Thank-you ... I guess

[sallygirl]

Nicole, that's one of my all-time favourite pages!

You know, rampant posting seems to be the quickest way for a new person to get some recognition on this board. The attention may be negative, but so what? Everybody knows their name, threads are dedicated to them, they really put the place in an uproar. In a way I can understand, cuz I WANT SOME ATTENTION TOO, DAMMIT!! But lucky for you, I just don't have it in me to be so annoying. (I also don't have the TIME it would require.) But seriously, with a few exceptions, I have felt largely ignored here, even when I think I have made a worthwhile comment or contribution to a discussion. Sometimes I have the urge to post something outrageous just to provoke some kind of response.

[Edited by sallygirl on 09-16-2000 at 05:03 PM]

 

[Alyrahh]

Exactly Sallygirl... I'm sure the majority of the rampant posters share your feeling. Only difference is, they act on it. In the time I've been here (including before registering) I've seen it happen a lot. The attention seekers either post silliness wildly, probably hoping to make others laugh and attain the acceptance that way, or they kiss the asses of the older members to a point that is shameful!

I, on the other hand, would rather just fuck you all to earn my acceptance (speaking of shameful)

 

[Samuari]

Exactly Sallygirl...
I, on the other hand, would rather just fuck you all to earn my acceptance (speaking of shameful)

ME FIRST! ME FIRST! Everybody else get in line. Alyrahh, we probly better do it somwhere else, we wouldn't want sex on a sex site! We'd just get flamed for it. On second thought, let 'em flame! Come over here and sit on my lap, and explain just what it is that you want. Oh, I'm sorry, flirting here. I'm so confused!

 

[Weird Harold]

What works for me.

Harold you have once again opened my eyes, so to you a big thank-you. Now if you would like to take the time to tell me some tips on writing I would love that (cheeky aren't I?).

Take Care and thanks for making me smile once more

You're welcome for the smile.

As for writing tips, I can only say what works for me, and that won't work for everyone because it requires some detachment from what you write.

What I do, is to READ what I'm replying to, then READ what I've written in reply. When I read my own posts, I try to do it as if it were written by someone else.

I also try to consider how my post fits into the overall "story" being told in a thread. I ask myself how it will look at the end of the existing thread. Has the thread mutated since the post I'm replying to to the point where my response is a non-sequiter?

That's one reason why I take the time to quote and edit the quotes so that it's obvious just what I'm replying to. (Note: I scrupulously avoid correcting spelling or wording when editing quotes, and try not to pick things out of context. Keep enough of the original to make sense, but edit out points you're not going to address.)

The trick is to fit your post into the flow of the thread if you can. Often a post that would have been relevant if I were the first to reply is no longer relevant enough to be worth the trouble to post by the time I see the thread.

If what I have to say is "important" enough to post anyway after the thread has mutated, then I preface it with a "Back to the original topic" sort of disclaimer. Much as I would if I were commenting on something overheard earlier at a cocktail party but couldn't comment on immediately.

I've used that cocktail party analogy in the past. For me, it describes the dynamics of a BB very well. There are people in one corner debating the meaning of life, a group of ladies over in another corner talking about someone not present, and a few drunken bores intruding into conversations without any idea of what's being discussed.

 

[sallygirl]

I, on the other hand, would rather just fuck you all to earn my acceptance (speaking of shameful)

Hey, that's the right attitude. You've discovered the key to success (and not just here on Lit). Fuck 'em all! What a great way to suck up. I bet you were teacher's pet Alyrahh. hehehe

 

[Mortto56]

I would like to say,congradulations Nicole,on you new found adventures.I have been remodeling my kitchen the last week,and I have about 2 more weeks of work to go.
I have only been on the BB's a little bit each day for a hour or so myself.

Sallygirl: Don't feel so bad about people not responding to your post.
Hell hardly anybody responds to mine.But I notice sometimes I'll be quoted on another tread somewhere,or someone will say something that is familar to something I said.
Just go with the flow.

W.H.:Would you be interested in being my english & grammer teacher.
I wish I could write like that.
I never was very good with english class.(LOL)

 

[Weird Harold]

W.H.:Would you be interested in being my english & grammer teacher.
I wish I could write like that.
I never was very good with english class.(LOL)

I learned to write the way I do from reading a lot. When I write, I rearrange things so "it looks right" according to the most common ways the authors I've read would write it.

I often don't even know why something should be phrased the way it is. I have to dig into the deep dark recesses of memory or find a reference on-line to validate the way I would write something.

If you want to improve your writing and/or your English grammar, check your search engine for "writing center" or "online writing lab." Almost every university has one or the other for self-help in writing by the rules.

