1. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0

    How do you practice?

    Discussion in 'General Writing' started by Credulous Skeptic, Apr 15, 2009.

    Has your writing gotten better or worse over time? Or has it stayed the same?
     
  2. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2009
    Messages:
    746
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Asheville, NC
    Better. MUCH better. Why do you ask?
     
  3. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    I asked because I'm getting the sneaking suspicion that practice is futile. At least for me it may be.
     
  4. KP Williams

    KP Williams Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2007
    Messages:
    606
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    My place
    The only way to get better is to practice. Don't make the mistake of thinking that practice doesn't help. Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it will wither if you don't practice. I once went for a month without writing, and it was pretty painful trying to get back into it. Never again.

    I think anyone would get better over time. If your writing is getting worse with practice, then you're doing something wrong. Maybe you need to switch genres, or mix up your style, or change your point of view (first person, third person). I tried all of those at once, and it worked wonders on my writing.
     
  5. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    3,339
    Location:
    Boston
    Practice definitely made me better. Not only did my prose improve, but the quality of my essays for school improved as well.
     
  6. Rei

    Rei Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2008
    Messages:
    7,864
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Kingston
    Of course it's not going to help if you don't believe it will.
     
  7. OneMoreNameless

    OneMoreNameless New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    229
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Bravely adventuring beyond the fourth wall.
    Of course there's a limit to how much better you can do just by practising, it's not going to help much unless you also continue to read other similar books and have your worked critiqued (by yourself or others) to figure out where you're going wrong. [/Obvious]
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Practice CAN reinforce bad writing habits, but I believe that combined with harsh self criticism and plenty of reading, your writing will improve with practice.

    Keep your older writing, and compare it occasionally with your current writing, If you really think your older writing is better, dig in to try to find what has changed for the worse.
     
  9. Poecilia Wingei

    Poecilia Wingei New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2009
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    1
    Strangely, I dug up a story that I wrote back in high school. It's probably the only one that escaped my destroy-these-out-of-embarrassment spree of '04. I was surprised that I wrote it-- somehow, reading it over while it was still fresh, glazed every sentence with ugliness, but now I see that it had a smoother and richer tone than much of what I write now.

    That said, there were some things I didn't know then, or have an eye to catch. For example, I was taught that third person was always omniscient. This piece was unconsciously third-person single-focus, so it gets confusing when it shifts to omniscient just because I was taught that third-person was made to do just that.

    My point, I guess, is... I don't know. Maybe you're still looking too closely at your new stuff, to judge if you're getting better? Maybe it's a matter of learning the improvements on technicalities, but at the same time maintaining the innocent passion? Keeping in the groove of consistently expressing yourself, until you're comfortable and confident with doing so, like FMK described, is certainly supposed to get better... but, in terms of the product's readability, maybe not necessarily. Maybe the self-edited penultimate draft is actually where we see the most improvement from experience, but I wouldn't really know... Good question!
     
  10. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Most of my writing is short and to the point.

    I admire writers who can elaborate on an idea for hundreds of pages, especially nonfiction writers. How do they do it?
     
  11. Aeroflot

    Aeroflot New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    It's called filler...

    Well, it can also be that the person is very passionate about the subject. Remember, writers aren't writing about every subject in the world. They're writing about what they are good at writing.
     
  12. Atari

    Atari Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2009
    Messages:
    455
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Heh, I pity you, Credulous Skeptic. If you want to write so badly, then just DO.

    None of us here even know how well you write.
     
  13. Chaoslogic

    Chaoslogic Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Credulous Skeptic:

    I have a problem with writing "flowery" writing. I wish I could be right on point, like you. Writing, combined with feedback, is improving my ability.
     
  14. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    You should see some of my essays-- most of them are in The New Yorker. Oh, and just for kicks and giggles, I regularly contribute to The New York Times.
     
  15. Chaoslogic

    Chaoslogic Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Send some my way? I'd like to read them. What are the essays about?
     
  16. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Chaos,

    They are about brilliant.
     
  17. Chaoslogic

    Chaoslogic Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    The article you wrote on staying out of the slush pile was pretty informative. It fits right in there with a lot of books I've read on the subject.
     
  18. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    That article was taken from the slush pile. You'll notice no difference in the way I write and the way others write. I have connections. How else do you think I can write for such a highly regarded publication. Steve Martin was lucky, too, because of his connections, and also gets to write for The New Yorker.
     
  19. Chaoslogic

    Chaoslogic Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2009
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I'm going to take your advice and use fancy paper, and printed borders next time I submit an essay to the New Yorker. I'll have to look into using 16 font. Large letters should grab their attention. :p
     
  20. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2009
    Messages:
    746
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Asheville, NC
    Credulous,

    So just to see what you were going on about, I went to one of the stories you've posted. I didn't read the whole thing (not yet anyway), just glanced at the way you constructed your sentences. You write well, if I can base that opinion on pure syntax. But even good writers have room to improve--there is no such thing as a writer who has reached the top and the inability to strengthen their writing in some way.

    As for writing improving over time...I only notice that it has for me because I keep journals and a couple years after I've written them I'll dig them out and look at them and go "I wrote that? That's horrible!"

    Progression as a writer doesn't happen over night--and it only happens when you write *every* day. That's why it's so important that we *write* as writers.

    Hope something I said helped..

    ~Lynn
     
  21. Rei

    Rei Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2008
    Messages:
    7,864
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Kingston
    What's wrong with this? There is no point in being jealous of others' skills. My cousin, Daniel, is beating himself up because he doesn't think he can be good as Bob Dylan (who is father hero-worships). I told him that it doesn't matter if he ever gets as good as him. All that matters is that he tries to be the best Daniel he can be.
     
  22. lilix morgan

    lilix morgan Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2009
    Messages:
    536
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    Wonderland
    My writing has greatly improved after practice. Don't think yours won't; give it some time.
     
  23. Lemex

    Lemex That's Lord Lemex to you. Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2007
    Messages:
    10,704
    Likes Received:
    3,425
    Location:
    Northeast England
    That's quite an emulation!

    For some reason I've been around Bob Dylan stuff all day today.

    Most writing is; 'once you start woffling you start being boring' as my girlfriend would say.
     
  24. Credulous Skeptic

    Credulous Skeptic New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for all the replies. :)
     
  25. rory

    rory Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2008
    Messages:
    285
    Likes Received:
    0
    "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

    I guess that goes along with what Cogito said about practice potentially reinforcing bad habits. Just make sure you're doing the best you know how right now, practice, and always look for opportunities to learn more about the art. Then you are bound to get better in time.

    I don't necessarily think my writing has improved very much in recent years (probably due to a lack of any practice, perfect or otherwise), but my ability to self criticize and find errors is markedly better, especially after a few short months on this forum. :)
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice