Re:The Decline and Fall of the English Major
by 6ren on Monday June 24, 2013 @03:50AM
(#5931560)
I sometimes use online communication like a letter. I pause to collect my thoughts. I proof-read. I revise.
Two points: (1). I only do this when I have something to say (or, rather, when thoughts call me to say them). However, pretty much whenever I look into something, I find I have something to say.
(2). They are typically only a paragraph or two long, even though the argument might have several parts and be carefully nuanced. That's partly because I'm striving for simplicity and clarity but it might be simply the natural length of those thoughts. However, again, the more I look into something, the more I find I have to say.
So (having written this) I think my writing quantity and length is less a measure of my ability than of how often and how deeply I "look into things".
Two points: (1). I only do this when I have something to say (or, rather, when thoughts call me to say them). However, pretty much whenever I look into something, I find I have something to say. (2). They are typically only a paragraph or two long, even though the argument might have several parts and be carefully nuanced. That's partly because I'm striving for simplicity and clarity but it might be simply the natural length of those thoughts. However, again, the more I look into something, the more I find I have to say.
So (having written this) I think my writing quantity and length is less a measure of my ability than of how often and how deeply I "look into things".