Questions

Over the years, writing experts have recognized that English writing skills are one of creative communication’s most essential ***?pects. ***?rthermore, today’s modern age of immediate communication has reinforced the requirement to write clearly, ***?lly, and compellingly.

 

True enough, creative writing is a process that must be given a lot of consideration and effort. First, you would have to identify your writing area. This must be a subject in which you find yourself at your most creative and thus, at your most constructive. This would vary from ***?rson to ***?rson. Some individuals would prefer to work with some music playing in the background; some prefer background chatter and movement, while some ****?ts total silence when they are writing.

 

The entire process would also involve finding the inspiration behind the piece, the writing itself, flowing with momentum, and completing. The final step is the editing part. This involves proofreading the text and making the necessary revisions. Revising is not a one-time task. The best writers revise their work ***?veral ***?mes, until they are completely satisfied with the final result. However, if you are not someone who has exceptional understanding of the grammar rules, the editing and revising part will pose much difficulty for you. You could employ the help of an expert, ****? this could be ***?me-consuming. Your best option is to make use of creative writing software.

 

Creative writing software greatly helps by ****?anizing your thoughts. It also offers inspiration and advice. It also suggests writing prompts that would get your mind whirring. Another benefit of this software is that it provides help in formatting *****?enplays, novels, and other creative writing forms. Some offer ***?nctionalities for text enrichment.

With the grammatical ***?pect, you would be provided ***.stance in checking the spelling, punctuation usage, and grammatical compositions. The ***?ntences you have created will be checked and revised accordingly so that they will become fluent, clean, and accurate. Confusing ***?ntences and redundant paragraphs will be dealt with accordingly. This software makes use of a mechanism that attempt to simulate the human mind by reading the written text carefully, ****.zing it, and then “fixing” it in accordance with an advanced ***?lf-learning algorithm. Some programs work by suggesting corrections ***? you type the text. They offer better modes of paragraph development, suggest better ***?ntence structures, point out redundant ideas, and observe proper rhetoric. Therefore, our text becomes easier to read and understand. Not only will your writing become more comprehendible, ****? you will also improve you English writing and speaking knowledge and skills by being exposed repeatedly to your common lapses. Thus, it also ***.sts greatly in character development because you would become more confident with your writing. Moreover, free trials are often offered, so you can get to ***?miliarize yourself first with how the mechanism works before you actually purchase the software.

By having something that will automatically identify and correct common errors in writing, you get to upgrade your skills. Without a doubt, creative writing software will provide all the help you need if you ****?t all your writings to be professional, clear, understandable and error-free.

 

 


- Jane Sumerset

Everytime I try and start a new story I write about 10-20 ***?ntences then stop because I get bored. AGH!! Anyone have any ideas for stories they ****?t written? I’m 13 by the way.
I like writing:
Real life-high school(popularity etc), ***?mily problems, etc
Scary
Drama

Any ideas?
- BitterSweetSymphony

Rewriting a manuscript may not be the most attractive part of a writer’s job, but it is a necessary one, which brings to mind a local television ad I enjoyed watching years ago. It showed this hillbilly character sitting near a stack of old tires. He wore a pair of bib overalls and he looked straight into the camera and drawled, “Folks, tires ain’t purty.” The ad sold a lot of tires because the actor was believable, and he stated an obvious fact; namely, tires were not beautiful, but they were necessary.

When I first started writing, I thought I was “purty.” I considered myself an “artist,” someone who splashed words upon a page and then stepped back to admire them. Creativity meant never having to rewrite a single word. Such “creativity” also resulted in a steady stream of rejection slips. Over the years, however, I matured and finally acknowledged that rewriting (or, at least, rethinking to find the best word or sentence) had to be a part of my work ethic.

During my newspaper days it was pounded into me to give careful thought to each word before putting anything to paper. “Get it right the first time,” I was told. Ernest Hemingway, a former newsman, also chiseled out sentences for his novels in the same manner. When he was satisfied with one “perfect” sentence, he went on to the next, and then the next. Thomas Wolfe and F. Scott Fitzgerald, on the other hand, wrote whatever came to mind, and then later went back and rewrote, sometimes entire chapters. My wife is also a very creative writer and she likes to “let it flow” and then edit and rewrites everything again and again. I try to edit as I go along; then I go back to the beginning and rewrite what needs fixing, maybe once or twice.

