good words (right order) Jan 21 2010

good words (right order) class presentation

1/21/10

[email protected]

good words (right order)to write clearly is to think clearly

_________________________________________________

“Though the origin of most of our words is forgotten, each word was at first a stroke of genius.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

What They Didn’t Tell You About Writing

(and English)

{ part one }

1. How (and why) did the written language develop?

a recipe for beer.

a 5,300 year old record of oil deliveries

The written word developed to facilitate commerce.

Literary art began with the spoken word.

In the absence of the written word, humanity relied on rhyme and meter

as a mnemonic device.

Thirty days hath...

There once was a man from Nantucket...

It’s really hard tomake a ledger rhyme.

Writing solves that problem by giving us a more reliable kind of of memory.

In fact, the language itself is a kind of memory

“Though the origin of most of our words is forgotten, each word was at first a stroke of genius.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing gives you the power to preserve words through time and

transmit them across distance.

But this power comes at a price.

Tiger: Hey Sexy I can't come out this week. Something came up family wise (July 20, 3:04 p.m.)

Jaimee: That's okay I hope everything is fine ... would have liked to see you

Tiger: We will make it happen

Jaimee: I drove out for the night to surprise a friend with a present for there birthday (July 26, 11: 22 p.m.)

Tiger: what kind of present your naked body

Jaimee: haha no a watch I slept alone

Tiger: alone with him that is

Jaimee: haha I wish

Jaimee: miss u (Sept. 27, 6:38 p.m.)

Tiger: now that's hot so who is your new boy toy

Jaimee: no new boy toy ... still running dry... been on 2 real dates in the pat 2 months :(

Tiger: I need you

Jaimee: then get your tight ass over here and visit me! I need u

Tiger: I will wear you out soon

Jaimee: how soon? I got a new piercing

Tiger: really. Where

Jaimee: I just sent u a pic of it ... is on my cheek below my eye ... implanted a little diamond

Tiger: send it again. I didn't pick up on that

Tiger: you just need some attention from me

Tiger: do you have a boy friend (8:45 p.m.)

Jaimee: I don't even have someone I am dating ... no ... u can be my boyfriend ;)

Tiger: then I am

Jaimee: I wish

Tiger: quiet and secretively we will always be together

Tiger: when was the last time you got laid

Jaimee: if we hang out on a Sundway we can watch desperate houswives again haha (Sept. 30, 3:38 p.m.)

Tiger: oh god

Jaimee: take a break from watching boring old golf

Jaimee: I mean the amazing sport of golf ;)

Jaimee: [more than an hour later] babe I was kidding

Tiger: I know sexy

Jaimee: is it orange county time yet? (Oct. 1, 6:06 p.m.)

Tiger: oh stop :)

Jaimee: hahaha I know ... but you canceled on me last time so the anticipation is killing me ... im finding myself watching sports center ... haha j/k it isn't that bad

Tiger: its never been that bad

Jaimee: very true ... I only watch football

Tiger: Figured you would say that. Big black guys.

Jaimee: u are my first, last and only black guy! U should feel special

Tiger: why do I not believe that?

Tiger: [later, in response to Jaimee's mention of a date who was "full of himself"] you kinda like that for some reason which is weird why you decided on me.

Tiger: having an asian mother and a military father you cannot and will not ever be full of yourself

Jaimee: I have fun with u, you always make me smile and I am not afraid to be myself or say anything to u ... the day I met u I thought u were going to kick me out a few times but for someone reason you didn't and u have told me numerous times I talk to much but slowly as I get to know u iI think your absolutely amazing

Tiger: you are wrong I'm bone thugs in harmon

Jaimee: Something wrong babe?I was excited to sepnd time with u this week (Oct. 15, 6:40 p.m.)

Tiger: I will you Sunda night. Its the only night in which I am totally free but I have to leave at 530 Monday morning to drive up to the valley for an outing for one of my sponsors. See you at 8 pm on Sunday in newport

Tiger: don't text me back till tomorrow morning. I have to many people around me right now

Tiger: send me something very naughty (Oct. 18, 3:40 p.m.)

Jaimee: some things are worth waiting for lol ... besides im at work

Tiger: go to the bathroom and take it

Jaimee: haha ur too much

Jaimee: are u leaving me cause your wife is still in newport :( I am lonely now ... i like falling asleep in your arms (Oct. 18, 11:38 p.m.)

