Talking and Writing are Only Cousins...

The path to becoming a great writer is not as hard as you may think.  Writing is like talking: it is a natural expression of language.  But writing does require real effort to master.

Talking and writing are very closely related.  Both use words, form sentences, and convey meanings and emotions.  But the actual ways in which we speak and write are very different.  Formal English construction is remarkably dissimilar from the actual start-and-stop of everyday conversations.

Listen closely to the conversations around you at a restaurant or a waiting room.  If you were to transcribe the conversations you overhear, you would most likely end up with a confusing mess of half-done sentences.  It's because in conversation we verbally correct ourselves in mid-sentence, respond to body language, and even change topics instantaneous.

Not so with writing.  By it's very nature, writing is more orderly and complete.  Each sentence is expected to be thought out to its end.  Each paragraph is a unity of composure, not a rambling monologue. Punctuation takes the place of verbal cues of inflection; body language is replaced by tone and style.  You may be a great speaker, but that rarely translates to being a great writer.  The paths of speaking and writing, while still in the realm of language, separate early in life, each proceeding through unique terrain, yet never to far from each other.

So I call you to come explore with me all the vista highs and vale lows that make up the wonders of good writing.  It's impossible to tackle it all at once - it takes years of effort.  And I don't claim to be the end-all authority.  Languange is it's own beast and could never be tamed by one man anyway.  But I have some expereance.  And I know how to Google if I don't know the answer.

I am also very open to corrections, challanges, comments and the like.  Please feel free to contact me anytime to comment on what you may read here.  At the very least, thanks for reading this much.  I will try and make it interesting!