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Author Topic: primitives learning to write well  (Read 741 times)

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Offline franksolich

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primitives learning to write well
« on: May 13, 2009, 08:04:00 PM »
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=216x5623

Oh my.

Quote
NashVegas  (1000+ posts)        Thu Apr-23-09 12:56 PM
Original message

Where Did You Learn To Write Well?

A few years ago, one of our interns at work stumped me with that one. I'd always been a natural writer, it was something I just *did,* starting with my first short story at age nine, and countless journals and poems in the years after.

Is it possible to teach someone with no natural aptitude for writing, to write well?

No, it's not.

Writing is like sex.

One either has it, or doesn't have it.

It's pretty boring, this bonfire, so only a few comments.

The Zbigniew primitive:

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nadinbrzezinski  (1000+ posts)         Thu Apr-23-09 06:24 PM
Response to Original message
 
3. I haven't, that's why I edit, and edit, and edit 

but then again, writing is rewriting

In fact, if you read some of the greats and their comments on writing... they don't write well... they edit well

Actually, the Zbigniew primitive is right.

If franksolich edited well--he alas doesn't edit at all, everything always being a first draft, after which he moves on to something else--like, 10,000 words down to 1,500 words, franksolich could become a good writer.

As Woodrow Wilson said, any idiot can write a half-hour speech, but only a true genius can write a ten-minute speech.

It's a medium-sized bonfire, but it's all primitive yibber-yabbering nonsense.
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Offline MrsSmith

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2009, 08:15:31 PM »
Frank, Frank, Frank...you know we all find your writing to be quite good.  Your "first draft" is good enough to be Nadine's 5000th...and she'd still never manage to be as interesting.  :-)
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Offline Flame

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2009, 06:56:00 AM »
Quote from: MrsSmith on May 13, 2009, 08:15:31 PM
Frank, Frank, Frank...you know we all find your writing to be quite good.  Your "first draft" is good enough to be Nadine's 5000th...and she'd still never manage to be as interesting.  :-)

 :agree:
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Offline Doc Savage

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2009, 07:50:11 AM »
Eye two try two right well.
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You see, I don't care you how feel.  I really don't.  More importantly, neither does anyone else.  Only about 200 people on a planet of 7 billion actually care about your feelings, and that's if you're lucky.  The sooner you grasp this lesson, the better off you will be.  And since almost no one gives a damn what you do, say, think, or feel, appealing to your feelings when you encounter differences of opinion is not only illogical, but useless.

Offline Lord Undies

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2009, 08:10:29 AM »
I admire writing talent (frank) and have always lamented not being so blessed.  I do have other talents, of which I am grateful.

No one who posts on DU is remarkable.  Most of the time it is very childish and unreadable.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2009, 09:06:54 AM »
When I saw the title of this post, I knew it couldn't possibly be about Pitt.

And Frank, I am completely in accordance with you on the first draft approach, I generally only vary from it here if I'm trying to explain something rather complex of a military or historical nature so those without a lot of context will understand it.
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Offline AllosaursRus

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2009, 11:08:50 AM »
Hell, I just try to make sense! Personally I could give a rat's ass about writing "well", as long as I can be understood I'm happy.
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Offline Lord Undies

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2009, 11:12:06 AM »
Quote from: AllosaursRus on May 14, 2009, 11:08:50 AM
Hell, I just try to make sense! Personally I could give a rat's ass about writing "well", as long as I can be understood I'm happy.

I'm sorry.  What are you saying?
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Offline Celtic Rose

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Re: primitives learning to write well
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2009, 11:35:17 AM »
I firmly believe that the best way to learn to write well is to read plenty of good writing, and to read enough bad writing to know what to avoid  :tongue:
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