Rule #11: Find the writing
method that works for you.
The ten rules we read in When Words Collide make it very clear
that you should always plan out what you’re going to write before you write it.
From my personal experience, writing doesn’t always work out that way. I have
always struggled with brainstorming and writing outlines for my work. But as
soon as I sit down and start to write, the words just tend to flow. If I’ve
ever had an outline due with an assignment, I’ve always had to write it after
the paper is done.
I completely understand
that when you’re writing a story, it would be a good idea to figure out the
main plot points first. But when it comes to academic writing, which is usually
your opinion or some sort of analysis, I find it best to just write it out and
then go back and make your ideas make sense. After all, some rules were made to
be broken.
For the grammatical errors
this week, I found the first one in an email I received about the upcoming tech
expo. Under the initial
announcement of the keynote speaker, the text should read, “The Wildcat Tech
Expo is proud to present Saborn Va as our keynote speaker. He is the director
of social media for Deseret Digital News. Keynote starts at 9:30
a.m.”
The second error I found
this week comes from a friend on Facebook.
The “note to self” should
immediately precede whatever the mental note is, which, in this case, is to “be
extra prepared from now on.” Also, the first word following a colon should be
capitalized. The final product should read, “Note to self: Be extra prepared
from now on. This is the second night in a row that Samantha has made a mess
for me at [insert time here].”
The third error I found
was from an article in The Christian
Science Monitor. It is an article about whether or not parents, particularly new mothers, should be allowed to bring their children to work.
This sentence should have
either said, “According to the American Health Public Association…” or “The
American Health Public Association says that…” I would probably go even further
and say that “22 percent of those women don’t return to work after
their first baby is born.”
I find it interesting that you have an easier time writing without an outline. I am just the opposite, I would die without an outline to guide me through a paper. I have tried writing without an outline and cant seem to find where to go with my thoughts. It is so much easier for me to organize my main points or thoughts and then expand on them as I start writing. I wish I was a little more flexible and could write just based off the thoughts in my head, maybe with a little practice.
ReplyDeleteSometimes this works for me and sometimes it doesn't. There are times that I find it is easier if I start writing to get an idea of what I want to say. Then I will go back and I am able to write out a basic outline from there. If I'm really struggling with finding something to say, I am more likely to do this.
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