What method is best? I believe it depends on the individual. The important thing is not to be satisfied with the first thought that pops into your head. Think! Then rethink. Then rewrite.

Samuel Johnson once said, “You should read over your composition and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.” Now that may be a harsh statement, but it does stress the need to be ruthless when editing your own copy. The best way to approach the task of rewriting is to pretend you are editing another writer’s manuscript. Picture in your mind the worst writer you know. Now take out that blue pencil and cut, cut, cut. You will be surprised how well you feel after chopping away all the dead wood.

“The beautiful part of writing,” said writer Robert Cromier, “is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.” Whether it takes you two drafts or twenty-two drafts doesn’t matter. The final draft is all that counts. Think of yourself as a diamond cutter, chiseling away until you extract the perfect diamond. Then step back in awe and say, “That’s it!”

Who should rewrite?

Only writers belonging to the human race need to edit and rewrite. Dogs, cats and aardvarks are exempt from this practice.

Author Kay Cassill stated, “I don’t believe a writer exists today who can’t profit from that editorial blue pencil.” All of us need to proofread our copy at least twice. Don’t rely on your computer spell-checker to spot spelling errors as many are overlooked, such as “there” instead of “their.” And don’t edit on the computer screen; print your pages and then edit. Errors in spelling and grammar are easier to spot on the printed page. Above all, don’t expect today’s editors to fix your mistakes. Most do not have the time, and many will simply reject your manuscript in favor of one with fewer errors. Rewriting is a fact of life. Accept it, or perish.

What should you rewrite?

You should rewrite only what can be rewritten correctly, or better, or more clearly.

Mark Twain left us with many pearls of wisdom and one of my favorites was his saying, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” The goal of each writer is to find the “right word,” the one that conveys succinctly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Don’t settle for “almost.” Cut and polish until that diamond illuminates the page.

“Like stones, words are laborious and unforgiving, and the fitting of them together, like the fitting of stones, demands great patience and strength of purpose and particular skill,” said Edmund Morrison. It’s true that putting words on paper is easy; taking them off is the hard part. But, with the right frame of mind, rewriting can be fun.

Buy yourself a good dictionary and thesaurus. Also, get The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. This little book–less than 100 pages–is filled with numerous nuggets of wisdom on the correct rules of grammar. Look for clichés, redundant phrases, excessive adverbs, too many adjectives, and unneeded words or sentences. Writing is all about clarity. Keep it simple. Be direct. Don’t use two words when one will do. Use a machete rather than a pocketknife when you become verbose. Expect some bloodletting.

When should you rewrite?

If you’re writing a novel, don’t wait until you finish the entire book before editing your pages. Begin rewriting as soon as possible, preferably after the first few chapters. I say this because if you finish the entire book you are somewhat “locked” into the outcome. During rewriting–as often happens– you may take an entirely new direction. Writing is all about the freedom to express yourself. So why be shackled? The same is true for short stories or articles. Begin editing at the first pause in the creative flow. For some, this may not be until the end of the story or article. For many, however, the muse departs after several pages. When this happens, stop! Go back to your first page and try to write it better. Move on to the next and do the same. When you reach where you left off you will be surprised your muse has returned, refreshed and ready to go again.

Where should you rewrite?

By this I mean, “Where in your manuscript are you most likely to need editing?” The first place to look would be your opening paragraph. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on a novel, short story, or article; the beginning must hook the reader into wanting to know more. Read the first lines of some of the classics and you’ll see what I mean.

“Vigorous writing is concise,” wrote William Strunk Jr. in The Elements of Style. “A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

In addition to the beginning, make sure your ending is equally concise and free of errors. Leave an editor with a satisfied smile on his face. Don’t add more than necessary to wrap-up your article or story. Know when enough is enough. Thomas Wolfe gave his editor, Max Perkins, fits because he never knew when to stop writing. Perkins had to literally sneak into his apartment and steal the manuscript before Wolfe added more to it.

Another area to look for trouble is in dialogue. Delete all unnecessary adverbs and explanatory verbs. The word said is preferable in most cases.

Why should you rewrite?

There are  three rules to becoming a successful writer: (1) Write (2) Rewrite (3) The same as Rule 2. The only way to become successful in any endeavor is through practice; rewriting is the practice part of writing. Look at golfer Tiger  Woods. He will “write” during a golf tournament, but he will also “rewrite” over and over again at the practice range, trying to eliminate any errors in his swing. Often during interviews, he remarks, “I just want to put myself in contention.” He does this by “rewriting” his golf game until it is perfect.

Few of us can equal Tiger on the golf course, but we can certainly put ourselves in contention with other writers by practicing our trade with the same dedication. Let’s face it, going to the practice range is not as glamorous as playing in a televised tournament before thousands of cheering fans.

Rewriting is also not glamorous, but it is necessary if you want to be a winner. And, who knows? Some day you may have fans of your own.


- E. P. Ned Burke

You’ve probably been baffled by all of the different texts and articles telling you how to write and in what way in the legal community.  One source telling you one way and another leading you down another route, well below are the top ten tips to adapt your style and meaniong of writing if you are writing for the legal community:

1. Always write short sentences because they are better than long ones. Remember that the topic sentence is the first sentence in each paragraph.

2. Do not use the passive voice because passive voice verbs are used without a subject and hence give the impression that you are not sure about it yourself. Moreover, they lack the punch. This means that the sentence “Donald did it” has a more impact than “the theft had been committed”.

3. Your writing should be like your speech: simple, direct, unpretentious. Think about the flow of logic. Never try and write like the courts because Judges write badly - like most other legal writers. However, avoid contractions (don’t use “don’t”), slang, and jokes — even if you talk that way, because the use of them opens up a certain amateurish aspect in writing. Never use pretentious legalisms such as “the case at bar” or “the instant case”.  Call it the Angelina case.  The use of long words should be avoided when short ones will do.

4. Do not try and sell too hard. If you cannot persuade, do not bludgeon.  Avoid using violent adjectives.

5. Have the courage to be dull if this is the price of being clear. If your ideas are interesting, they will carry the paper far better than a turn of phrase. Legal writing is essentially technical writing so do not try and be verbose.  Suspect the use of the fine phrase or the fancy word. Use the same word to express the same meaning and use simple sentence structure.

6. Always be specific.  Instead of “in recent years” try, “since 1980″.

7. If you are using a specific tense then stick to it.  Do subjects hold, or have they held? I do not care, so long as they only do one of those things.  Of course, tenses can be used to reinforce a temporal sequence: courts had begun, developments ensued, the result will be.

8.  I really believe in the use of a comma, whatever form of writing it may be. I believe that the use of a comma is very important in legal writing because legal writing is after all a form of technical writing. A penultimate comma works like this: “The four factors that affect good writing are lucidity, strong belief, construction, and attention to detail.” The last item in this list is “attention to detail”; without the comma after “construction” it would be unclear whether the final clause, joined with and, was one item or two (maybe the author cannot count and there are really five items on the list?).  The comma makes it clear.

9. Try and avoid the use of “etc.” Using that is a crime.

10. If one wants to use quotes one can use them but should not probably more than one every five or ten pages unless doing close textual analysis of a particular case, statute, or regulation, in which case it may be essential to quote it at greater length.  Remember that the average reader SKIPS the inset quote–so you need to provide a little summary of it afterwards which will allow.

Remember that it is always best to have a professional proofreader take a look through your work, checking that there are no mistakes, hiccups or grammatical errors when you submit it.  Least you will want is your reputation damaged by having a huge mishap in your work that everyone else has noticed but you haven’t.


- Nick Sanders

For my creative writing, I want to show that two people have developed from girlfriend and boyfriend to lovers. So I’m looking for a sentence where it goes: ______ became _____, however it should show the progression of a couple to lovers, with the latter blank serving as an implication for something sexual.

The more sentences you can construct will give you a better chance of scoring 10 points as best answerer.

Thanks in advance guys!
The blanks should be actions
- Harry

If you belong to the few who like to write - if you enjoy “the finest melody the words make,” the rhythm and pace of phrases and sentences, the architectural possibilities of paragraphs - do not read this article. It is intended for those who don’t have such warm feelings for writing. For those who experience great anxiety and discouragement every time they have to put some words to paper.

