FOCUS. Writerly

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yesterday I did some research about transpiration, and was amazed at how inept people are when expressing what they claim to know. One brainiac wrote a full page of blabber about the simple process of transpiration, and what he wrote was mostly unintelligible to the non-science reader. He instructed the reader how to make a wrist-watch fulla complexity.

He coulda wrote: THE SUN HEATS LEAVES WHICH RELEASE WATER TO THE AIR IN THE FORM OF LOW PRESSURE STEAM. THE PROCESS DOES TWO THINGS: IT COOLS THE PLANT VIA THE RELEASE OF HEAT AND IT LIFTS NUTRIENTS/WATER FROM THE ROOTS TO THE LEAVES. PLANTS ARE SIMPLE PUMPS.

When you write consider how far down the ladder of abstraction you wanna descend. If the reader knows that a blivat is 10 pounds of shit in a 9 pound bag just use BLIVAT and skip all the details.

 

[lance gt]

Yesterday I did some research about transpiration, and was amazed at how inept people are when expressing what they claim to know. One brainiac wrote a full page of blabber about the simple process of transpiration, and what he wrote was mostly unintelligible to the non-science reader. He instructed the reader how to make a wrist-watch fulla complexity.

He coulda wrote: THE SUN HEATS LEAVES WHICH RELEASE WATER TO THE AIR IN THE FORM OF LOW PRESSURE STEAM. THE PROCESS DOES TWO THINGS: IT COOLS THE PLANT VIA THE RELEASE OF HEAT AND IT LIFTS NUTRIENTS/WATER FROM THE ROOTS TO THE LEAVES. PLANTS ARE SIMPLE PUMPS.

When you write consider how far down the ladder of abstraction you wanna descend. If the reader knows that a blivat is 10 pounds of shit in a 9 pound bag just use BLIVAT and skip all the details.

That's what a great many of the challenges do. They get you to express an idea in as few words as possible, preventing un-necessary run-on sentences, that seem to go on forever and the writer never seems to really be saying anything at all, but just a non-sensical ramble to see how many words he can write, so it looks like it's an in-depth look into the subject.

What was the subject again???

 

[TxRad]

What was the subject again???

JBJ reading something in a book and then regurgitating it to try and prove he's a writer.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JBJ reading something in a book and then regurgitating it to try and prove he's a writer.

Stop stalking me.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Stop stalking me.

I bet you just feel uncomfortable because most of the people on this site would pay for you to leave us alone.

 

[ishtat]

CTBK and Tex. JBJ has made a legitimate point about writing and both of you have gone off topic to respond to him rather than what to what he says.That's nuts for the monkey to him.

Incidentally, I read the New Yorker a journal which perceives itself as the acme of in depth analysis in its longer articles, yet the majority of its writers would be greatly improved by effective precis. Their editors allow so called distinguished writers far too much slack.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I bet you just feel uncomfortable because most of the people on this site would pay for you to leave us alone.

God made an IGGY button for THAT very thang.

 

[TxRad]

CTBK and Tex. JBJ has made a legitimate point about writing and both of you have gone off topic to respond to him rather than what to what he says.That's nuts for the monkey to him.

Incidentally, I read the New Yorker a journal which perceives itself as the acme of in depth analysis in its longer articles, yet the majority of its writers would be greatly improved by effective precis. Their editors allow so called distinguished writers far too much slack.

So, this one post by JB clears out the last 25 or 30 bullshit, lets get a rise out of someone, posts? Go check his last 25 or so posts and show me one that has any relevance to the topic other than his homophobic asinine bullshit. Then get back to me.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

So, this one post by JB clears out the last 25 or 30 bullshit, lets get a rise out of someone, posts? Go check his last 25 or so posts and show me one that has any relevance to the topic other than his homophobic asinine bullshit. Then get back to me.

Youre as bad as I am. YOU, STELLA, and PILOT are right there beside me, stirring it up. Pssst...youre a hypocrit.

Besides, I take your mind off peeling taters for the cons out at FORT LONESOME STATE PEN.

I gotta sell Laurel on the idea of a HOMO-NEUROTIC Board for STELLA and the Magical Thinkers.

 

[TxRad]

Youre as bad as I am. YOU, STELLA, and PILOT are right there beside me, stirring it up. Pssst...youre a hypocrit.

Besides, I take your mind off peeling taters for the cons out at FORT LONESOME STATE PEN.

I gotta sell Laurel on the idea of a HOMO-NEUROTIC Board for STELLA and the Magical Thinkers.

No, you toss out a thread like this ever so often when you think you've pushed the line too far and laurel is about to toss you back to the GB. You've already been tossed off two forums because they had a moderator to take care of trash like you.

You're a shit stirrer and not a very good one. That is all you are. Period.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No, you toss out a thread like this ever so often when you think you've pushed the line too far and laurel is about to toss you back to the GB. You've already been tossed off two forums because they had a moderator to take care of trash like you.

You're a shit stirrer and not a very good one. That is all you are. Period.

Like I said, youre right there beside me. I think you like it, otherwise youd do the IGGY BOOGIE.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No, you toss out a thread like this ever so often when you think you've pushed the line too far and laurel is about to toss you back to the GB. You've already been tossed off two forums because they had a moderator to take care of trash like you.

You're a shit stirrer and not a very good one. That is all you are. Period.

Youd do the IGGY BOOGIE if you didnt like it. In your case the IGGY SHUFFLE.

 

[TxRad]

Like I said, youre right there beside me. I think you like it, otherwise youd do the IGGY BOOGIE.

Youd do the IGGY BOOGIE if you didnt like it. In your case the IGGY SHUFFLE.

Keep repeating yourself, we'll wait.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Keep repeating yourself, we'll wait.

Tend to your spuds.

 

[TxRad]

Tend to your spuds.

Go take your medication

 

[lance gt]

Back on the original topic, I noticed what Jimmy has been talking about, happening a great deal in stories. A writer tries to get every part of the thought down in one sentence, or even two, instead of breaking it up into parts. Some sentences can get so wordy, that I forget what the intent of the sentence was.
Keeping it short and sweet, is difficult and hard for writers to grasp the concept sometimes, until the obvious is pointed out to them.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Back on the original topic, I noticed what Jimmy has been talking about, happening a great deal in stories. A writer tries to get every part of the thought down in one sentence, or even two, instead of breaking it up into parts. Some sentences can get so wordy, that I forget what the intent of the sentence was.
Keeping it short and sweet, is difficult and hard for writers to grasp the concept sometimes, until the obvious is pointed out to them.

I suppose its what Hemingway blabbered about, carve the marble till it reveals whatcha got in mind....but not too much!