Comments on: Becoming a Better Writer http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-better-writer.html Reading Pop Culture Like an English Teacher Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jennifer http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-better-writer.html/comment-page-1#comment-315 Jennifer Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:14:23 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-a-better-writer.html#comment-315 Anonymous,<br />You are certainly correct that "practice makes perfect" applies to any field. I do think, though, that it must be repeated more often in reference to writing because there is a commonly-believed myth that writing is some mystical skill that a person either has or doesn't have. <br /><br />One of my professors told us that Coleridge (one of the most famous British Romantic poets) claimed that he had written his poem "Kubla Khan" in a single sitting after waking up from a dream. Later, however, dozens of drafts were found.<br /><br />Writing is hard work. Does it require a degree of aptitude to be great at it? Of course. But when it comes down to it, it's just expressing thoughts in a way that can be understood and, just maybe, is eloquent as well. Practice is the only way to learn. Anonymous,
You are certainly correct that "practice makes perfect" applies to any field. I do think, though, that it must be repeated more often in reference to writing because there is a commonly-believed myth that writing is some mystical skill that a person either has or doesn't have.

One of my professors told us that Coleridge (one of the most famous British Romantic poets) claimed that he had written his poem "Kubla Khan" in a single sitting after waking up from a dream. Later, however, dozens of drafts were found.

Writing is hard work. Does it require a degree of aptitude to be great at it? Of course. But when it comes down to it, it's just expressing thoughts in a way that can be understood and, just maybe, is eloquent as well. Practice is the only way to learn.

]]> By: Tesh http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-better-writer.html/comment-page-1#comment-303 Tesh Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:35:18 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-a-better-writer.html#comment-303 Note that there's a difference between "writing" and "publishing" said writing.<br /><br />I find that my blog informality allows me to let more writing escape than I'd otherwise release in a more... academic environment. There are good reasons for rough drafts when you're trying to come up with something that actually reads well and communicates the intended ideas.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoy writing, and have to rein myself in on my blog so that I actually get other things done with my time. As it is, I probably post too much, and too many *long* essays. Even so, I agree with the principle of writing practice. It's been far too long since I wrote an academic paper, and I'm itching to do so again for some odd reason. Maybe I've had my fill of semi-pithy, rambling ruminations and want to exercise the *thinking* behind the writing a bit more rigorously. Note that there's a difference between "writing" and "publishing" said writing.

I find that my blog informality allows me to let more writing escape than I'd otherwise release in a more… academic environment. There are good reasons for rough drafts when you're trying to come up with something that actually reads well and communicates the intended ideas.

I thoroughly enjoy writing, and have to rein myself in on my blog so that I actually get other things done with my time. As it is, I probably post too much, and too many *long* essays. Even so, I agree with the principle of writing practice. It's been far too long since I wrote an academic paper, and I'm itching to do so again for some odd reason. Maybe I've had my fill of semi-pithy, rambling ruminations and want to exercise the *thinking* behind the writing a bit more rigorously.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-better-writer.html/comment-page-1#comment-302 Anonymous Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:56:30 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-a-better-writer.html#comment-302 Well BJ the same is true with anything. I do not write never have and will never claim I can. I do however know math back and forth and for the same reasons. I do it everyday. All day most days. You are a first hand witness as to what that does for a person. So I have this to say: anything you want to do in your life and do well, do it all the time. If you want to be a good cook then cook everyday. Practice makes perfect always has and always will. Well BJ the same is true with anything. I do not write never have and will never claim I can. I do however know math back and forth and for the same reasons. I do it everyday. All day most days. You are a first hand witness as to what that does for a person. So I have this to say: anything you want to do in your life and do well, do it all the time. If you want to be a good cook then cook everyday. Practice makes perfect always has and always will.

]]> By: We Fly Spitfires http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-better-writer.html/comment-page-1#comment-301 We Fly Spitfires Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:27:55 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/09/becoming-a-better-writer.html#comment-301 Great post. I agree wholeheartedly. For me, part of blogging was finding my "voice" and learning how to write articles in a way that was unique to me and didn't sound too self-conscious. My first few posts were terrible in that respect :)<br /><br />The only thing that frequent blogging hasn't improved though is my spelling :) Great post. I agree wholeheartedly. For me, part of blogging was finding my "voice" and learning how to write articles in a way that was unique to me and didn't sound too self-conscious. My first few posts were terrible in that respect :)

The only thing that frequent blogging hasn't improved though is my spelling :)

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