For PERIOD F- DUE SEPTEMBER 11, 7:00 A.M.
Widely regarded as the greatest American writer of his time, Mark Twain was often asked for advice on the art and craft of writing. Sometimes the famous humorist would respond seriously, and sometimes not. Here, in remarks drawn from his letters, essays, novels, and speeches, are ten of Twain's most memorable observations on the writer's craft.
Widely regarded as the greatest American writer of his time, Mark Twain was often asked for advice on the art and craft of writing. Sometimes the famous humorist would respond seriously, and sometimes not. Here, in remarks drawn from his letters, essays, novels, and speeches, are ten of Twain's most memorable observations on the writer's craft.
- Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.
- Use the right word, not its second cousin.
- As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.
- You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God's adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by.
- Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
- Use good grammar.
- Damnation (if you will allow the expression), get up & take a turn around the block & let the sentiment blow off you. Sentiment is for girls. . . . There is one thing I can't stand and won't stand, from many people. That is, sham sentimentality.
- Use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English--it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in.
- The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is that you really want to say.
- Write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.
Read ten tips shared by Mark Twain during his lifetime. Some of thse will not be relevant to you as a freshman in high school, but most of them can directly impact your experience in English class. Which one might you disagree with? Which tip is most surprising? Which one of these are most important to your writing this year and why? ONE PARAGRAPH.
Jazmin
ReplyDeleteThe tip that I disagree with is the 8th one. This is because I don't think that writing should be "plain and simple". I believe that it should have detail and be interesting rather than boring. The tip that I find to be the most surprising would be the 5th one. I thought it was surprising because I wouldn't expect that kind of advice from an author. The one I think is most important that could help my writing this year is the 4th one. I think this is important because it's important to know that no writing piece is perfect the first time around, you're going to have to do a couple drafts to get it just right.
The tip that I find most surprising is number 5 becaus it is surprising to me that any author would give any advice like that to anyone. The tip Thant I find most important is number 1 because it is very true that you should find your facts then start to write
ReplyDeleteThe tip that surprised me is Tip 1. I also think that that tip is incorrect. "Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please." I think that the tip is incorrect because it is never right to use propaganda even if it helps you out. What surprised me is that Mark Twain thinks that this is true. Mark Twain is an extremely famous writer who you would never think embellishes or distorts the truth. I think that tip 6 will be most important in writing this year because if I don't use proper grammar, no one will ever understand my writing.
ReplyDeleteBraedon
DeleteThe tip that I disagree with the most is tip 8 because I think that writing should be interesting and have lots of detail. I really am not surprised with any of the tips. The tip that I think would help me most with my writing is the 6th tip because if I am not paying attention then i don't always use the best grammar.
Mark Twain is being satirical here.
DeleteAlisa
ReplyDeleteThe tip that I disagree with would be Tip 3, because when you are in doubt you wouldn't want to do anything except think about it. Tip 5 would be most surprising to be because, I would never thought that an author would say something like that as a tip. The tip that is most important to my writing this year would be Tip 6 because I know I'm not good at it and it is very important in writing.
The tip that I think is most important in tip 4. The reason tip 4 is important is because you don't always have one draft when writing. This will help many people write better and understand their work more and so that particular person can revise it to make it a lot better. This will help you make your writing more understandable and make it easier for others to understand that topic. The tip I don't so much agree with is the 1 tip where you need to get your facts. To be honest, you really don't need to get facts first, all you do is get a idea and create a rough draft then add facts when needed. Tip 4 is the most important tip because it helps keep structure.
ReplyDeleteForgot my name
DeleteDominic Alves
Greg Gamage
ReplyDeleteThe tip I that i disagree with is number 8. I think writing should be full of description and detail, it shouldn't be plain and simple. The tip i find most surprising is number 5. I understand its not good to use very but you wouldn't expect someone to say that. The tip I think is most important in my writing is number 6. It is a very important part in writing and people would't be able to understand your writing without it.
Alexa Raymond
ReplyDeleteThe tip that I disagreed with is one because how can you get information and then just distort however you want. I think that you should any ways have your facts straight to get information right and you can't just change it however you want it you have to get it right. Number eight was the most surprising because how can you writing be plain and simple your writing needs to be interesting or nobody will like the writing. The one I think that will most apply to writing in this class is number six to use good grammar because if you use good grammar you can do good in writing.
Elizabeth Cesana- These tips are very clever, and should be used by every writer. The tip I disagree with the most however, is number ten. "Write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for." As much as I'm sure a writer would love to get paid for their works, writing should be for the love and enjoyment of it, not about making money. The most shocking tip was number five. "Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." It's not everyday you hear a wise person to replace a word with damn. The tip most important to my writing this year is the easy and simple tip number 6. "Use good grammar." I am trying my best this year to make myself more understood and heard.
ReplyDeleteMaly ndiaye - tips 1 through 10 are worded very strongly and a bit confusingly but number 10 does not appear accurate ornecessary - people write just for the point of writing , they sometimes dont write because of the realization that they could or mught be payed - writimg is a hobby and talent that you shouldnt have to be , or expect to be payed for.
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