[Northkeep] Rant on writing (crossposted)

[Marc Carlson]

OK, there are a number of side-effects to the perception that I am really 
well-informed on topics.  One of these side-effects is that people will 
occasionally send me things to, and check for factual accuracy.  I don’t 
mind them doing this.  More often than not, what they send is generally 
correct, and may only need the smallest of tweaks to fix.

Unfortunately, there is often a correspondent drawback to this, and it’s the 
frustration that I get from this drawback which has prompted me to write 
this message.   That drawback has to do with writing style.  Now, please 
don’t get me wrong, I’m not *that* fussy a reader.  I also realize that not 
everyone is comfortable writing; they often get self-conscious, they were 
mauled in an unfortunate high school writing accident, they just don’t think 
they are that educated – whatever the reason, I do understand this.  I even 
sympathize.  As people who have read messages from me over the years may 
have figured out, I’m actually somewhat dyslexic, and have to work to write 
clearly (when I’m tired or in a hurry my spelling and style are the first 
things to go).  And, if you are writing email, or even a letter to a friend, 
clarity is not crucial.  It’s nice if you can manage it, but if not, you 
aren’t likely to lose your reader..

However, if you are writing a research document, an article, a webpage, a 
business letter, or whatnot, you want to be taken seriously.  You aren’t 
going to be taken seriously if your writing style is awkward, haphazard or 
careless..

In my experience, people who aren’t comfortable writing tend to fall at one 
end or the other of a spectrum.  Either they try to write as they think an 
“educated” person would, or they try to write like they think they talk.  
Unfortunately, failure to achieve either goal is very common, and their 
friends aren’t likely to tell them that their writing style sounds a little 
off.  I’m not inclined to tell them myself, since that usually isn’t what 
they asked me to; and frankly, when I *do* mention it, someone winds up 
getting their feelings hurt.

Therefore, please let me make a few suggestions, just to get them off my 
chest.

1.  If you aren’t comfortable writing, then write more.  Email is an 
excellent place to practice writing, particularly if you make the effort 
work on your style and presentation in your writing.  Write your emails as 
though you were writing articles.  You don’t have to do it all the time, but 
it IS good practice, and you will eventually learn to be more comfortable.

2.  When you do write, find an editor who can help improve your writing.  I 
can not stress this enough.  To provide an example of the difference between 
edited and unedited writing, I am included URLS to scans of the first draft 
of this message, after the person who does my formal editing for me got done 
with it.  These can be found at

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/fiction/essays/Rantpicture1.jpg

and

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/fiction/essays/Rantpicture2.jpg


3.  If you are unwilling to use an editor, for whatever reason, at the very 
least read what you’ve written aloud to someone else.  Better still, have 
someone who is unfamiliar with the topic read it aloud to you.  If there is 
any confusion in what they are reading, there’s a problem on the page.  If 
you have to explain anything to them, there’s a problem on the page.  If it 
sounds stupid to you, it’s probably going to sound that way to me too.  
These are *opportunities* to improve your writing and make your writing more 
clear.

3. You might even want to consider a basic writing course.  Barring that, 
there are a number of books out there on how to write.   For example, I am 
told that the _English Grammer for Dummies_ is excellent.   If you can’t 
find one that looks interesting to you, put it down and try another – there 
are plenty out there.   Note: I have a friend who tells me that these books 
are a waste of time, and that either you can write or you can’t.  Talent 
alone will carry you though.  This is balderdash.  Writing is a craft, like 
knitting or fighting.  Certainly some folks can do it better than others, 
but that doesn’t mean anyone can’t learn to do it.

Thank you for your time, I’m done now.

Marc/Diarmaid