tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post3816451334598083429..comments2023-05-24T23:33:57.516+10:00Comments on My Unwelcome Stranger: Ten rules for writing + oneDenis Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-17877246950062396832012-07-04T16:10:09.876+10:002012-07-04T16:10:09.876+10:00I just read the C S Lewis tips and that's exac...I just read the C S Lewis tips and that's exactly right. As my news writing lecturer taught me, journalistic writing is about learning your ABC:<br /><br />A-Accuracy<br />B-Brevity<br />C-Clarity<br /><br />These tips significantly improved my writing, and I think could improve everybody's writing!Sheshtynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-11909027313737541462012-06-28T09:26:42.058+10:002012-06-28T09:26:42.058+10:00Then you're in with a big show. Don't you ...Then you're in with a big show. Don't you love the Bulwer-Lytton competition entries?<br /><br />Do you remember the very funny <i>Peanuts</i> cartoon where Snoopy is writing his novel?<br /><br />"It was dark and stormy night. Suddenly, a shot rang out. A door slammed. The maid screamed. Suddenly, a pirate ship appeared on the horizon! While millions of people were starving, the king lived in luxury.<br />Meanwhile, on a small farm in Kansas, a boy was growing up."<br /><br />End of Part I<br /><br />Snoopy then types "Part II" and looks up grinning with a thought balloon thinking "In part two, I tie all of this together.".<br /><br />Several weeks later Charles Schultz published a followup strip. Once again Snoopy was typing his novel.<br /><br />Part II<br /><br />"A light snow was falling, and the little girl with the tattered shawl had not sold a violet all day.<br />At that moment, a young intern at City Hospital was making an important discovery."<br /><br />At the end of this strip Snoopy looks up with a frown and a thought balloon thinking "I may have written myself into a corner".<br /><br />http://www.hjkeen.net/halqn/peanuts.htm<br /><br /><i>I'd try to avoid doing that if I were you, Janice.</i>Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-63888348951553741632012-06-28T09:13:39.602+10:002012-06-28T09:13:39.602+10:00You're right. Journalism is different. When I ...You're right. Journalism is different. When I started writing web op pieces, I thought, 'This is just about stepping down a bit from the high horse of academic writing.' <br /><br />How wrong can you be? In many cases, it's a gigantic step up – or away? – from the high horse. I still haven't made the adjustment when I'm blog-writing, which is another art form again. <br /><br />Did you see the C S Lewis tips for children in the next posting? They're eye-openers – especially 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5....Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-75870589414069866252012-06-27T22:16:13.478+10:002012-06-27T22:16:13.478+10:00It's a dark and stormy night here in Brisbane ...It's a dark and stormy night here in Brisbane as I look over my entry to the Bulwer - Lytton Competition. I'll make sure to ignore all those tips.Janice Cousensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-43791826502483692682012-06-27T14:43:44.350+10:002012-06-27T14:43:44.350+10:00Very good writing tips. My fiction writing needs c...Very good writing tips. My fiction writing needs considerable improvement. Journalism is a different ball game, though. Thanks for posting this Denis!Sheshtynhttp://www.twitter.com/shazzshazshznoreply@blogger.com