I’ve been getting comments and praise about my writing style, so I decided to share some information about it and explain it as well as I can.
My style of writing is a bane to college professors everywhere. I normally end up with lower grades because of it, but I don’t really mind. It’s the way I write and I like writing this way. See, my mind works a little different than some people. I write better than I speak. When talking, I forget words. For example, one day I had to look at my wife and say, “You know the word. It’s got pages and you read it.” “That’d be a book, dear.” “Right. Book.” However, when I’m typing, words flow out of me that I sometimes didn’t even know I knew. It’s funny, but I “overthink” when I speak, instead of when I write.
When I write, I just let the words flow and put down the ideas as fast as I possibly can. I don’t take many pauses and I don’t do much editing like people would say needs to be done. I fix spelling mistakes and such as I find them because I tend to type in a dyslexic manner, but otherwise I let the language stay natural. I also tend to put my thoughts in wherever they may show up. One example would be the quick dialogue I put in the middle of my explanation in the previous paragraph. Another would be (and this happens often with me sometimes) when I put things in parentheses right in the middle of my sentences. That last sentence was an example of this. Those are the “asides” that my brain may branch off to while I’m typing. I don’t think about it, I just put them there. I think it feels more “natural” to do so.
Sometimes I also put words in a visual manner to make the pauses and necessary inflections. For example, I could type, “That was incredible!” or, I could type “That was in-cred-i-ble!” There is emphasis on the different syllables in the word and the reader tends to read it that way with the dashes. I like to make the words look the way they sound in my head. My creative writing professors have always loved that style. Grammar professors, not so much. (For example, that was not a complete sentence just then, but you got the point, and probably grinned just like I did when I thought it and typed it.)
So, as an exercise, as you comment on this post, type exactly what you’re thinking. Patsy tends to do so when she comments on my site, and it makes it feel more like I’m having a conversation with her instead of a “formal typing experience” which sounds much less fun.
(If people like this post, I’ve got some ideas for some other writing tips in the future. Just let me know.)
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By Natural Woman on Mar 21, 2008 |
I know exactly how you feel:
I write better than I speak. When talking, I forget words.
I’ve been a public speaker for over 20 years, but I still write more fluently than I speak. What’s wrong with that picture. I speak fluently, but I feel as though sometimes, I’m grasping for the right words. Lots of editing going on in my mind that my mouth can’t do fast enough.
Natural Woman’s last blog post..Free Stuff!
By Patsy(Patricia Sawyer) on Mar 21, 2008 |
Now look at you saying my name and making me feel special..
I think we write a little alike. English teachers really love it but they have to give us bad grades any way. When I try to write the so called proper way.. I don’t like my own stuff. that’s sad huh? So Long ago I just decided to always be me in writing or life.. I’m just me. I like your style. I think it shows More feeling to just let it flow. I do the same thing. I use spell check though.. My old mind forgets the spelling of things sometimes. I forget words too although Book isn’t one I have ever (yet) forgotten. I mainly forget names. And I’ll be like you know who I mean he did this or that and sometimes give their whole life history as if I know everything about them.. except for at that moment.. their name. Then later while I’m thinking of soemthing else their name jumps right out of my mouth.. Into a conversation that has nothing to do with them.
Hey I gotta tell you too.. I made me a blog besides the myspace one. It might bomb. I might forget how to write anything at all. But I’m gonna give it a shot. I’ll try anything ( well almost anything) once and some things I’ll try twice. Have a Good Friday!
Patsy
Patsy(Patricia Sawyer)’s last blog post..Good Friday
By Patsy(Patricia Sawyer) on Mar 21, 2008 |
Leave it to me to forget. why I came here right now to start with.. See what you did.. I have a link to your blog on mine. I decided I better come ask.. So if you don’t want it there I can snatch it off before anyone sees it.
If it’s ok thanks. and if you want it off just let me know and I’ll wisk you away so fast..
Have a good Afternoon.
Patsy
Patsy(Patricia Sawyer)’s last blog post..Good Friday
By Ruthie on Mar 21, 2008 |
Hey Saphrym!
Great post! Sounds kind of like my style, but my writing in no way compares to yours. But I too, like to put stuff in parentheses and I also quote convos.
I’m fairly new to reading your blog, but I am so glad that I found you. I have Entrecard to thank for that.
Just keep the great post comin’!
Ruthie’s last blog post..Weekly Recap - Once Again, another 1.6 lbs lost!
By Leland on Mar 21, 2008 |
Great article. Sometimes I struggle to find the “right” word to use or struggle to find the right way to portray a thought when writing (blogging or whatever). From now on I’ll just let it flow, like you say. Thanks for posting this.
Leland’s last blog post..Social Bookmarking with WordPress
By LeisaWatkins on Mar 22, 2008 |
“I tend to type in a dyslexic manner.”
Me too. And I thought: Oh, good, I’m glda I’m not hte olny one - or I’m glad I’m not the only one for those non-dyslexic readers.
LeisaWatkins’s last blog post..You Are the Sum of Your Five Best Friends
By Malinborn on Mar 22, 2008 |
I have to say that i enjoyed this article because it is very much the way that i write as well. Teachers and friends who are editors hate it. MS Word hates it. But to me, as you said, it’s comfortable. The only thing you mentioned above that i am not all the guilty of the enunciation bit.. breaking words into their syllables. In that regard i think i more often say something to the effect of: He spoke softly, slowly, so that each syllable rang out like proud words themselves. Granted, that is a more stylized bit then i may normally attempt but that varies with my mood
Anyway… awesome post
By Saphrym on Mar 22, 2008 |
@Patsy - You’re making me break one of my rules. You’ll understand in the next post.
@Ruthie - “but my writing in no way compares to yours” What do you mean? You write great!
@Leland - Thanks.
@Leisa - Nope, you’re nto the onyl one.
@Malin - Malin!? Dude! How’d you find me?
Glad you liked the article.
By Kristen Brooke Beck on Mar 22, 2008 |
I know the feeling. I write way better than I speak. When I speak, I often forget what I was talking about. When I write, I can always look back through what I’ve written and remember, “Oh yeah, that was the point I was trying to make.”
By Carol on Mar 22, 2008 |
This is a topic that I have been agonizing over myself. I sometimes feel like I’m writing reports instead of something that someone might find interesting. I love your style, so please don’t change it. “Bah”, I say, to college professors!
Carol’s last blog post..From Six Mothers - Many Tribes
By Saphrym on Mar 22, 2008 |
@Kristen - You look at the stuff you wrote?
@Carol - Some professors like it. But only some.
By krreyboo17 on Mar 23, 2008 |
I have the same attitude. Whenever I think of something to say, it’s sounds great in my mind but when I say it out loud, it doesn’t have that much of an impact than the thought itself. But when it comes to writing, I never really think of the words or sentences to follow. Even when I was writing love letters to my girlfriend. It sometimes amazes her (even me) that I could write my sentiments so expressively but not say or tell her this with such great emphasis. I lvoe your style of writing, the “Naturalist” style I should say. Keep it up Saphrym!
krreyboo17’s last blog post..I’m back…Sorry for being so silent. Happy Easter!
By Saphrym on Mar 23, 2008 |
@kkrey - Thanks! And yeah, my wife always goes soft for the poetry I give her.
By Lis on Mar 24, 2008 |
That sounds like the way I write. Also, I’m thinking of having fried rice for lunch and then a mug of hot tea and some yummy organic chocolate chip cookies after. Well, you did say just type whatever I’m thinking.
Lis’s last blog post..Truth in Comics
By Saphrym on Mar 24, 2008 |
@Lis - Send me some cookies. (There, I said what I was thinking too.)