Too Many Words About Writing

[onceupon]

I found myself, via Twitter, giving writing advice to someone I admire the other night. It was appropriate, in context. I mean, I wasn't just forcing my writerly opinion on random people or anything. But it, as sometimes happens, made me think about the practical methodology of teaching writing.

About a year ago, I read Francine Prose's Reading

Comments

[nancyblue]

This really parallels a recent observation I have made and something I am working with myself. I do so much crappy reading because of my job, that I don't take the time to do a lot of sustained, in depth reading. I don't get to the point where I'm lost in the narrative or let the words flow, even in non fiction stuff. And I'm realizing that because of this, the words aren't flowing for me as well. I need to just read more often, and read in an immersive way. It needs to be part of my practice.

[onceupon]

That's such a vital point. I am still trying to figure out a coherent way to express my reaction to this but I wanted to go ahead and say YES.

[kat1031]

I love having an English degree. I loved being a liberal artist (I also have most of a history degree and a large chunk of a women's studies minor). Yeah, it's weird to have a degree so far outside my field and I've seen the moment in job interviews where that's cost me points but honestly, I think that the most valuable academic time I've spent was as an undergrad studying literature and history.

I'd honestly give my eyeteeth to switch back to post-grad work in the liberal arts. I'm enjoying the MIS stuff (sorta, anyway, I tend to think that technology is not something that's conveyed well in a classroom setting) but I miss being in a thinking program like you wouldn't believe.

[shannonmariah]

I really enjoyed reading this.

Would you recommend "Reading Like a Writer?" I couldn't tell if you liked it or not.

[littlegothkitty]

Not just cereal boxes - the shampoo bottles when I mistakenly go to the bathroom (even for 30 seconds) without a book. It HURTS to not have something to read. It's probably a disorder

[ladyfelicity]

Actually, I have that problem, with not being able to pronounce words I've only read. :D I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[kest]

I had a problem with 'melancholy' - the first time I heard someone say it I didn't recognize it as a word I knew. Apparently I also say 'bury' funny - I guess most people say it like 'berry' and I say it like 'burry' - but I think I legitimately get that pronunciation from my mother. *She* may have gotten it from reading, I don't know. Oh, and for a while I pronounced 'failure' like it rhymed with 'future'. I don't even know what I was thinking there.

I'd have to add

[ladiefare]

Dean Koontz, the man is more headfuckery than King and James Patterson is a slow steady ascent in to worlds you will be surprised to find. I adore Odd Thomas and the Frankenstein series is twisted yet completely plausible.The Lake House duo and the Maximum Ride series are favorites also...oh and Sherrilyn Kenyon. The Darkhunter series is full of legends and tons of Supernaturals, from Vamps to Wares to Demons to demi gods.There are also Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome.Add the legends and lores of different Gods and Godesses woven through each story spanning different millennial, from hundreds to thousands of years. I was obsessed for weeks until I had read them all
Have you tackled Under the Dome yet? The BIGASSBOOK is what I will forever refer to it as.I liked it,a lot.It tweaks your perspective and wobbles your place in this world.I love it when that happens.
Hopefully being a self educated student of life counts.lol it's all I got.