We're still slightly behind the syllabus schedule. I'd planned to take two class sessions for discussion of Part I of Zinsser, but we didn't even get started with that material on Tuesday. The plan for Thursday, March 2, is to cover *all* or Part I.
If you haven't done so already, please read the first half of Part I and do the previous blog post (It Takes Two). Then, please read the remainder of Part I (pp. 24-48), and, in the comments section below, comment on the additional material you read. What additional ideas making writing fun and for becoming a better write do you see in these pages?
The author began by talking about writing for yourself, which I think is a good tip to follow if you are trying to enjoy writing something. Becoming involved in your paper can establish a more enjoyable process, especially because you are expressing yourself through it and your own style.
ReplyDeleteExpanding your vocabulary and using more expressive language can also bring life to your writing. Over time, a paper can become dull and you may be repeating phrases or words over and over, so it is good to be varied in the language you use.
I found the information from chapter five about a writer’s audience really helpful on making writing more fun. Zinsser says that the best type of work, is that written by someone who only wrote it for themselves. If I’m going to write a paper for a large group of professors, I’m probably going to be a lot more nervous about it and will be more concerned with how my audience will perceive my work. However, if I’m writing something with the idea of my audience just being me, I’m going to feel a lot more free to write the way I feel or think about a certain topic.
ReplyDeleteMan, this book is really well written! I feel like that’s kinda obvious, since it’s a book about writing, but as an English major myself I can say that there are many books about writing and a lot of them are not helpful or even give harmful advice. In contrast, this book gives good advice and spends plenty of time explaining why this is good advice. I feel like I would just end up posting every page if I included all the advice I liked, so I’ll just share my favorites. Firstly,
ReplyDelete“You are writing for yourself. Don't try to visualize the great mass audience. There is no such audience—every reader is a different person. Don't try to guess what sort of thing editors want to publish or what you think the country is in a mood to read. Edi- tors and readers don't know what they want to read until they read it. Besides, they're always looking for something new.” (25)
This is super solid advice and it really helped me to just write and not worry so much about what some ambiguous reader is gonna think down the line. However, I some advice is harder to follow than others. Another of my favorite advices is: “Good usage, to me, consists of using good words if they already exist—as they almost always do—to express myself clearly and simply to someone else.” (46) When I first read this, I had a really hard time accepting it because all my life I’ve felt like using big fancy words makes my writing better. However, after some self-reflection, I can see where the author is coming from and how this is some really good advice, especially for me personally. I’ve come to the realization that not everything needs to be complicated and most things actually shouldn’t be.
When reading the rest of part 1, I found the audience sections most helpful. To make writing more fun you have to write for yourself. Don't worry so much about what you think the audience will like but do what you like. This will make it fun because you can feel good about what you wrote. This can make it fun for the audience to read as well because they are reading an expression of who you are.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I liked from the second half of Part I was the chapter on usage. I think this chapter can help us all become better writers because when we focus on the usage of our words, it creates some discipline with the words we use. It can also be fun because it gives us as writes new ways to think of and use words.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes writing fun is being able to write the same thing in different ways - dependent on audience. I'm not going to try and explain the legislative priorities of Northern over the past twenty years to 12 year old the same way that I would to 30 year olds or to professors. Being able to have a deep understanding of a topic and express it to different groups while still getting the important parts of your argument across is what makes writing fun.
ReplyDeleteIf your write for yourself your writing will be far better for the reader for you are using your form of writing in your own terms. Trying to copy others tones and characters will make writing for you much harder and far less enjoyable. Write for yourself and you will improve greatly and have a fun time writing a great paper.
ReplyDeleteWord usage is also a key aspect when writing anything. Make sure you use your own language but also add in some different aspects of words to spice up the paper you are writing. Overall, this book was great to read and helped me especially in writing this paper for the class.
One thing that stuck out to me from this section was when the author talked about usage. One thing that I've fallen into the habit of is using the same words and phrases over and over again throughout my writing, especially when writing a longer paper. But in this section, the author talks about "cheap" words. "Why is one word good and another word cheap? I can't give you an answer because usage has no fixed boundaries." Once you write your rough draft going back in and changing some sayings or adding different aspects to your writing will only improve your final product!
ReplyDeleteThe second half of Part 1 of the book was more amusing to read than the other. Simply because one specific chapter I like. In chapter 7 of part 1 you see the title is called Usage. At first going into this chapter I had some suspicions on what this chapter was going to be about. Boy was I wrong.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter had a deeper incite on what are called "good words" and what are "bad words" when it comes to writing a effective paper. Most students don't even realize sometimes what some words work well than others. I for one wasn't the best when it comes to Usage of the word Zimmer really did help me find more improved words to use during my paper for this class.