Tiger: sorry baby I just can't sleep. Its just a problem I have.

Tiger: she is not here. They left this morning

Jaimee: well I appreciate you not wanting to wake me up but if y couldn't sleep I would have rather sat up and talked to u more ... find out why I keep falling more and more for u ;)

Tiger: Because I'm blasian :)

Tiger: I'm sorry babe. Im already home.

Jaimee: I'm putting my underwear back on ... thats a no no ... come take them off

Tiger: :) you are too funny

Tiger: Hey Sexy I can't come out this week. Something came up family wise (July 20, 3:04 p.m.)

Jaimee: That's okay I hope everything is fine ... would have liked to see you

Tiger: We will make it happen

Jaimee: I drove out for the night to surprise a friend with a present for there birthday (July 26, 11: 22 p.m.)

Tiger: what kind of present your naked body

Jaimee: haha no a watch I slept alone

Tiger: alone with him that is

Jaimee: haha I wish

Jaimee: miss u (Sept. 27, 6:38 p.m.)

Tiger: now that's hot so who is your new boy toy

Jaimee: no new boy toy ... still running dry... been on 2 real dates in the pat 2 months :(

Tiger: I need you

Jaimee: then get your tight ass over here and visit me! I need u

Tiger: I will wear you out soon

Jaimee: how soon? I got a new piercing

Tiger: really. Where

Jaimee: I just sent u a pic of it ... is on my cheek below my eye ... implanted a little diamond

Tiger: send it again. I didn't pick up on that

Tiger: you just need some attention from me

Tiger: do you have a boy friend (8:45 p.m.)

Jaimee: I don't even have someone I am dating ... no ... u can be my boyfriend ;)

Tiger: then I am

Jaimee: I wish

Tiger: quiet and secretively we will always be together

Tiger: when was the last time you got laid

Jaimee: if we hang out on a Sundway we can watch desperate houswives again haha (Sept. 30, 3:38 p.m.)

Tiger: oh god

Jaimee: take a break from watching boring old golf

Jaimee: I mean the amazing sport of golf ;)

Jaimee: [more than an hour later] babe I was kidding

Tiger: I know sexy

Jaimee: is it orange county time yet? (Oct. 1, 6:06 p.m.)

Tiger: oh stop :)

Jaimee: hahaha I know ... but you canceled on me last time so the anticipation is killing me ... im finding myself watching sports center ... haha j/k it isn't that bad

Tiger: its never been that bad

Jaimee: very true ... I only watch football

Tiger: Figured you would say that. Big black guys.

Jaimee: u are my first, last and only black guy! U should feel special

Tiger: why do I not believe that?

Tiger: [later, in response to Jaimee's mention of a date who was "full of himself"] you kinda like that for some reason which is weird why you decided on me.

Tiger: having an asian mother and a military father you cannot and will not ever be full of yourself

Jaimee: I have fun with u, you always make me smile and I am not afraid to be myself or say anything to u ... the day I met u I thought u were going to kick me out a few times but for someone reason you didn't and u have told me numerous times I talk to much but slowly as I get to know u iI think your absolutely amazing

Tiger: you are wrong I'm bone thugs in harmon

Jaimee: Something wrong babe?I was excited to sepnd time with u this week (Oct. 15, 6:40 p.m.)

Tiger: I will you Sunda night. Its the only night in which I am totally free but I have to leave at 530 Monday morning to drive up to the valley for an outing for one of my sponsors. See you at 8 pm on Sunday in newport

Tiger: don't text me back till tomorrow morning. I have to many people around me right now

Tiger: send me something very naughty (Oct. 18, 3:40 p.m.)

Jaimee: some things are worth waiting for lol ... besides im at work

Tiger: go to the bathroom and take it

Jaimee: haha ur too much

Jaimee: are u leaving me cause your wife is still in newport :( I am lonely now ... i like falling asleep in your arms (Oct. 18, 11:38 p.m.)















“Keep a diary and it will keep you.”

Mae West

Anything you write can be instantaneously

delivered to everyone in the world.

...for free. (zero marginal cost)

The persistence of the written word (what makes writing useful)

also makes it very dangerous.

2. Where do words come from?

(okay smart-ass, where does the dictionary get them?)

What happens when you don’t have a dictionary?

