Comments on: Learning to Write IX http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:23:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: konferens http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-111128 konferens Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:45 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-111128 As writing requires fewer expenses than any art except singing, and everyone who finishes grade school learns a few rudiments. For these reasons, it has never lacked wannabes. I’ve heard the claim that if you ask random strangers in Los Angeles how their screenplays are going, you have just bought yourself ten minutes of boredom – and, considering my experiences at science fiction conventions, I can believe it! As writing requires fewer expenses than any art except singing, and everyone who finishes grade school learns a few rudiments. For these reasons, it has never lacked wannabes. I’ve heard the claim that if you ask random strangers in Los Angeles how their screenplays are going, you have just bought yourself ten minutes of boredom – and, considering my experiences at science fiction conventions, I can believe it!

]]> By: Konferenser http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-111106 Konferenser Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:38:24 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-111106 Writing for me, is just another way of expressing myself. I do not really care if I'm an expert or not. Its just like talking on you don't use your mouth, so why make it all complex? Writing for me, is just another way of expressing myself. I do not really care if I’m an expert or not. Its just like talking on you don’t use your mouth, so why make it all complex?

]]> By: Fountain Pen Club http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-110977 Fountain Pen Club Wed, 13 May 2009 19:43:26 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-110977 This is so true. Its just a bunch of rubbish that people create, everyone's a writer one way or another. Its just how much effort and passion you put into that really matters.Nothing else. This is so true. Its just a bunch of rubbish that people create, everyone’s a writer one way or another. Its just how much effort and passion you put into that really matters.Nothing else.

]]> By: AuthorStore http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-15018 AuthorStore Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:37:55 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-15018 <strong>7 Myths of Writers by John Baker (plus one from me)...</strong> Author John Baker has a fantastic list of 7 Myths about Writers and Writing. Click over to his site and read the full text. Here are the 7 Myths: 1. Real writers get it right the first time. 2. I...... 7 Myths of Writers by John Baker (plus one from me)…

Author John Baker has a fantastic list of 7 Myths about Writers and Writing. Click over to his site and read the full text. Here are the 7 Myths: 1. Real writers get it right the first time. 2. I……

]]> By: sylvia http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-14731 sylvia Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:57:43 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-14731 <em>Only when that process is complete is it time to edit for spelling and other rules such as capitalization, punctuation, and word usage. And your computer can do that for you.</em> As a professional subeditor, I have to disagree with that statement. Would you trust a software program to correct your spelling or select the best word to use? There are so many things that can go wrong when you leave it up to the computer! Apart from that point I think this is a great column - so practical! Thank you for sharing your knowledge/experience. Especially agree with Point 3 - writing helps you think. That's how diaries can often function as therapy, because it can help you crystallise your thoughts as you're writing - at least, that's how it works for me! <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Sylvia, No, I wouldn't trust a software program to select the best words to use. It was wrong of me to suggest that that would be an OK thing to do. But I do use a spell-checker. The point I was trying to get across was that the writer shouldn't worry too much about spelling, grammar, etc. The important thing is to get whatever is coming down on paper. Everything else can be sorted later. Only when that process is complete is it time to edit for spelling and other rules such as capitalization, punctuation, and word usage. And your computer can do that for you.

As a professional subeditor, I have to disagree with that statement. Would you trust a software program to correct your spelling or select the best word to use? There are so many things that can go wrong when you leave it up to the computer!

Apart from that point I think this is a great column – so practical! Thank you for sharing your knowledge/experience. Especially agree with Point 3 – writing helps you think. That’s how diaries can often function as therapy, because it can help you crystallise your thoughts as you’re writing – at least, that’s how it works for me!

jb says: Hi Sylvia, No, I wouldn’t trust a software program to select the best words to use. It was wrong of me to suggest that that would be an OK thing to do. But I do use a spell-checker. The point I was trying to get across was that the writer shouldn’t worry too much about spelling, grammar, etc. The important thing is to get whatever is coming down on paper. Everything else can be sorted later.

]]> By: ninglun http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-14665 ninglun Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:07:49 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-14665 I'll be bookmarking this for my students. Thanks, John. Wasn't Scott Fitzgerald notoriously bad at spelling? <strong>jb says</strong>: So people say. But Fitzgerald wrote in a rhythmical prose and edited for sound rather than sight. He thought that Scribners, his publishers, should be responsible for grammar, but they weren't any better at it than he was. And neither the author nor the publisher had the advantages of computer technology. I’ll be bookmarking this for my students. Thanks, John. Wasn’t Scott Fitzgerald notoriously bad at spelling?

jb says: So people say. But Fitzgerald wrote in a rhythmical prose and edited for sound rather than sight. He thought that Scribners, his publishers, should be responsible for grammar, but they weren’t any better at it than he was. And neither the author nor the publisher had the advantages of computer technology.

]]> By: Learning to Write IX - John Baker « Web Writer http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-14538 Learning to Write IX - John Baker « Web Writer Sun, 26 Nov 2006 22:08:52 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-14538 [...] Learning to Write IX - John Baker’s Blog [...] [...] Learning to Write IX – John Baker’s Blog [...]

]]> By: Swifty http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/comment-page-1/#comment-14515 Swifty Sun, 26 Nov 2006 15:19:08 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-ix/#comment-14515 Great list, and I'm being nitpicky, but you accidentally italicized the entire entry, I think. <strong>jb says:</strong> Well, the whole list, or most of it, <em>was </em>italicized, but I'm blaming it on the software. Thanks for pointing it out; I've fixed it now. Great list, and I’m being nitpicky, but you accidentally italicized the entire entry, I think.

jb says: Well, the whole list, or most of it, was italicized, but I’m blaming it on the software. Thanks for pointing it out; I’ve fixed it now.

]]>