tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post4988293139037855738..comments2013-04-17T21:35:35.210-04:00Comments on Dangerous Games: Hopping on the TreadmillRoss A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-26502673932148215052013-03-24T23:42:12.996-04:002013-03-24T23:42:12.996-04:00Ross, I found so many things helpful with this pos...Ross, I found so many things helpful with this post. I have had some nonfiction articles published in some insurance trade magezines and have been wanting to do some more of that, but wasn't sure what I could do to improve my writing. I would like to do fiction, but I know my fiction needs work. I have good ideas, but I suck at getting them on paper. Everything you wrote here, and in your other posts, can help me in both my nonfiction and in my other writing. I am always over my word count. I never turn it in that way to my editor, but he always sends it back for rewrites. He is nice and I have been working with him for about 4 years so he sends the articles back and says things like I like this and expand on this, but he never gives me an outline. I guess that is the difference between nonfiction and fiction. <br /><br />Everything you wrote seems so simple and so common sense, but I know I have made some of those same mistakes. I was writing a story that was suppossed to be about a cursed engagement ring, and it ended being a huge mess and the ring just got lost. I ended up putting it away, because I couldn't figure out where I wanted to go with it. I really ejoyed all your advice in this blog, (as well as your others!)ruthiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06312407463912235054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-80518638172908669132013-03-23T23:43:27.621-04:002013-03-23T23:43:27.621-04:00It goes a lot deeper than your typical term paper ...It goes a lot deeper than your typical term paper instructions, Ruthie. When I generate an outline, that's basically a roadmap of what I want to see in the chapter or section. Sure, you can add to it, if perhaps a topic belongs under it's own separate heading. But I expect the outline to be followed. <br /><br />Paul can tell you, I write fairly detailed outlines. <br /><br />Because I want to see those topics covered in that particular manner. In that order. So if I ask you to, say, describe the weather on Romulus, that's what I want. I don't want ancient Romulan myths about the weather. I don't want information on how the weather on Romulus affects average grain production. I want the weather. It's temperate here, with an average rain of yadda yadda. In this region, there are a lot of thunderstorms. Over there, it's hot and tropical... The weather. <br /><br />There's a reason for this -- every planet in the game gets treated the same way. Those entries are standardized. Imagine opening an atlas, and every country has it's weather described, except Mexico; instead there's a long section on Mexican weather myths... Uh, what? It's even worse when you tell me you forgot. It's in the outline. <br /><br />Also, when I say "follow instructions", I mean follow the standards of English grammar. That's an overarching instruction, sort of like a "general order." Sure, you can break the rules of grammar, for effect or emphasis. Most of the rules in Strunk & White are actually how Strunk and White wanted papers submitted to them. I start sentences with conjunctions all the time. I'll put "however" at the beginning of a sentence (when I'm trying to emphasize the difference with the previous sentence). I know the rules of grammar, so I can break them for effect. Submitting sentence fragments or dangling participles is not "for effect." <br /><br />When I say I want 5,000 words, I don't want 6,000 words. Because guess who has to go through the entire document, and find ways to cut the text down to size? Me. It got so bad with one writer that I threatened to simply count to 5,000 words and lop off the rest, and print it that way; if anyone complained, I'd direct them to the writer and he could deal with it. <br /><br />Follow instructions: Follow the outline. Write in English. Stick to your word count. Meet your deadline. Ross A. Isaacshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-71526673286441056372013-03-23T23:14:00.585-04:002013-03-23T23:14:00.585-04:00This is full of great advice! I love the follow in...This is full of great advice! I love the follow instructions part. That would seem very important. It would seem like a no brainer, but then I have been guilty of not doing that myself. I turned in a paper with 1500 words and they only asked for 1200 words and the professor deducted points for it! It was a lesson I learned the hard way. Always follow directions!ruthiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06312407463912235054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-24085983896484462082013-03-23T19:53:50.147-04:002013-03-23T19:53:50.147-04:00I was going to name check you as an example of a g...I was going to name check you as an example of a good writer, but I've given you enough attention on this blog. <br /><br />I hope you make it. I really, really do. Ross A. Isaacshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-54941147703841004662013-03-23T19:35:25.970-04:002013-03-23T19:35:25.970-04:00You can't scare me away, Ross! I'm a glut...You can't scare me away, Ross! I'm a glutton for punishment (witness the fact that I have a 10-month old son, am going to College, and STILL trying to write)Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12425894023570300267noreply@blogger.com