3 ms·

This was really helpful. I'll I can say is that I am going to take this, and get better. Some people might wonder if I actually tried to edit, I did; this isn'

This was really helpful. I'll I can say is that I am going to take this, and get better. Some people might wonder if I actually tried to edit, I did; this isn't me being lazy. So, feedback like this is helpful. Well, not linking to source material that is lazy. I went to college, 4 years, in a program that had a fair amount of writing. I never thought I was a good writer, but I never got a good take down like this. Even from my teachers, I wonder if they just saw it as a lost cause. Anyways, thanks.

dprice1 16y ago
I forgot two more suggestions: One is to find a writing buddy. Edit (and by that, I mean critique, not rewrite) each other's work, and offer comments back and forth. Establish some ground rules so that you don't get angry at each other. I personally think this is best done in person. When I need to communicate something important at work, I'll almost always ask a trusted coworker to help me read and edit my writing. Without fail, they will see several things I missed. I try to self-edit and, I can offer a suggestion from my own experience. I strongly suggest using a pen on a paper copy. This takes you out of the context in which you originally wrote the work-- your computer and keyboard. You can step away from your desk and go somewhere with a different context. A library, coffee shop, or outside under a tree are good places to rethink and rewrite. And finally, I hope we'll see a revised version of your HTML5 paragraph-- you've clearly hit on an idea appealing to HN readers...
muhfuhkuh 16y ago
If you're truly serious about improving your writing, the indispensable guide is "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. It even contains an example page out of his early draft of the book that is literally festooned with (his own) editing markup. Alot of successful writing is in clear thinking (not being overly emotional at the moment helps immensely), then paring down of thoughts, _then_ writing, and then finally (and most importantly) editing. I always find saving a draft and sleeping on it before reading it back to yourself prior to sending/saving/publishing often helps.

dprice1 16y ago

I forgot two more suggestions: One is to find a writing buddy. Edit (and by that, I mean critique, not rewrite) each other's work, and offer comments back and forth. Establish some ground rules so that you don't get angry at each other. I personally think this is best done in person. When I need to communicate something important at work, I'll almost always ask a trusted coworker to help me read and edit my writing. Without fail, they will see several things I missed. I try to self-edit and, I can offer a suggestion from my own experience. I strongly suggest using a pen on a paper copy. This takes you out of the context in which you originally wrote the work-- your computer and keyboard. You can step away from your desk and go somewhere with a different context. A library, coffee shop, or outside under a tree are good places to rethink and rewrite. And finally, I hope we'll see a revised version of your HTML5 paragraph-- you've clearly hit on an idea appealing to HN readers...

muhfuhkuh 16y ago

If you're truly serious about improving your writing, the indispensable guide is "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. It even contains an example page out of his early draft of the book that is literally festooned with (his own) editing markup. Alot of successful writing is in clear thinking (not being overly emotional at the moment helps immensely), then paring down of thoughts, _then_ writing, and then finally (and most importantly) editing. I always find saving a draft and sleeping on it before reading it back to yourself prior to sending/saving/publishing often helps.