[Edited to fix typo in thread title - Michelle]

[ 19 October 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]

The first is to write! And re-write, and get others to read it and give suggestions, helpful suggestions, not just "That was great" or "That didn't make sense".

The second is to read, especially material in the style and format of what you'll be writing: fiction, non-fiction, 1000 words, 2000 words, etc.

I've recently begun teaching a required English class to college students, and aside from basic grammar brush-ups, those two tips will go far.

For essays there are certain standard formats (Intro, Body, Conclusion) that most places of higher education require. Basically, learn them and write within their frameworks. Still lots of room for creativity.

The best book about writing clearly is without a doubt Strunk & White's Elements of Style. It's brief, crystal clear and guaranteed to improve your writing. Although I linked to an online copy, it pays to have your own tree-based book, and it's only about four or five bucks new, and used copies abound. It's absolutely essential.

I would be getting a graduate degree and becoming an archivist- although I'm waiting for my transcript from Concordia as I'm not certain I meet the requirements- hopefully if I don't there's a short way to dance around that. Alternately, I'd get a women's degree with a specialization in Canadian women's history- this would mean moving out of Quebec though, then moving back to get an MA. That would be another 7 years of my life, although I already have some women's courses and history courses, so maybe that could be shortened. This is all somewhat long term right now (1 -2 years as I need cash), but I want to do what I need to succeed starting now- why wait to do something I see as important ?

I know the formula of intro, thesis, body, conclusion and the basic rules, which is the easy part, but always had problems keeping my ball rolling, and keeping things simple, it's hard to know how to start or end, and if one runs out ideas and is 1 thousand words short, what info to put in as being absolutely relevant (I was writing history, no shortage of facts sometimes and such fascinating people and events, I just wanted to share) etc. I've always been better at expressing myself vocally than written.
As for practise I did just join Amnesty international, there's rabble , and other things I can think of. Getting blog just crossed my mind and I saw an add in the municipal paper the other day asking for letters, etc. I certainly have no shortage of opinions.

[ 19 October 2008: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

[ 19 October 2008: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

ETA: Case in point would be my last sentence. What I should have said is:

The copy that I possess could do with a more thorough reading. Or more to the point,

I could put some face time with my own copy of this book to good use.

[ 19 October 2008: Message edited by: Slumberjack ]

edited because I forget what I was doing in college in the 80's, go figger

[ 19 October 2008: Message edited by: Polly Brandybuck ]

Borrow styles you like and make them your own.

Don't write essays. If you want to write for a more mainstream audience, so to speak, essays will not serve you well.

That's not meant to denigrate academic writing, and I'm not saying "dumb it down." But, personally, I don't like reading or writing essays.

quote:

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Alternately, I'd get a women's degree with a specialization in Canadian women's history...

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Concordia has separate degrees for women?

If you want to write essays, write essays. They're among my favourite forms of writing; there's nothing like reading a good polemic in the morning.

Strunk & White is over-rated. What you really want to consult is Sheridan Baker's The Practical Stylist.

I'm off to the Library to get Strunk & White as they do not have the other titles mentioned. Thank you !

[ 25 October 2008: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]