We hate writing especially college or university written assignments for toil, anxiety they cause. We are tired of hearing severe words of ruthless criticism for being “unclear” or “vague” or “wordy” in our writings. But still we can’t escape the necessity of writing, unless you choose to turn for help to a freelance writer. Even for such people that seem “hopeless” from the first sight there is a possibility to become freelance writer. It sounds very disappointing that writing has become something intimidating and unpleasant. I don’t think it deserves such a negative attitude. Let’s have a look at the better side of writing and forget about chaotic thoughts, broken sentence structures and low marks for all our efforts. Before making a decision that a good freelance wanted writer will be a solution to your problems, consider a couple of facts. You can trust me that writing will help you to grow and develop your potential. When you write you discover whether you really understand the problem, or think you do; and the very process of writing makes you think, and think much. Your first work may not be perfect but the pride of the accomplishment will make the services of freelance job writer unnecessary. When you read works of prominent writers, you think that writing comes to them spontaneously and they generate their masterpieces quickly and with no efforts at all. In fact it is quite the opposite. Beneath the surface there is a hidden history of struggle, false starts and dead ends, incoherent and vague ideas laboriously worked into clear, lucid text. Not every person involved in freelance writing work thought that it would be the way to earn a living. Holding a freelance writing position one can generate ideas and create masterpieces, but writing requires will and burning desire not to quit a job right in the middle of the process when nothing seems to be right. Every writer is aware that freelance academic writing is not just a resource of income, but also a way to teach students and post-graduates a culture of writing by own samples.

Good writing, like any craft, is the result of training, practice, and persistence. That can be discouraging, but it should also encourage you: if you persist, if you work, if you try, you will become a better writer, a good writer, able to express your thoughts with elegance and clarity. Over the long term the best thing you can do to become a better writer is to read a lot and develop your own judgment and skill. Read stories, newspaper and magazine articles, novels, poetry, email, online stuff, magazine ads, cornflakes boxes, movie reviews, and freelance writing samples, whatever. You’ll discover lots of excellent writing and lots of revolting writing - and once you have a bit of a critical eye you can learn useful lessons from everything you come across. Above all, just read, read, read. Learn to stop fussing about and just take pleasure in playing with words. Finally, write for yourself - write to reflect, write to learn, and write to become a wiser and better person.


- Tyler Benson

“Starship Troopers’ offers enlightening commentary on human nature. It demonstrates the lengths that humans are willing to go to hold onto power - particularly America’s attitude towards the rest of the world. The preferred reading, seen on the very surface level of this film, represents the hideous Bugs as ruthless attackers, and the humans as heroic defenders. Initially, the audience passively engages with this reading, because it is conforms to the conventions of society and the science fiction genre. However, when critically analysing this film the underlying anti-war message becomes very clear. It is conveyed through symbolism, references to Hitler and WW2, and technical codes that in this case, the humans are the attackers and the bugs are defending themselves. The central idea that militarism can lead to fascism is conveyed, at the same time critiquing Americas desire to have global military standing. Science fiction films are often prophetic in their nature, and perhaps, with the direction that global politics is heading, this futuristic vision might be more accurate than we’d wish to believe.

Suggestions? Other than “just scrap it”. (I was told that. Wasn’t helpful). Any nifty sentences, which sound a little bit less.. bumbling than mine would be helpful. : )
Thanks, for the advice, its very helpful (especially the russia thing). But this isn’t the essay, this is just the conclusion to the essay. The essay is a bit longer lol.
- Indiegirl

I am a middle school student. For my age, people say I write well. But my sentences are very short and I don’t describe things well. Are there any tips you have for me to improve? Any textbooks that will help me?
- Emily

Whew! I feel better just getting that out of my head and onto the page!

Writer’s block is the patron demon of the blank page. You may think you know EXACTLY what you’re going to write, but as soon as that evil white screen appears before you, your mind suddenly goes completely blank. I’m not talking about Zen meditation stare-at-the-wall-until-enlightenment-hits kind of blank.

I’m talking about sweat trickling down the back of your neck, anguish and panic and suffering kind of blank. The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer’s block gets.

