I can’t remember who said this, but I read it in a newspaper article while I was a 5th grade teacher struggling to find a good way to teach writing to children. The quote was, “writing is easy, you just stare at the paper until your forehead bleeds.” Writing is the hardest subject to teach, and I don’t think I ever came up with one best way. But, I think the act of writing forces you to organize your thoughts, and that is the reason I think it’s possibly the most important thing to teach even though 99% of children won’t become writers. Reading good writing is such a pleasure, but producing good writing is difficult. I enjoy your writing!
Bridget - If I were teaching it I would tell my students to learn how to think first. Good writing is good thinking, and, as you suggest, an organizational skill. I'd also tell them to read everything they can get their hands on, and just start with what interests them. Ya can't write well until you read well. And thanks again for your support and being here.
This is so good, and that is a quote to remember! In science, if we don't write about what we have learned then it never happened and nothing moves forward. It is the hardest part of my job. I only do it when I have to.
Thanks, Jack, for giving it a read. You need to write that stuff so I can learn more about Alaska. BTW, I am reading Pierre Berton's book on the Klondike gold rush to prepare for the upcoming trip. Can't believe I had never encountered this book previously. A great American epic of non-fiction.
Trying to start a paper on Alaskan glaciers right now, it's like self surgery. Good to know about Berton's book, I need to learn more about Alaska too so I'll get it. Can't wait to hear about your trip.
WOW, I think this is one of my favorites and McCarthy's advice to the writer: "If you don’t have to write, then don’t. goes far beyond writing. All true artists (musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, etc) born with the creation "bug" would not accept a cure, even if one was offered. While there are indeed a rare few like Picasso or Mozart who "arrive from the factory" with their gift already well developed... others, including you Jim, search for the treasure they sense deep, deep inside and will spend their lives digging to find it and share it with the rest of us. All of us subscribers are more than a little happy to provide money for the shovels. Keep up the great work!
There were times I thought I would be a writer, but it didn't possess me like that and so I guess I didn't have to. But I'm grateful for writers like you and McCarthy that have to.
It's hypergraphia. In your case, we're lucky there's no cure. Keep on afflicting us.
I can’t remember who said this, but I read it in a newspaper article while I was a 5th grade teacher struggling to find a good way to teach writing to children. The quote was, “writing is easy, you just stare at the paper until your forehead bleeds.” Writing is the hardest subject to teach, and I don’t think I ever came up with one best way. But, I think the act of writing forces you to organize your thoughts, and that is the reason I think it’s possibly the most important thing to teach even though 99% of children won’t become writers. Reading good writing is such a pleasure, but producing good writing is difficult. I enjoy your writing!
Bridget - If I were teaching it I would tell my students to learn how to think first. Good writing is good thinking, and, as you suggest, an organizational skill. I'd also tell them to read everything they can get their hands on, and just start with what interests them. Ya can't write well until you read well. And thanks again for your support and being here.
This is so good, and that is a quote to remember! In science, if we don't write about what we have learned then it never happened and nothing moves forward. It is the hardest part of my job. I only do it when I have to.
Thanks, Jack, for giving it a read. You need to write that stuff so I can learn more about Alaska. BTW, I am reading Pierre Berton's book on the Klondike gold rush to prepare for the upcoming trip. Can't believe I had never encountered this book previously. A great American epic of non-fiction.
Trying to start a paper on Alaskan glaciers right now, it's like self surgery. Good to know about Berton's book, I need to learn more about Alaska too so I'll get it. Can't wait to hear about your trip.
WOW, I think this is one of my favorites and McCarthy's advice to the writer: "If you don’t have to write, then don’t. goes far beyond writing. All true artists (musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, etc) born with the creation "bug" would not accept a cure, even if one was offered. While there are indeed a rare few like Picasso or Mozart who "arrive from the factory" with their gift already well developed... others, including you Jim, search for the treasure they sense deep, deep inside and will spend their lives digging to find it and share it with the rest of us. All of us subscribers are more than a little happy to provide money for the shovels. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, John. Sure appreciate you reading my stuff and your kind thoughts.
There were times I thought I would be a writer, but it didn't possess me like that and so I guess I didn't have to. But I'm grateful for writers like you and McCarthy that have to.
Probably saved yourself a lot of trouble, Blane. Far more agony involved than ecstasy.