered "college level". This rule contradicts what many are taught from grades k-12. To suddenly hear the opposite it quite daunting. In my opinion the most important rules of writing are: 1. Know your target audience, 2 have a good knowledge about your topic, and 3 be ready to make mistakes, because they're inevitable. In addition to my third rule I think you should not only be prepared to make mistakes but also to fix them as well.
ReplyDeleteIn the first reading, by Oswell, I do agree with the first four questions. They are questions we sometimes might ask ourselves when writing a paper. Oswell then starts to doubt and question too much and some of the rules can restrict one from writing and truly expressing oneself. The last sentence says about breaking the rules might make the writer sound silly or foolish. Sometimes this happens to people who are afraid to speak. She/he is scared to say something because someone might make fun of what they say. When really it can be a different, unique idea. This can also happen in writing making it hard to truly express themselves on paper. I don't necessarily agree with Leonard's rules. One rule is "never open a book with weather" The book 1984 opening sentence speaks of the weather. That does not make the writer a bad writer. The Midwife's tale, which is a some sort of diary begins with describing the weather. The weather can give you a hint or clue on how the day might carry out to be. Another rule was "Avoid detailed descriptions of characters" I believe the more detail the better I can paint a picture in my head and see it and bring that character or thing to life. The rules from Twain I felt I agreed to most of them, but not all, compared to the other rules. When it comes to my own writing rules I want my writing to sound interesting and beautiful. I can do so by using some techniques I learned in an English class. One was alliteration, rhyme and I forgot the other types of word play. I think everyone creates and makes their own rules when writing. I don't think their is a right or wrong way. Of course, one should spell, structure, and punctuate correctly. But everyone has his or her own style and approach when writing.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading each section, i would have to say one thing. That is that all writers have their style of writing. Without a diverse style of writing we wouldn't see as many great authors as we have today. The authors of each reading do point out great aspects that each book, essay etc. must include in order to get the point of their story across to the reader or audience. In Orwell's essay, i would agree with the first four mainly because the main point of an essay or any type of writing in that sense is to get your point across to the reader as clearly as possible. By adding imagery, idioms, and other types of figures of speech, readers will be able to paint that picture in their head and possibly be able to understand it better. What i do not like about Orwell's essay is that he emphasizes a lot on cutting out the essentials such as figures of speech, words, and any unnecessary excess. He creates a paradox in his essay in which he questions himself how can i make this essay better, but doesn't want to use long words, metaphors, etc. Again, i think these rules are perfect to follow as guidelines, but not necessarily have to be followed or else you are a bad writer. Even though, these "rules" are coming from famous writers in history it is important to follow some of the rules, but also add your own twist to your writing. Whenever i write an essay for a class, the main thing i try to practice is grammar. If there was one thing i wished i had been taught more about is grammar. I think grammar is essential in any piece of writing because it goes back to the aspect of getting your point across as clearly as possible. Also whenever i write i try choose words that will be easy to read for whoever I am writing it to. For example, if I am writing a research paper for one of my classes i will probably use more complex words than if i write a paper to my little brother. Lastly, the introduction is the eye catcher of the whole essay. I have been told for years that if the essay does not catch the reader's attention from the beginning then the reader will have a hard time reading the rest of the essay.