When he found himself lacking a word, he made one to fit.

Nounsaccusedaddictionalligatoramazementanchoviesassassinationbackingbanditbedroombumpbuzzerscourtshipcriticdauntlessdawndesigndickensdiscontentembraceemployerengagementsexcitementsexposureeyeballfixturefuturityglowgusthintimmediacyinvestmentskickshawsleapfrogluggage

managermimicmisgivingmountaineerodeoutbreakpageantrypedantperusalquestioningreinforcementretirementroadwayruminationsavageryscufflesshuddersswitchtardinesstranscendenceurgingwatchdogwormholezanyVerbsbesmirchbetblanketcakecaterchampioncompromisecowdenotederacinate

dialoguedislocatedivestdrugdwindleelbowenmeshfilmforwardgossipgrovelhobnobhumourhurryimpedesjetjiglabellapselowermisquotenegotiatenumbpanderpartnerpetitionpukerantrewordsecuresubmergeswaggertortureunclog

Adjectivesaerialauspiciousbaselessbeachedbloodstainedblushingcircumstantialconsanguineousdeafeningdisgracefuldomineeringenrapt

epilepticequivocaleventfulfashionableforegonefrugalgenerousgloomygnarledhushinaudibleinvulnerablejadedjuicedlacklusterlaughablelonelylustrousmadcapmajesticmarketablemonumental

nervynoiselessobsceneolympianpremeditatedprometheanquarrelsomeradiancerancorousreclusiveremorselessrivalsacrificialsanctimonioussoftheartedsplittingstealthytraditionaltranquilunmitigatedunrealvariedvaultingviewlesswidowedworthlessyelpingAdverbsimportantlyinstinctively obsequiously threateningly tightly trippingly unaware

So how do you make a dictionary?

“The chief intent of it is to preserve the purity, and ascertain the meaning of our English idiom; and this seems to require nothing more than that our language be considered, so far as it is our own; that the words and phrases used in the general intercourse of life... The value of a work must be estimated by its use; it is not enough that a dictionary delights the critick, unless, at the same time, it instructs the learner; as it is to little purpose that an engine amuses the philosopher by the subtlety of its mechanism, if it requires so much knowledge in its application as to be of no advantage to the common workman.”

Samuel Johnson from ‘The Plan of an English Dictionary”

“our language be considered the words and phrases used in the general intercourse of life”

Samuel Johnson from ‘The Plan of an English Dictionary”

We can make a word right now. And it can be in the next revision of the dictionary.

“blog”

You are the source of yourauthentic language.

3. Why aren’t words spelled like they sound?

They were.

pepullepepillepepilpepyllepepyllpeeplepoepull

pupillpupyllpupulpeuplepoplepoepulpuple

All valid spellings of the word “people”

All valid spellings of the word “people”

before the 15th century.

In the 15th and 16th centuries the spelling of words in the

English language was fixed by a special kind of English court

called the Chancery.

This was done to standardize contracts and payments.

But after the spelling was fixed the pronunciation of words continued to evolve.

Linguists call it the ‘Great Vowel Shift’

( obligatory “vowel movement” joke goes here )

the other reason that spelling and pronunciation don’t match well in English is contained in

4. Why does English have so many synonyms?

Famine or Hunger

Hunger comes from the Old English word ‘hungor’

Famine is a French word.

J'ai faim

So where’d the French come from?

Pre 1066 – William the Bastard

Post 1066 – William the Conqueror

Victors write the history.

When the Normans (French) conquered England, they doubled the size of the English language.

angerwrath

ask aware

backbeginbeliefbelly

bodilybrotherly

buycalf

coolchildcome

cowdeadly

deepdeer

earthend

fatherlyfeelingfill upflood

rageireinquirecognizantdorsalcommencecreedabdomencorporalfraternalpurchasevealacquiesceinfantarrivebeef, bovinemortal, fatalprofoundvenisonsoilfinish, completepaternalsentimentreplenishinundate

followforbid

forgettingforetellfox-like

freedomfriendly

gatherget off

get outgive

gladnessgod

go onguess

hearingheed

heighthelphenhill

horsehound-like

itchknow

ensueprohibit, interdictoblivionpredictvulpinelibertyamicableassembledescendproduceprovidejoy, delightdeityproceedsupposeaudienceattentionaltitudeassistpoultrymountequestriancanineirritaterecognize

English is a promiscuous language.

wiletrick

devicefinesseartifice

stratagem

wiletrick


stratagem

O.E.DutchOld FrenchFrenchLatin Greek

5. With all these words, how do you know which ones to use?

“First, learn to hammer in the nails, and if what you build is sturdy and serviceable, take satisfaction in it ’s plain strength.”

