A writer has to be an editor, too, says this op-ed piece in the WSJ. Note the emphasis on rereading, which I constantly tell FMag and TFR writers.
One of the means to assure such things is constant rereading. I reread from the top—or some similar landmark if the work is long—whenever I take a significant break from writing, and that doesn't just mean overnight but includes eating lunch, going to the bathroom, answering the phone and searching for elusive facts.Rereading not only ferrets out problems, but it also ensures continuity of voice, as well as that elusive quality dear to both writers and rappers: flow.h/t Richard Mansel #writing
via Friendica
Check out items now up on the web this morning from my wee little brain:
* Devotional: God expects fruit
* Quick Bible Truths: Speak for God
* United Prayer: As the Winds Whip Up More to come, most likely. Still waiting on my IP to unfreeze access to our server, so I can post to our half-dozen sites there, including my main blog. I've turned to Posterous for a number of efforts lately. Posting by email is easy, though sometimes the format is a bit quirky. The devotional is what I've been translating from Portuguese and posting on my personal blog.
* Quick Bible Truths: Speak for God
* United Prayer: As the Winds Whip Up More to come, most likely. Still waiting on my IP to unfreeze access to our server, so I can post to our half-dozen sites there, including my main blog. I've turned to Posterous for a number of efforts lately. Posting by email is easy, though sometimes the format is a bit quirky. The devotional is what I've been translating from Portuguese and posting on my personal blog.
via Friendica
Man has no nobler function than to defend the truth. —Ruth McKenney
... many of us would hasten to agree with her statement.
But she was wrong.
Man has a nobler function. Defending truth is good and necessary, but does not lie at the peak of the scales of those greatest purposes that man could adopt.
Read my debut article on Weylan Deaver's Biblical Notes magazine: click on the tiny link above.
TIPS FOR CONCISE EXCERPTS/SUMMARIES
- Prefer short words. E.g., write “use”, not “utilize” (unless you mean “utilize”).
- Prefer simple constructs. E.g., say “because”, “since”, or “as”, not “due to the fact that”.
- Prefer verbs to abstract nouns. Abstract nouns are longer and less lively (and also lead to lengthier and clumsier constructions).
- Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. Does that adjective really need an adverb to qualify it?
- Read over to remove needless words.
- Read over again.
via op111.net
This is great advice for any kind of writing. Where are my Forthright Magazine columnists? (They're good writers, but all of us could use these tips.)
I started the post, "5 reasons not to blog," over a year ago. It stalled, I left it, maybe because I didn't have my reason to blog, who knows? Now, I have several, so maybe it's time to throw it out there.
With a few touch-ups, here it is for your chomping.
HOW MANY READ MY LINES
by J. Randal Matheny
How many read my lines I'll never know,
Or if they quickly scan or read them slow,
For few, so few, will ever leave a note
To say they stopped for truths that I promote;
Nor can I say if they were touched within,
Where only God's invisible Spirit has been;
As fingers click to advance the restless soul
And opinions quick to vote from poll to poll.
Although my frequent posts have paltry views,
'Tis mine this task to write and tell Good News;
As few below there be who're moved or stirred,
There's One above who reads my every word.
If you like this poem, please link to it from your site or email, rather than pasting or copying it elsewhere, without permission. Thanks!