ReplyDeleteThese rules are honestly very interesting to read. Some of the rules I have been taught in school. Some of the rules listed also goes against what I was taught in school. I really do not like any of Elmore Leonard's rules. I think if you combined the Orwell's and Twain's rules together, you would have a pretty decent story. Always knowing what you want to say and how you will express it, I think is very important as a writer. If you do not have direction of your own story, it is often hard for your reader to follow what your thought process is. It is only important to shorten things if you are being redundant. I like the rule of not using a large word if you can use an English equivalent. Often writers throw in these big words to try to impress their audience; however, they are often used incorrectly and it would have just been easier to use a common word. I like the rule of Twain's where he says to never omit necessary details. Once again, the reader does not know your thoughts, so if you leave out important details, the reader will often be lost. My absolute favorite rule is to have a very simple, straightforward style. If you are constantly confusing your reader, they will eventually stop reading. I am a big fan of being simple and straightforward in all aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, Leonard’s rules for writing on using exclamation points under control cracks me up because I use it a lot on texting to express my feelings, especially when I am excited. Even when I’m not excited I still use it, I do not know why, I just do it. Moving on, from my understanding from these readings, a writer’s job is to get the reader’s attention and to keep them entertained from the beginning to the end. Use words that are easy enough to understand for the reader to avoid them from boredom. Use appropriate words that are acceptable. The first reading stands out more than the other two readings for me because mainly summarize what a writer should do to be a good writer. The most important rules of writing for me are to simply write, to write down fresh ideas that come to mind right away and to avoid harsh words that could offend a reader. Whenever I write, I always ask myself, “What am I trying to say?” (Orwell’s rule of writing,) always help me write whatever that pops in my head. From the second reading, Twain’s rule of Writing is to tell us that a tale should give readers good lesson from beginning to an end. A writer has to be able to give the reader’s a purpose and should be clear enough to understand the meaning of a certain reading. Twain wants us to inform that as a writer, we developed many great ideas and it is necessary to use words that are necessary.
ReplyDeleteThis week’s reading was interesting and some of the rules I had forgotten about or never heard of. For example, to Elmore Leonard’s rules for writing mentions, “keep your exclamation points under control because we are not allowed to more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose”. But at the same time I had not heard about the rule to “never use the words suddenly or all hell broke loose”. When I was younger I use to love to write and I enjoying writing very descriptive and stories that were suspenseful and I do remember using these words. Now that I am older, I rarely use that writing style, and I do not describe every single detail of a character unless that is the assignment. While reading the other rules, reading one is the system that stood out to me the most. In Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language” mentions that, “a scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes will ask himself at least four questions”. Before writing I always think about what I am trying to convey in my writing. What words I can use to express what I’m trying to get across. The other questions I do depending on what I am writing and I do not always ask myself those other questions. The most confusing of the rules was reading two, Twains rules for writing. These rules of writing I feel are more in depth and it may be rules used by professional writers. For me the most important rules of writing are to make sure I get my message across effectively by using structure and grammar correctly.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that all the writing rules for reading 1 and 3 are similar; yet contrast with reading 2. Reading 1 emphasizes on making the writing as clear and simple as possible. The author advises against using fluff words and using short words instead of long ones. In using an English equivalent word as opposed to using anything foreign that would be hard to understand.
ReplyDeleteReading 2 emphasizes that there should be a purpose in the writing and that there should be a beginning and an end. Also, the characters in the writing should have a purpose, be relevant, and be very well described. As a result, the reader should feel empathy and be able to feel emotions like rooting for the hero, and hating the villain.
In reading 3, emphasizes even more on keeping writing simple and straightforward. The author advises against giving too much detail or over explaining, which in turn will make the writing boring and readers will become uninterested.
I agree with the rules in reading 1, since I feel like it relates to my style of writing the most. The most important rules of writing for me are keeping my writing simple by getting straight to the point, and explaining what I need to convey to my reader without having to use too many fluff words. As a science major, having a straightforward way of writing has become is a good thing, yet it has become problematic in some of my other courses since I often need to do a lot of explaining and interpreting, something that I do not often do in scientific papers or lab reports.