William Zinnser

good words { part two }

5. With all these words, how do you know which ones to use?

wiletrick


stratagem

1. Use the good ones.

good words are words of clear, unambiguous meaning

these are usually words that are real things

The more specific you can be the better off you are.

“The perpetrator performed an aggravated assault on the victim

which resulted in substantial injuries and the subsequent...”

“Bill hit Steve in the head with a hammer.”

2. Use as few words as possible.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––omit needless words

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

– from “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White

3. No adverbs, few adjectives.

“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”

Stephen King

rewriting mini procedure–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1. Kill all the adverbs.2. Kill all the adjectives.3. See if the sentence can be saved.

The camel died quite suddenly on the second day, and Selena fretted sulkily and, buffing her already impeccable nails--not for the first time since the journey began--pondered snidely if this would dissolve into a vignette of minor inconveniences like all the other holidays spent with Basil.

Gail Cain 1983 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest Winner

The camel died on the second day. Selena fretted, not for the first time since the journey began -- pondered if this would dissolve into a vignette of minor inconveniences like all the other holidays spent with Basil.

3. No jargon, buzzwords, technical terms or acronyms.

Why do people use jargon?

Why would someone say, “Are you experiencing any pain,”

instead of...

“Does it hurt?”

I think it’s fear.

Fear of making a statement.

Fear of standing out.

Maybe being unintelligible feels safe.

But it’s a false security.

Unclear communication isn’t just a waste of time, it’s terribly

destructive.

Density is typically measured as basal area in square feet per acre.

MegaMicroSystems is a key industry player with global tangible assets, strategic allied partnerships, and an information-driven technology base. We utilize user-centric methodologies, grow visionary systems, and orchestrate strategic functionalities in order to generate successful customer and end-user experiences. The ultimate goal for our targeted client base is to allow them to implement world-class synergies, generate end-to-end communit ies , and launch successful implemented platforms.

4. Use the most correct word.

How do you know?

Words have two kinds of meaning:


1. Denotation (dictionary definition)


1. Denotation (dictionary definition)

2. Connotation (everything else)

You are your connotations.

When you put two words next to each other, a third meaning, is created

that cannot be contained within mere denotation.

ham ball

ball hock

ham hock

hock ball

funnel

ham funnel

“Would you mind asking your husband to stop cramming sandwiches down his ham funnel?”

It’s important to be able to do this with language, because we don’t have a word ready-made for every shade of meaning

we might need to convey.

blood funnel

“...a great vampire squid wrapped a r o u n d t h e f a c e o f h u m a n i t y, relentlessly jamming it’s blood funnel into anything that smells like money.”

Matt Tabbibi describing Goldman Sachs

Mr. Tabbibi is obviously upset.

Mr. Tabbibi is eloquently upset.

“What does it say that Iranians can march by the millions, put life and limb on the line, while Americans sit meekly by as a financial colossus with tentacles deep into the federal government enriches itself beyond our imagination on the backs of the poor and the struggling?”

Peter Daou on Goldman Sachs

5. If possible avoid any word from with a French, Latin or

Greek root.

The core of the English language, Anglo-Saxon, is still our best source of

clear and powerful words.

angerwrath

ask aware

backbeginbeliefbelly

bodilybrotherly

buycalf

coolchildcome

cowdeadly

deepdeer

earthend

fatherlyfeelingfill upflood

rageireinquirecognizantdorsalcommencecreedabdomencorporalfraternalpurchasevealacquiesceinfantarrivebeef, bovinemortal, fatalprofoundvenisonsoilfinish, completepaternalsentimentreplenishinundate

followforbid

forgettingforetellfox-like

freedomfriendly

gatherget off

get outgive

gladnessgod

go onguess

hearingheed

heighthelphenhill

horsehound-like

itchknow

ensueprohibit, interdictoblivionpredictvulpinelibertyamicableassembledescendproduceprovidejoy, delightdeityproceedsupposeaudienceattentionaltitudeassistpoultrymountequestriancanineirritaterecognize

“ I g a i n e d a n i m m e n s e advantage over the cleverer boys... I got into my bones the essential structure of the ordinary sentence– which is a noble thing.”

