quote:

Originally posted by Akridrot Makes sense, thanks. Though I'd still like some writing guides to accompany this "Visual Thesaurus" (cool idea). edit: I think I'll start by finding ten or twenty random words each day, and writing 1/2 a page to a full page using them.

As others have said, reading writing guides would help you to overview styles of writing. Though the best way to teach yourself to write better, is to write. Write about anything, and as often as you can. PDD can help you with this too, as it opens possibility for a venue to write.

i'm an aspiring writer and the things i've done over the last two years to increase my vocab and writing skills ten fold are:

1. install WordWeb this handy little tool sits in your system tray and whenever you read an internet article or forum post and come across a word you were previously unaware of you just highlight it and bang you get the definition and a list of synonyms - its so useful i can barely live without it anymore!

2. subscribe to dictionary.com's "word of the day" they email you a new word every day ranging from the interesting to the obscure. words that i like the sound of or know that i may end up using in the future are copied into a word document (which has become quite large over the last few years, along with the document where i've copied great quotes and passages i've read in books, and poems that i love)

3. Read! Read! Read! And don't limit yourself to any one genre; the classics of literature are a great place to start as each and every books' style differs greatly; reading translated novels written by authors who've grown up in cultures far different from your own is also a great idea; the unique German classic Patrick Suskind - Perfume opened my eyes at the power of the written word, entire chapters of this book are devoted to the antihero's sense of smell which he uses to perceive reality (It is about a serial killer who murders young virgins to create the perfect perfume, its farking wierd ) great works of Science Fiction like 'Robert Heinleins - A Stranger in a Strange Land' and 'Frank Herberts' - Dune' make great use of artificially constructed idiomatic language and Steinbeck - Grapes of Wrath depicts some of the most realistic colloquial language i've read (the way characters talk in books isn't how they would talk in real life) also don't look past articles / books on Science, Philosophy, Culture, Art, et al.

4. I've almost finished my Teach English as a Foreign Language course which has required me to learn the banal rules of hardcore English Grammar (I barely learnt a thing at school, probably because i spent more time on the Soccer field than in the classroom and consequently failed English - no regrets! ) I would focus more on the other three points than the rules of English though, many people do writing courses and follow that particular school of thought so rigidly that their writing loses any flare it may once have had and just comes accross as boring and insipid

"as the spirit wanes, the form appears." - Bukowski

5. oh and Practice, Practice, Practice!

quote:

Originally posted by josh4 As others have said, reading writing guides would help you to overview styles of writing. Though the best way to teach yourself to write better, is to write. Write about anything, and as often as you can. PDD can help you with this too, as it opens possibility for a venue to write.

Yeah, I think this is the key. Reading is important so that you can learn to discern between what constitutes good writing and what constitutes bad writing, but it's only by writing lots for yourself that you're likely to improve. As Josh said, just posting in the PDD (and other forums) has helped my ability to write immensely.

Just a couple of general tips from my own experience:

• Have a good idea about what you're going to write about before you start. You don't have to plan it in great detail, but at least make sure you know what points you want to get across before you start otherwise you're likely to just start waffling directionlessly (a problem that I've always had).
  
• In my opinion, developing a good flow to your writing is more important than writing with a large vocabulary. It's not an easy thing to learn, but the words should flow smoothly and with an innate rhythym. Fluidity of prose, more than vocabulary, is the difference between a work of great literature and a work by Dan Brown in my opinion.
  
• Eschew magniloquent loquacity: using big words when a smaller one will do will make you look smarter, but remember that the goal of the author is to be understood, not admired. It's all very well throwing a lot of impressive words into your writing, but - apart from interrupting the flow of the writing - it's likely to mean that people won't know what the hell you're talking about, which kind of defeats the purpose.

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quote:

Originally posted by tathi i'm an aspiring writer and the things i've done over the last two years to increase my vocab and writing skills ten fold are: 1. install WordWeb this handy little tool sits in your system tray and whenever you read an internet article or forum post and come across a word you were previously unaware of you just highlight it and bang you get the definition and a list of synonyms - its so useful i can barely live without it anymore! 2. subscribe to dictionary.com's "word of the day" they email you a new word every day ranging from the interesting to the obscure. words that i like the sound of or know that i may end up using in the future are copied into a word document (which has become quite large over the last few years, along with the document where i've copied great quotes and passages i've read in books, and poems that i love) 3. Read! Read! Read! And don't limit yourself to any one genre; the classics of literature are a great place to start as each and every books' style differs greatly; reading translated novels written by authors who've grown up in cultures far different from your own is also a great idea; the unique German classic Patrick Suskind - Perfume opened my eyes at the power of the written word, entire chapters of this book are devoted to the antihero's sense of smell which he uses to perceive reality (It is about a serial killer who murders young virgins to create the perfect perfume, its farking wierd ) great works of Science Fiction like 'Robert Heinleins - A Stranger in a Strange Land' and 'Frank Herberts' - Dune' make great use of artificially constructed idiomatic language and Steinbeck - Grapes of Wrath depicts some of the most realistic colloquial language i've read (the way characters talk in books isn't how they would talk in real life) also don't look past articles / books on Science, Philosophy, Culture, Art, et al. 4. I've almost finished my Teach English as a Foreign Language course which has required me to learn the banal rules of hardcore English Grammar (I barely learnt a thing at school, probably because i spent more time on the Soccer field than in the classroom and consequently failed English - no regrets! ) I would focus more on the other three points than the rules of English though, many people do writing courses and follow that particular school of thought so rigidly that their writing loses any flare it may once have had and just comes accross as boring and insipid "as the spirit wanes, the form appears." - Bukowski 5. oh and Practice, Practice, Practice!

those are some good tips there

quote:

Originally posted by metalgearsolid I get insulted periodically. Consider yourself lucky.

Well you are hardly Mr Polite and Considerate yourself.

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quote:

Originally posted by Wicked Neo Well you are hardly Mr Polite and Considerate yourself.

I know. But its different when I do something. Im special youre not + Ive changed somewhat........





...oh shit I hope he doesn't suspend me or anything....

quote:

Originally posted by metalgearsolid I know. But its different when I do something. Im special youre not + Ive changed somewhat........ ...oh shit I hope he doesn't suspend me or anything....

you've changed somewhat ? its a very subtle change then

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