 

[Alyrahh]

Samuri, the line forms behind you

Sallygirl, of course I was teachers pet, how do you think I finally made that A in Anthropology? lol

 

[Nicole]

Harold Thank-you for that BUT I meant writing as in story form.

I'm sorry if I upset anyone on here or if people see me as thinking myself better than anyone else, but it's me and really WHY would I want to change me, it's who I am.

Maybe that is some of the problem around here, we all want to change others and I'm not going to do it anymore. Be yourself and be happy being yourself.

Thanks though Harold

Take Care

 

[*Eve*]

Nicole, the only thing that I am offended by is your need to apologize. Go on and say what's on your mind girl. Not enough people on this board do.

Okay, now I talked about that raise so now, I'm finally giving it to you. How about an extra grand?

 

[Nicole]

Nicole, the only thing that I am offended by is your need to apologize. Go on and say what's on your mind girl. Not enough people on this board do.

Okay, now I talked about that raise so now, I'm finally giving it to you. How about an extra grand?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes please

Now as far as the apologizing goes, I'm sorry. It's just that I feel this inane something inside me that makes me want to make everyone else happy. I try but, well a lot of the time I don't think I'm suceeding, but, all I can do is try.

I was starting to think that it was just my friends that were telling me to stop apologizing so much, now it's everyone here too Oh Well that's just me

Take Care

P.S. You still single babe??? I might be able to rustle someone up for you if you let me advertise

 

[Weird Harold]

Harold Thank-you for that BUT I meant writing as in story form.

The only tip I can give you on writing a story that doesn't depend on the specific story you're telling, is to write it as if you were telling it to a friend. Use the same language and style that you would if you were writing it in a letter to someone.

Once you've got the basic story written as if it were a letter, then set it aside for at least a week and then READ it. Make comments in the 'margins' about what works and doesn't work, what makes sense, and what isn't clear, what facts don't match with previous statements.

Then correct all of the mistakes you found, and repeat step two until it's a story worth posting.

I'm on hiatus as an editor until after hunting season, so that gives you a month or so to get through the first few drafts before you send it to me for editing. (Sometime in November.)

Every author has a style that feels right to them, and every story has a style that fits the tale. The one thing an editor can't correct is a lack of imagination. If you can't tell a good story, then all of the grammar and language tricks in the world can't make you a writer. If you can tell a story, then all you need is a good editor/tutor to learn the tricks that make for telling a good story in print.

Reading through the editor's forum and the author's hangout forum can give you some good hints to start with, and the writer's resources page has some good info as well. (Especially Whispersecret's essay on using dialogue.)

 

[Mortto56]

If you want to improve your writing and/or your English grammar, check your search engine for "writing center" or "online writing lab." Almost every university has one or the other for self-help in writing by the rules. [/B]

Thanks W.H. I'll do that.
When I write now,I keep a Dictionary next to me to help me spell & to find a word I would like to use.
Between looking up every other word to check for spelling,and I still type with one finger,Hell it only took 20 minutes to write this post.(LMAO)

Well, we will yak at you later!

 

[Nicole]

If you want to improve your writing and/or your English grammar, check your search engine for "writing center" or "online writing lab." Almost every university has one or the other for self-help in writing by the rules.

Thanks W.H. I'll do that.
When I write now,I keep a Dictionary next to me to help me spell & to find a word I would like to use.
Between looking up every other word to check for spelling,and I still type with one finger,Hell it only took 20 minutes to write this post.(LMAO)

Well, we will yak at you later! [/b]

Mortto babe how long will it take you to write a story then??? LOL. Gotta love a man that can spell though, makes them sexy don't you think???

Come here sexy

Harold thanks again for that, now just clear this up ... you actually want to Edit this story of mine???

Take Care

 

[Weird Harold]

When I write now,I keep a Dictionary next to me to help me spell & to find a word I would like to use.
Between looking up every other word to check for spelling,and I still type with one finger,Hell it only took 20 minutes to write this post.(LMAO)

I use the Biblical typing method myself, although I've been doing it long enough that I am pretty quick.

(Biblical typing method = "Seek and ye shall find")

Harold thanks again for that, now just clear this up ... you actually want to Edit this story of mine???

Sure thing. Might as well end my hiatus with a challenge. <G>

For both of you, MS Word 97 (or 2000) has both a very good spelling and grammar check, and a useful thesaurus function. It doesn't completely replace a dictionary, and you have to be at least close to the proper spelling for it to be really useful.

Word 97 also has some excellent tools for editing and sharing files with co-authors and editors.

An expensive editor like MS Word (or WordPerfect, it's major competitor,) isn't a pre-requisite for turning out a good story, but it does help a lot. Anything is easier when you have good tools designed for the job at hand.