Transcript Remember you are not a human being having a

A Seminar on Effective Writing
For
Those who need and
want to write!
“ Remember
you are not a
human being having a spiritual
experience, rather you are a
spiritual being having a human
experience.”
• “ Why aren’t you painting?”
• “ A scene that looks like a painting does
not make a painting.”
• “ If you take the time to look closely all of
nature has its own beauty.”
• “ I just lose myself in it.”
• “And then as if in a dream the scene
paints itself for me.”
• “It’s so difficult to hold it inside.”
• “ I work. I slave.”
Creativity
• Try new experiences
• Get out of your comfort zone.
• Try to do things in a different way.
Right Away, Write It Down
• Record ideas as soon as you think of
them.
• Keep paper and pen handy at all times.
• In your car, at home, at work, while
walking, when you wake up.
Listen to Music
• Listen to whatever sparks your
imagination.
• Listen to the Beatles, Bach or Beyonce or
something you have never heard before.
Keep a Journal
• Write about life
• Write about your experiences
• Read your journal
Change your locale
• Leave.
• Go somewhere.
• Find a quiet place.
And most of all
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Be Aware.
Be Aware.
Be Aware.
And…
Read.
Read anything and everything.
Some Possible Reasons
Why We Write
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To Inform
To Persuade
To Entertain
To Request
To Express Feelings
To Express Ideas
Writing
• Experience shapes writing.
• Writing never follows a straight path.
• Each assignment presents a unique
challenge.
• Each writer works differently.
The Writing Process
• Pre Writing
• Writing
• Post Writing
Pre Writing Realities
• Thoughts pass through your mind; you
never have nothing in your mind.
• Free Writing helps you get these thoughts
on paper.
• Many things seem awkward or difficult
when you first try them.
• Just stick to it and do not lose hope.
Pre Writing Tricks
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Lists
Music
Clustering
Imaginary Dialogue
Sentence Completion
Reflecting
Lists are a good way to start.
1) List five places that you have never been
to but would like to visit.
2) List five persons ( fictional or true) that
you would like to meet.
3) List five persons ( fictional or true) that
you would never want to meet.
4) List five things you would like to try but
have not yet.
5) 5 things you like about yourself.
Sentence Completion
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My favorite childhood toy was……
I will never……
I secretly enjoy……
The greatest joy in my life…..
I feel strong when….
I worry that…..
If I could I would…..
Sometimes…..
PRE WRITING
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Time
Location
Atmosphere
Triggers
Free Writing
• Write nonstop for at least ten minutes. Just
write anything that comes to mind.
• If you have a particular topic, begin writing
about it.
• Do not stop to judge, edit or correct your
writing.
• Keep writing even if you think you have
exhausted the topic.
• When a particular topic seems to be working,
stick with it.
A Question of Style
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Think of your clothes.
When you opened your cabinet this morning, you had to choose.
Shall I wear something old? New? Bright? Conservative?
Whatever you wear, that is your style.
Same thing with writing. It is a series of choices that you make.
Your words, your sentences and your paragraphs.
• Your clothes as well as your writing will not change and they will
be in style if you do everything to make it possible to make sure it
looks and sounds like you.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
Write for example, ‘The night is shattered
and the blue stars shiver in the distance.’
The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.
Through nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.
She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.
How could one not have loved her great still eyes.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.
To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.
What does it matter that my love could not keep her.
The night is shattered and she is not with me.
This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.
My sight searches for her as though to go to her.
My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.
The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.
I no longer love her, that’s certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.
Another’s. She will be another’s. Like my kisses before.
Her voice. Her bright body. Her infinite eyes.
I no longer love her, that’s certain, but maybe I love her.
Love is so short, forgetting is so long.
Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms
my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.
Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer
and these the last verses that I write for her.
Traits of an Effective Writing Style
• FOCUS
• Stylistic writing displays a clear focus.
• It stems from a specific feeling you have
about your subject.
• It attempts to entertain, explain or persuade.
• It uses one word when one word will do.
One sentence when one sentence will do.
• It is under your control.
Use Strong and Colorful Words
• The word is the basis of effective writing,
so choose your words carefully.
• Words become sentences. Sentences
become paragraphs and paragraphs
become your work.
• So choose your words very carefully.
Prefer clear and familiar words.
• Small words are usually the clearest,
easiest way to understand.
• Small words are more precise.
• Small words add beauty.
Use the fewest words possible
Don’t use several words when one will do
WORDY
Concise
At this point in time
now
At the present moment
now
At this very moment
now
Immediately following
then
Subsequent to
after
At a later time
later
Prior to
before
In the days and weeks preceding
before
Be concise
• Use one word when one will do.
• Simplify.
Use Vivid Verbs
• Like nouns, verbs are also general and
specific.
• The word looked is not the same as
glared, glanced, stared and peeked.
The manager looked at the employee is
different from The manager stared at the
employee.
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CONCRETENESS
It is precise and colorful.
It helps the reader hear and feel things.
It uses specific words that describe.
Avoid Vague Language
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Good
Bad
Boring
Great
Pretty
Nice
Cute
Mean
Evil
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Excellent
Terrible
Wonderful
Amazing
Strange
Weird
You get the picture
• Choose specific nouns.
Man – Writer – Poet – Pablo Neruda
Drink – Nutritious Drink – Grapefruit
Pain – Headache – Migraine
• Nouns are specific and general. Use the
specific for colorful and strong writing.
Use metaphors
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As scary as
As cold as
As terrifying as
As bewildering as
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• Whenever possible, use a verb that is
strong enough to stand alone without the
help of an adverb.
Verb and adverb: Joan sat down on the
couch.
Vivid verb: Joan plopped on the couch.
• Avoid overusing the “to be” verbs ( is, are,
was, were….)
A “to be” verb: Tess is someone who likes to
play tennis.
Stronger: Tess likes tennis.
• Use the “right” words.
• Words have two shades.
• Denotation. – The literal meaning of the
word.
• Connotation. – The emotional meaning of
the word.
• USING REPETITION
• When we repeat we mean similar
grammatical structures ( words, phrases or
ideas.)
• Its purpose is for rhythm, emphasis and
unity.
• When used effectively, repetition can be a
powerful tool in effective writing.
• The key point in repetition is to keep words
or ideas parallel, or stated in the same
way.
Sentences
Write Clear Sentences
• Incomplete Comparisons
Inc: I get along with Rosa than my sister.
Complete: I get along with Rosa than my
sister does.
• Ambiguous wording:
Unclear:
Sentences, Part Two
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Vary the length of your sentences
Vary the opening of your sentences.
Use other words other than the subject.
Use different types of sentences.
Sentence Starters
• Verb – Running, the man fell.
• Adjective – Black was the night.
• Interjection – Alas! He fell.
• Adverb – Knowingly, she reached out.
• Noun – Stars and moon fill my eyes.
There are so many ways!
Write Natural Sentences
• Deadwood – wording that fills up space
but does not add anything.
Wordy: At this point in time, I feel the the
study needs additional work before the
committee can recommend it to be re
submitted for consideration.
Concise: The study needs more work.
Flowery Language
Flowery: The cool fresh breeze which came
like a storm in the night lifted me to
exhilarating heights from which I had been
previously suppressed by the
incandescent cloud in the learning center.
Concise: The cool breeze was a refreshing
change from the classroom air.
Trite Expressions – overused and stale
phrases.
Trite: It was raining cats and dogs.
Natural: It was raining hard.
Jargon – language used in a certain
profession or industry. It is techinical.
Jargon: I am having conceptual difficulty with
these employee mandates.
Natural: I do not understand these work
orders.
Euphemisms – word or phrase used in a
less offensive way.
Euphemism: I am so exasperated, I could
expectorate.
Natural: I am so mad, I could spit.
Wordiness – too many words
Redundant: The team won seven games
straight in a row.
Concise: The team won seven straight
games.
Writing Acceptable Sentences
• Non standard language is language used
in conversation but not in formal writing.
Non standard: I’m gonna go with you.
Standard: I am going with you.
• Double Negatives – is a sentence that has
two negative words.
Awkward: I haven’t got no money.
Corrected: I have no money.
Paragraphs
• The Topic Sentence
Formula: A limited topic plus a specific
impression.
Music ( limited topic) + helps people relax. (
a specific impression)
Types of Paragraphs
• Narrative – tells a story
• Descriptive – sentences present a single
clear picture
• Expository – that presents facts, gives
directions, defines terms.
• Persuasive – presents information to
support or prove a point.
Details are the secret to effective writing.
• Sensory – through your senses
• Memory – from past experiences
• Reflective – when you reflect on things ( I
wish, I hope)
Arranging details
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Chronological – in which they happen
Location – left to right, top to bottom
Illustration – general to particular
Climax – particular to general
Cause and Effect – make connections and
results
• Comparison – when you compare subjects
• Definition – to explain a concept or term
Show, do not tell.