Sir Winston Churchill

right order{ part three }

A sentence is any combination of words that expresses

a complete thought.

Jesus wept.

It’s form was an exact quadrangle; and we may calculate that a square of about seven hundred yards was sufficient for the encampment of

twenty thousand; though a similar number of our own troops would

expose to the enemy a front of more than treble of that extent.

“...a great vampire squid wrapped a r o u n d t h e f a c e o f h u m a n i t y, relentlessly jamming it’s blood funnel into anything that smells like money.”

Matt Tabbibi describing Goldman Sachs

Most of the languages in the world convey a level of meaning

through word order.

For the vast majority of languages this order is

SUBJECT, OBJECT, VERB.

Bob the ball throws.

3, 4, x = 12

For us, it’s SUBJECT, VERB, OBJECT

Bob throws the ball.

3 x 4 = 12

If you are a native English speaker, your brain is wired so that this is the easiest order for

you to process language.

In fact, this order is a tool for understanding the world.

“Use the analytic tool of complete sentences, including

subjects, objects and predicates.”-- Lou Gerstner, in the famous memo that banned the use of presentation slides at IBM

Every sentence, no matter how complicated, confused or

unclear can be broken down into a simpler sentence that fits this form: Subject Verb (Object)

“Did you know that Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on

the back of an envelope.”

“Robinson, who coaches the Oregon State Beavers, was

cheered on by the President, who snacked on popcorn, the First

Lady, Sasha, Malia and the girls’ grandmother Marian Robinson.”

“Avoid the passive voice.”

The problem is that it violates the spirit of a subject, verb, object

word order.

It makes it harder to say what we’re trying to say.

Sometimes this is important.

“An error has been found in your account.”

“Someone made a mistake.”

“We made a mistake.”

The passive voice is the voice of those who seek to dissemble, obfuscate or cover their ass.

The passive voice also violates the principle of omitting

needless words.

Many famous quotations from Churchill, Roosevelt and

Kennedy were used by the speaker in his talk on “Famous

Political Orators.”

{ make it shorter }

The speaker quoted Churchill, Roosevelt and Kennedy during

his discussion of “Famous Presidential Orators.”

A sentence is a one idea.

A paragraph is one topic

The paragraph is the logical unit of composition.

“The first draft of everything is shit.”

Ernest Hemingway

“ C l u t t e r i s t h e disease of American writing.”

William Zinnser, Author of ‘On Writing’

rewriting{ part four }

“There is no great writing, only great rewriting.”

Justice Brandeis

The more time you spend rewriting, the better your

writing becomes.

I have a hard time remembering things.

So I named my company for both the goal of and the method

to create great writing.

good words (right order)

good words (right order)

subject verb (object)

rewriting procedure–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––1. read it out loud2. figure out what it is trying to say3. check for bad words4. check for wrong order5. rewrite it6. read it out loud

There are only two possible problems with any piece of writing.

1) The words don’t communicate what you want to say.

2) The words communicate something you don’t want to say.

So as you rewrite, you are constantly adjusting your aim.

“Take dead aim.”Harvey Pennick

“Robinson, who coaches the Oregon State Beavers, was

cheered on by the President, who snacked on popcorn, the First

Lady, Sasha, Malia and the girls’ grandmother Marian Robinson.”

When workloads increase to a level requiring hours in excess of an employee's regular duty assignment, and when such work is estimated to require a full shift of eight (8) hours or more on two (2) or more consecutive days, even though unscheduled days intervene, an employee's tour of duty shall be altered so as to include the hours when such work must be done, unless an adverse impact would result from such employee's absence from his previously scheduled assignment.

The building is a huge structure that houses federal courts as well as other agencies, including the offices of Senators Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, and John Ensign, a Republican.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/harry_reid/index.html?inline=nyt-per

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/harry_reid/index.html?inline=nyt-per

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/e/john_ensign/index.html?inline=nyt-per




If it were just you and I talking, sitting close together at small table in an uncertain port, a place just far enough away from all that we know that we could be honest with one another, here's what I would tell you:

I utilized a multi-tined tool to process a starch resource.

On Monday, the digital content organization plans to announce

several moves that signal it is ready for companies to start

building devices and services with the technology this year.

