The Cellar  

Go Back   The Cellar > Main > Home Base

Home Base A starting point, and place for threads don't seem to belong anywhere else

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-10-2002, 03:42 PM   #1
Gabriel
Sibling of the Commonweal
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Bucuresti, Romania
Posts: 16
In need of a guide

Hi!
I have recently decided to put my toughts on paper, to better get organized, and not to lose myself in the avalanche of media-based propaganda.

My problems is that I'm awful at writting. I tried to follow the standard rules, like making a plan, and K.I.S.S., but I still think that there's place for improvement.

So... If you know, what's a great guide to writting? (not literary stuff, just plain logs and other notes).

This may seem trivial, but the way in which I decide to preserve my toughts might be crucial in 5-10 years, when I'll try to decypher it.

Thanks.
Gabriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2002, 04:21 PM   #2
Undertoad
Radical Centrist
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
For writing English, the book "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White is considered to be the authority, at least in the US.

If you just want to be a better writer, the only thing you can do is write, and write all the time. The easiest way to do that is to participate in a lot of forums... like the Cellar!

I've watched a lot of people become great writers through electronic and internet communities. There's something motivational about it, because you're not writing for a grade or for a meaningless school paper, you're writing to real people who will definitely read what you've written.

Of course, some of the forums out there are full of idiots, and writing to them probably won't help...
Undertoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2002, 09:18 PM   #3
Scopulus Argentarius
Your current user title is:
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: BTR
Posts: 301
I agree with undertoad. Strunk and White is the way to go. They're philosophy is : cut the fluff and the essense of what you speak is true and good. Simple, concise, direct language is extremely effective.

You may find an online version of the "little book" through refdesk.com. If you can find it at a bookstore, buy it.

Cheers
Scopulus Argentarius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2002, 10:13 PM   #4
MaggieL
in the Hour of Scampering
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia)
Posts: 4,060
http://www.bartleby.com/141/ is the original 1918 work by Strunk alone...handy to have online.

Another wonderful reference covering much more of the writer's craft is The Holt Handbook, which is also online: http://english.olivet.edu/holt/

A good list of writing resources is:

http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts.../Style_Guides/

It's nice to see somebody take their wordsmithing seriously.
__________________
"Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

MaggieL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2002, 01:02 AM   #5
Nic Name
retired
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,930
The Guide to Grammar and Writing is very helpful.

Gabriel, as far as getting your thoughts on "paper" is concerned, you may want to consider the new technology journalism medium -- weblogs.

www.blogger.com
www.weblogs.com

And it's FREE speech.

Last edited by Nic Name; 03-11-2002 at 01:05 AM.
Nic Name is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2002, 02:11 AM   #6
Gabriel
Sibling of the Commonweal
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Bucuresti, Romania
Posts: 16
It's not public, so that won't be an issue. Besides, I'm a web programmer myself, and I could code what I need in an afternoon ;-)
Gabriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2002, 10:02 PM   #7
Phrontistes
Recruit or Something
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BA
Posts: 4
http://www.nutsandboltsguide.com/

This one is pretty handy - helps with titles, planning, citations and such.

Of course, my personal preference is not to plan at all, for most essays. I think it just cramps my non-existent style. Anyway, my teachers don't seem to mind, so I'm in no rush to become a "good" writer.

Good luck with your paper!
Phrontistes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2002, 12:24 PM   #8
SteveDallas
Your Bartender
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Philly Burbs, PA
Posts: 7,651
Strunk & White is a good reference... I second (or fifth or whatever) it.

Also I find "Fowler's Modern English Usage" very handy.

And when I'm feeling pedantic, nothing beats the Chicago Manual of Style.
SteveDallas is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:17 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.