Having said that, let me say it again. “The tighter the deadline, the worse the anguish of writer’s block gets.” Now, can you figure out what might possibly be causing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?

The answer is obvious: FEAR! You are terrified of that blank page. You are terrified you have absolutely nothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear of writer’s block itself!

It doesn’t necessarily matter if you’ve done a decade of research and all you have to do is string sentences you can repeat in your sleep together into coherent paragraphs. Writer’s block can strike anyone at any time. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about our own self-worth, but it’s sneaky. It’s writer’s block, after all, so it doesn’t just come and let you know that. No, it makes you feel like an idiot who just had your frontal lobes removed through your sinuses. If you dared to put forth words into the greater world, they would surely come out as gibberish!

Let’s try and be rational with this irrational demon. Let’s make a list of what might possibly be beneath this terrible and terrifying condition.



Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce a masterpiece of literature straight off in the first draft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.



Editing instead of composing. There’s your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soon as you type “I was born?,” no, not that, that’s wrong! That’s stupid! Correct, correct, correct, correct?



Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alone write, when all you can manage to do is pry the fingers of writer’s block away from your throat enough so you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You’re not focusing on what you’re trying to write, your focusing on those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.



Can’t get started. It’s always the first sentence that’s the hardest. As writers, we all know how EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must be brilliant! It must be unique! It must hook your reader’s from the start! There’s no way we can get into writing the piece until we get past this impossible first sentence.



Shattered concentration. You’re cat is sick. You suspect your mate is cheating on you. Your electricity might be turned off any second. You have a crush on the local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner party planned for your in-laws. You . . . Need I say more. How can you possibly concentrate with all this mental clutter?



Procrastination. It’s your favourite hobby. It’s your soul mate. It’s the reason you’ve knitted 60 argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garage workshop. It’s the reason you never run out of Brie.



FACE IT? IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER’S BLOCK!

How to Overcome Writer’s Block

Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away from this article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff. Never in a million years, you fume. Writer’s block is absolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to be impossible to overcome.

Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it’s not that easy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes and listen. All you have to do is listen? You don’t have to actually write a single word.

Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to make you out now that the cloud of dust is settling.

I am here to tell you that WRITER’S BLOCK CAN BE OVERCOME.

Please, remain seated.

There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one, pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before you even have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate, guess what? You’re writing.

Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming writer’s block:



Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself. (I know, that’s a cliché but as soon as you start writing, feel free to improve on it.) If you spend some time mulling over your project before you actually sit down to write, you may be able to circumvent the worst of the crippling panic.



Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes a masterpiece in the first draft. Don’t put any expectations on your writing at all! In fact, tell yourself you’re going to write absolute garbage, and then give yourself permission to happily stink up your writing room.



Compose instead of editing. Never, never write your first draft with your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, making snide editorial comments. Composing is a magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind by galaxies. It’s even incomprehensible to the conscious, editorial, monkey-mind. So prepare an ambush. Sit down at your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath and blow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover over your keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull a fake: appear to be about to begin to write, but instead, using your thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkey back into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jump in ? quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, let everything loose, as long as you do it with a pen or your computer keyboard.



Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over that all-important one-liner when you’ve finished your piece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end. Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read it over, the first line will be blinking its little neon lights right at you from the depths of your composition.



Concentration. This is a hard one. Life throws us so many curve balls. How about thinking about your writing time as a little vacation from all those annoying worries. Banish them! Create a space, perhaps even a physical one, where nothing exists except the single present moment. If one of those irritating worries gets by you, stomp on it like you would an ugly bug!



Stop procrastinating. Write an outline. Keep your research notes within sight. Use someone else’s writing to get going. Babble incoherently on paper or on the computer if you have to.



Just do it! (I know, I stole that line from somewhere?). Tack up anything that could possibly help you to get going: notes, outlines, pictures of your grandmother. Put the cookie you will be allowed to eat when you finish your first draft within sight, but out of reach. Then pick up the same type of writing that you need to write, and read it. Then read it again. Soon, trust me, the fear will slowly fade away. As soon as it does, grab your keyboard, and get writing!


- John Hayward

I wanted the live component so that I could write a few sentences, get criticism, write a few sentences, repeat.

To get help as the work developed.
- Logics bar