The writing rules are interesting. Most of these I have never heard of so this was definitely something I took quite an interest in. Some of them are very interesting, however, such as Twain's perspective on making the reader love good people and hate the bad people. Personally, I'm not so sure I agree with this writing rule. I have disliked good people in books before because they are TOO good. That gets annoying. If every story gave the same reaction to good and bad then the story risks being predictable. There are villains in books that people do not hate but instead love them because of how different or evil the author made them. Sometimes it is okay to like the evil character in a book because the character is so compelling. That's the only major disagreement I have with the rules, honestly. I believe my most important rules from this reading would have to be Leonard's rule on exclamation points and Twain's last rule about employing a simple, straightforward style. I struggle with making my writing simple sometimes but I still thrive on improving that. I believe the less convoluted a story the better because stories that are needlessly complex make the reader think far more than they should have to. While some stories can get away with that style of writing, they usually do not go well with me so I try to avoid that style. Exclamation points, on the other hand, can be incredibly annoying if somebody uses them too much so I agree with the minimal requirement of them in writing. They should only be used in critical moments in a story where the extra excitement makes sense.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the three set of rules presented this week, I gained valuable knowledge on certain areas of writing that can and will help my future writing, especially for the restaurant paper. In addition to restaurant paper, I can also use these rules during the development of my personal statement for medical school. I agreed with majority of rules, but was also confused by some (Leonard's rules were a tiny bit strange). Since I am not a fiction write, in any sense, and I tend to write mainly scientific papers, I valued Orwell's rules the most. Nevertheless, I also found some of the other rules from Twain's and Leonard's rules to be helpful, and to also think about some writing habits I have. Three rules from Orwell's essay stood out to me: 1) . What am I trying to say?; 2) Never use a long word where a short one will do; and 3) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. The most difficult part of writing for me is the start, which is the reason I included the rule "What am I trying to say?". During the progression of my writings, I tend to try to use a myriad words that often hurts me in the end; for this reason the rule "Never use a long word where a short one will do" was added to my list. The rules of "If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out" also stood out to me because I often over explain or just ramble on that often creates confusions, at times, for my readers. I believe if I follow these rules more often, my writing can improve. Aside from Orwell's rules, I found one rule from Twain that I often fail to do. This is "Employ a simple, straightforward style." Many times I get lost in my own writing due to experimental and creative technique, and I know for a fact that if I get lost in my own writings, my readers will get lost too. If I can improve on employing a straight forward style, my writings can become smoother and will be effortless to read. Aside from the rules presented, My most powerful rules are to always have a catch or a hook that draws the reader in the writing within the my introduction (or beginning paragraph) and to have a strong conclusion that leaves an impression on the reader. These rules assist me in entertaining the reader from the start while providing an ending situation for the reader to spend in thought.
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These helpful tips for writing should also be remembered when having a conversation. The rules remind me that sometimes the simplest sentences can be the most effective. Although these tips seem obvious, I know from experience that it can be easy to lose people in translation due to lack of structure. I would say that this often happens when one is trying to impress or persuade someone else. The combination of anxiousness to impress and eagerness to get a point across can leave readers and listeners lost and confused if the main point isn’t made clear because it is surrounded with unnecessary, distracting words. The rules of writing are more helpful when writing than when speaking because a complicated sentence that is written can be extremely misunderstood if the correct grammar and punctuation is not applied. When someone is speaking, it is easier to know exactly what is being said despite the use of foreign phrases and an over use of words because you can uncover the real message by evaluating the person’s tone and fluctuation in their voice and reading their body language. The most important question that I try to remember when I am writing is what am I trying to say? After answering that, it is easier to realize what I am not trying to say and I can eliminate unnecessary words as needed. When I apply all of these rules, rule number 1 in particular, I am able to write more effectively because I can get straight to the point.
Writing rules have always been confusing to me. There is always that exception to the rule, that I don’t understand how it to be an exception. As I began to read the first reading by Orwell’s essay. I started thinking about how I write. I know I have many areas to work on. I always know what I want to say but never know how to say them just right. After reading these writing rules I became confused. I was taught to be descriptive (which I am not). In Elmore Leonard’s Rules for writing it states “Avoid detailed descriptions of characters”. I was also taught to express words eloquently and to use metaphors to enhance your writing. In Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language”, he states, “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Once again I was contradicted on the techniques I was taught. I laughed when I read Leonard’s statement, “Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose. “ I use “suddenly” in my writing and immediately thought “dang” I must not be good at writing. But at that the end of the readings, I understood them, as all writers are different and unique. That writing can be done by one’s own style. I do wish I could become a better writer. Perhaps if I take these rules and apply it to my writings I can grow as a writer by not always using a style that I have conformed to. I should write by the style that will help the writing become clearer and fulfill its purpose.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of these writing rules?
