Comments on: Three Cures for Rotten Writing http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:00:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Roger C. Parker http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-29030 Roger C. Parker Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:20:31 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-29030 My favorite "de-stinkers" include: * Compare what you wrote with the original outline, or mind map * Eliminate unnecessary adjectives--less is always more * Replace passive verbs, i.e., "vote was influenced by report," with "report influenced vote" * Make sure you've included plenty of subheads to organize your message Always remember to keep your copies of Strunk & White's Elements of Style and William Zinsser's On Writing Well next to your computer! My favorite “de-stinkers” include:
* Compare what you wrote with the original outline, or mind map
* Eliminate unnecessary adjectives–less is always more
* Replace passive verbs, i.e., “vote was influenced by report,” with “report influenced vote”
* Make sure you’ve included plenty of subheads to organize your message

Always remember to keep your copies of Strunk & White’s Elements of Style and William Zinsser’s On Writing Well next to your computer!

]]> By: Nigerian Scam Baiter http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28915 Nigerian Scam Baiter Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:05:25 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28915 I like that second recommendation, let it sit overnight. When I used to write essays and stuff, if I come back later, I can improve on them way better. Its like, when you come back later, you forget about what you wrote exactly, so you have to re-read, and when you re-read, you think of improvements. I like that second recommendation, let it sit overnight. When I used to write essays and stuff, if I come back later, I can improve on them way better. Its like, when you come back later, you forget about what you wrote exactly, so you have to re-read, and when you re-read, you think of improvements.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28588 Michael Stelzner Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:26:56 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28588 Jim, Ted and Angela; Thanks for your comments. May your words smell like roses all the time! :) MIke Jim, Ted and Angela;

Thanks for your comments.

May your words smell like roses all the time!

:)

MIke

]]> By: Angela http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28359 Angela Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:53:41 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28359 Totally agree. Besides blogging I also produce a weekly e-newsletter for a readership of about 27,000. It goes out on the weekends, so I try to take a first run at it on Monday or Tuesday. I do my first copy quickly to get the flow, then go back & edit a couple of times. After that, I send it to a couple of people - one does the graphics & one distributes it - for input. Sometimes they're also able to give me a little different perspective if I've been too internally focused. I find, too, that sometimes if I'm feeling shaky about my writing, the outside opinions actually give me positive reinforcement - not just constructive criticism! Totally agree. Besides blogging I also produce a weekly e-newsletter for a readership of about 27,000. It goes out on the weekends, so I try to take a first run at it on Monday or Tuesday. I do my first copy quickly to get the flow, then go back & edit a couple of times.

After that, I send it to a couple of people - one does the graphics & one distributes it - for input. Sometimes they’re also able to give me a little different perspective if I’ve been too internally focused.

I find, too, that sometimes if I’m feeling shaky about my writing, the outside opinions actually give me positive reinforcement - not just constructive criticism!

]]> By: Ted Grigg http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28350 Ted Grigg Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:33:42 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28350 Boy does this blog ring true! It seems like I finally have to tell myself, enough is enough! Every time I look at something I wrote, it seems looks like it could use a few more changes. But letting it sit over night is great advice. And in my case, my wife acts as a great editor if I can get her to do it ... uh one more time please. Boy does this blog ring true! It seems like I finally have to tell myself, enough is enough! Every time I look at something I wrote, it seems looks like it could use a few more changes.

But letting it sit over night is great advice. And in my case, my wife acts as a great editor if I can get her to do it … uh one more time please.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28311 Michael Stelzner Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:01:28 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28311 Curt - Glad to hear you agree with my second nose strategy. There's something to getting another person to confirm you smell as good as you think you do. - Mike Curt - Glad to hear you agree with my second nose strategy. There’s something to getting another person to confirm you smell as good as you think you do. - Mike

]]> By: Jim McMullen http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28301 Jim McMullen Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:58:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28301 Michael, Outstanding! I can tell you first hand I've written a nice pile of smelly stuff that smells like dead fish on dry ice. I super like your suggestion. Down here in the Everglades when my writing really goes south I sometimes pause in my research and spend some time inside alligator sloughs observing incoming wading bird activity. With low light inside the tree line it offers a relaxation and a kind of mind get-a-way. Where ever anyone is located in the world, there must be a stretch of wilderness they can retreat to and calm things down before they go back to their writing. Thank again for your insight. Jim Michael,
Outstanding!
I can tell you first hand I’ve written a nice pile of smelly stuff that smells like dead fish on dry ice. I super like your suggestion. Down here in the Everglades when my writing really goes south I sometimes pause in my research and spend some time inside alligator sloughs observing incoming wading bird activity. With low light inside the tree line it offers a relaxation and a kind of mind get-a-way. Where ever anyone is located in the world, there must be a stretch of wilderness they can retreat to and calm things down before they go back to their writing. Thank again for your insight.
Jim

]]> By: Curt Eiworth http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28295 Curt Eiworth Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:37:40 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28295 In my experience, constructive criticism bounces right back at you with the speed a force 7 gale if read your work aloud to your spouse (yes I'm married to another journalist). Let it rest until the next day and rewrite. In the meantime, take the kitchen garbage out. In my experience, constructive criticism bounces right back at you with the speed a force 7 gale if read your work aloud to your spouse (yes I’m married to another journalist).

Let it rest until the next day and rewrite. In the meantime, take the kitchen garbage out.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28265 Michael Stelzner Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:06:03 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28265 Manya - Great idea! Now I have justification for my verbal rumblings. - Mike Manya - Great idea! Now I have justification for my verbal rumblings. - Mike

]]> By: Manya Chylinski http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28263 Manya Chylinski Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:12:59 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/13/three-cures-for-rotten-writing/#comment-28263 Talk to yourself. No matter what you're writing, you can't go wrong reading it aloud. Slowly, if necessary, and word for word. As you see them on the paper or screen, not the words you think you wrote--do not read a contraction if you didn't write one. This method uncovers all manner rotten writing. (Note: This method doesn't work as well for real life, kitchen-type fetidness.) Talk to yourself.
No matter what you’re writing, you can’t go wrong reading it aloud. Slowly, if necessary, and word for word. As you see them on the paper or screen, not the words you think you wrote–do not read a contraction if you didn’t write one. This method uncovers all manner rotten writing.

(Note: This method doesn’t work as well for real life, kitchen-type fetidness.)

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