Writing. How to learn how?

[mariz]

I may have written about this here before. I get confused about what I've written where -- in here, or in here but private, or in my paper journal, or perhaps I've just talked about it with people or e-mailed them.  Yes, my life is a shambles. A disorganized mess.  And I was so very organized Before.  Not necessarily neat, but that was usually due

Comments

[leora]

This is the book I used in a college course that greatly improved my writing: Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams

Unfortunately, it appears to be out of print, but you might be able to find a copy. The author seems to have written may other books, and one of his others on the same topics might work. That book is nice in many ways, it has lots of small exercises and if you actually work through all of them (and you can go at your own pace), you are likely to become a better writer. It explains things simple and well about specific things you can check for in your writing to improve it and simple things you can think about to improve your writing. Note, this is all about how to edit your writing to make it better. You get anything in your first draft, then you edit to improve.

The book is not very long, which is nice. It's the best work I've come across in all of my education and personal reding, and I got a major in technical writing. I highly recommend it.

[mariz]

Thanks very much. I'll check the library. Actually, I think I'm a better editor than writer.

[leora]

Real writers edit. Nobody cares what your first draft looks like. What matters is how good your writing is when you are done with it, and that's a function of how well you can edit.

[mariz]

Hey Fey,

Actually, not fiction, I don't think. More essays personal or political or observational; and maybe even some poems. I don't think I'm able to write fiction anymore. I did it now and then as a kid, but I think I lost that muscle; and I don't miss it either.

Could you point me in the direction of some of the blogs you read. The only blogs I know of are knitting blogs.

[mariz]

What a perfect avatar for the topic.