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are many rules to follow, writing is often subjective. What makes these particular rules stand out is the fact that they are written by known writers. Many may not agree with what Mark Twain’s (Samuel Clemens) rules on writing, but he has published many more books than the average person, which gives him credibility. All of the authors have credibility, but does that make them logical?
Does one stand out to you?
One from each of the writings stands out. From Orwell’s rules I noticed that he was not found of similes, metaphors, or figurative speech. I have a hard time utilizing this rule as I personally feel that symbolic or representational messages often make the greatest impression on the reader. Orwell also had a rule based on using the least amount of words possible to convey a message. I found that rule is practical and useful as I dislike writings that take an entire page to convey a message one line could have communicated.
What are your most important rules of writing?
I have many rules of writing but I will state the three most important. The absolutely most important rule I have in writing is to have another person read what I wrote. The second most important rule would be to be clear and concise. The third rule would be to use language for the particular audience that will be reading the material. If another person is not going to read what you have written then I believe that more flaws can occur and if someone else does not read the material then no purpose has become of having written the message in the first place. Being clear and concise is important because if I cannot understand what is written the message is lost. The last rule is also important because there is no use writing anything if the audience is unable to read it.
I took AP English during my junior and senior year of high school. My junior year AP class was very challenging and caused me to drastically change my way of writing essays. My teacher had many specific rules very similar to what was in the assigned reading. Following rules when writing works for me because I have a tendency of writing too much or not getting straight to the point. I like Orwell's rules, especially the last couple rules that talk about being succinct in your writing. I keep rules like this in the back of my mind when I am going off in a tangent. It keeps me on task and reminds me to get to the point. The most important writing rule I use was something that my AP teacher taught me. She banned us from using "to be" verbs in all of our essays and would mark us down if we used them. It forced me to learn more effective ways of describing a topic instead of using the same type of repetitive language. Examples of "to be" verbs include are, am, were, become, is, and was. Eliminating those commonly used phrases creates a dynamic essay that engages the reader rather than boring them. I passed both of my AP English tests so my teacher's techniques worked fabulously and helped me get a jumpstart in college.
ReplyDeleteThese particular rules of writing are an entirely new concept for me. Aside from grammar and simple paragraph structuring, I was not given many other rules to consider while writing. I can appreciate each author's rules in that they give structure to their individual styles of writing. I agree with the idea that some form of structure or guidelines should be employed in order to have a successful product for people to enjoy. Mark Twain's first rule about a tale accomplishing something as well as arriving somewhere is a rule that I believe should always be followed by authors. I interpret the part about arriving somewhere to mean that a story will have a definitive ending with no loose ends for the reader to tie up. As a reader, there are few things more frustrating than having to guess at what the author was trying to convey at the end of a story. One thing that I try to do when writing is to keep it as simple and to the point as possible to avoid any unnecessary miscommunications. I can see the value in each authors rules and I am looking forward to trying them out in my own writing to see how it helps me become more focused.
ReplyDeleteThese rules can be very helpful to someone who wants to improve their writing. Orwell’s rules are more appealing to me since they focus on improving general, everyday writing. Twain’s and Leonard’s rules seem to focus more on writing a story, but offer valuable information on good writing techniques as well. One rule that seems to be common for all three readings is clearly expressing the main point without adding unnecessary information. This may seem like a simple rule but can be particularly challenging to follow when there is a page or word count that must be met. This one rule is what stood out the most to me from the reading. Since high school, most of the teachers and professors have advised my class to make our writing simple and not to use words we do not know the meaning. It is important to keep the audience in mind when choosing certain words. I try to follow this rule when writing, especially for my science classes. One requirement for writing lab reports is to avoid unnecessary details that will be of no use to the reader. Twain’s rule to use good grammar is another rule I consider important for all types of writing. Having good grammar helps the writing flow better, allowing the reader to focus on what the author is saying without any distractions. I hope to use these rules to improve my writing in all of my classes.