Celebrations moved like a wave from east to west as midnight

joyously struck across the globe and the world welcomed 2010. In New York, at least 1 million

people watch the iconic ball drop in Times Square.

If, for a while, the ruse of desire is calculable for the uses of discipline soon the repetition of guilt, justification, pseudo-scientific theories, superstition, spurious authorities, and classifications can be seen as the desperate effort to "normalize" formally the disturbance of a discourse of splitting that violates the rational, enlightened claims of its enunciatory modality.

Valais is the first water bottled in the Swiss Alps to be sold in the United States. The final design for the bottle label reflects the Swiss heritage by featuring a mountain images, as well as a Swiss flag icon. It informs consumers visually that this is a refreshing, natural beverage.

Most gardeners limit their experience of growing beans in their backyard gardens to snap beans. In fact, snap beans are second in popularity only to the omniscient tomato.

Much too frequently, the criminal manages to escape the scene of a crime because he manages to escape the visual capability of the responding officers.

History is replete with examples to show that throughout our long and rewarding relations with the Chinese, they have time and again proved to be totally untrustworthy.

All patient meals will be rethermalized by use of a microwave oven before delivery to patients.

Firefighters are often called upon to save lives. Occasionally, they must help begin lives. Such was the case yesterday morning when five Elyria firefighters gave birth to a girl in the bathroom of an apartment.

Businesses planning sales strategy perceive buying power as a gauge of the general ability of potential customers to buy their products.

“It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior's life.”

Telemon of Arcadia

how to work{ part five }

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––writing is either:

a. The act of putting words on paper.

b. A process through which we discover what we are trying to say.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––writing is either:

b. A process through which we discover what we are trying to say.

It’s okay to be lost.

In fact, you can’t do creative work without getting lost. It’s a

fundamental part of the process.

The Creative Process is like an iceberg

Only 10% of it is visible.

This why it’s hard for us to manage.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––the process

1. There is a problem. 2. You gather information.3. You develop solutions/options. 4. Some of them seem okay. Not great.5. You run out of ideas.6. You put it out of your mind completely.7. The Eureka moment.

The cycle can take five minutes or five years, but the steps are

always the same.

The discipline of focusing and relaxing your mind is what

makes the process go.

“I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me.”

Winnie the Pooh

We are far more simple creatures than our egos will

allow us to understand.

I believe that we get, at the most, six periods of

concentration a day.

“A writer only gets 2-3 hours of productive time a day.”

Your biggest difficulty with writing may have nothing to do

with writing at all.

“The writing part isn’t hard,it’s sitting down to write.”

Steven Pressfield

This is exacerbated by theinterrupt-driven workplace.

internal vs. external

To write well, you need to manage your attention,

not your time.

Any system will work, but I suggest

the Pomodoro Technique.

1. Choose a task2. Set timer to 25 minutes3. Work on the task until the timer rings.*4. Take a short break. 5. Every four Pomodoros, a longer break.

The Pomodoro Technique

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com

If you are interrupted or lose focus, you don’t count the Pomodoro.

You take a break, then wind the timer

up and try again.

The next Pomodoro will be better.

The secret is, the Pomodoro Technique isn’t about time. It’s about your awareness of time.

Writing is spiritually difficult because of the anxiety of becoming

that creeps into the process.

You can’t control time.

You can’t directly control your ‘inspiration’ or ‘talent.’

You can’t directlycontrol your emotions.

I don’t think we have that much control over our thoughts.

If you attempt to write something difficult,

you will, as some point feel inadequate.

It happens to everyone, but fear not,

“He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered washing on the line; it reminds me of stale bean soup, of college yells, of dogs barking idiotically through endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it.”

H.L. Mencken on Warren G. Harding

...you can’t possibly write as bad as Warren G. Harding.

The only thing that is truly within your power to control is

your attention.

But we can choose which thoughts we pay attention to.

What we do is a consequence of what we pay attention to.

So, let’s pay some

Pick a topic.

“I am a teacher of athletes. He that by me spreads a wider breast than my own proves the worth of my own. He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher.”

Walt Whitman

____________________________________________

1.Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2.Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3.If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4.Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5.Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6.Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

orwell’s rules for writing

good words (right order) Jan 21 2010

Education

Transcript of good words (right order) Jan 21 2010