ReplyDeleteIn general I found these writing rules to be very resourceful and enlightening. As I read through them I quickly thought back to the manner in which I have written research papers, stories, or even high school essays and I noticed that I could have benefited from knowing some of Orwell’s, Twain’s, and Leonard’s rules. This being said, there were some rules and methods in week one’s reading that I have heard before and have been able to apply to my writing throughout the years, such as Orwell’s question, “Could I put it more shortly?” and his rules, “Never use a long word where a short one will do,” and, “Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.” One particular rule that stood out in the reading was Orwell’s rule that states, “Never use the passive where you can use the active.” This rule reminds me that when one is writing a research paper or is simply involved in a discussion, one must stand their ground when presenting evidence or making a point rather than beat around a bush. My most important rules when it comes to writing are to back up the statements I am trying to make with examples and facts, and to get to the point of my topic without providing unnecessary information that would waste both mine and the readers time, similar to Mark Twain’s 18th rule that states, “Employ a simple, straightforward style.” After having read through these rules/concepts, I intend to apply or at the very least consider them when it comes to my future writing.
ReplyDeleteI think these rules are essential in order to write clearly and efficiently. Though they were written in different times, they all have the same rules. Elmore Leonard’s rule “Never use a verb other than ‘said’ to carry dialogue” caught my attention since I am guilty of breaking that rule. Sometimes I say “he said” or “she stated” and other synonyms as such. I am also guilty of breaking the “never use a long word where a short one will do” by Orwell. I like looking up simple words and finding out various synonyms, but in some cases keeping it simple is better. It is fun to write, but one must really be conscious of the style and form that shapes one’s work. Keeping these rules in mind while writing can definitely make the writing process long and strenuous, but then again, Rome wasn’t built in a day. To me, the most important rule would be to be direct. If it takes a considerable amount of time to figure out what the thesis of an essay is, then interest is lost. However, these rules vary, depending on the type of work that is being completed. If I am reading a book, I don’t want the mystery and suspense to plateau after the second chapter. I would say that one should take what is needed from these rules and apply it to each situation one is faced with.
ReplyDeleteThese rules had me chuckling as I read them. They simplify writing to a point that makes it more enjoyable for a reader. Orwell's number 2 stood out to me. It asks the writer to question whether they have said anything that is avoidably ugly. When writing with a certain type of reader in mind it could be easy to pursue proving a point in a less than desirable way. My most important rules of writing is to take my time. I need to write, rewrite, and rewrite. I don't enjoy the process because many of my thoughts or ideas end up being cut from what I wanted to give to the reader. It feels personal, but I would rather have a strong piece of writing than to go off on one of many tangents. I will be keeping these rules close by through this quarter to use as a reference to help clean up my writing.
ReplyDeleteAll three writers give great advice for better writing. The main shared message is to keep writing simple and to the point, and each reminds us not to try to impress the audience with work or details but instead to capture the reader with content. Orwell's advice to omit unnecessary words and use simplified words instead, such as replacing cut with "omit," seemed obvious but very personal. It is definitely something I need to work on in my own writing. A couple of the most important rules that I often consider when writing is if I could have expressed myself more clearly and in fewer words, and to refrain from a passive voice when possible. The rules to consider what I want to say and how I should express that message come to mind automatically when writing. I'm now working on allowing the other rules to become just as automatic. With these readings and the responses I am definitely going to get the practice I need to do so.
ReplyDeleteI think giving rules at times can challenge a person's writing. Its healthy to challenge writers and open up their spectrum to new styles of writing. A writer should follow certain guidelines when writing when it comes to grammar, but not in a way that would limit their writing. I think the authors of each of the rules made them so that the reader could understand cut and dry what the writer intended.
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