Post: #26

I have visited the house (on the Isle of Jura - off the west coast of Scotland) where Orwell wrote '1984'.

It is a very remote place. Can't imagine why he wanted to live there.

Post: #27

These rules are firmly frowned upon by just about everyone.

Long flowery uncreative language is held up as the gold standard.

Post: #28

(07-10-2013 04:49 PM)anamericaninbangkok Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:37 AM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 01:07 AM)anamericaninbangkok Wrote:  How many of you are actually professional writers?

How is that question relevant? This isn't a thread about how to make money off writing, it's about writing style.

Vorkuta, People all over the world write. This technically makes them a person capable of writing. It does not however, make them a literary or editorial writer. Chimpanzees and elephants have the ability to write — this does not make them writers.

I presumed I did not need to write the word 'habitual' into my post as you would understand the intent. I'll add the word to make it clearer:

Anybody who habitually writes is a writer.

Yes you can stick a brush in a monkey's hand and let him scrawl but that is in no way relevant to anyone being a writer or to this thread. The chimp does not understand the words it is writing or doing so for its own satisfaction. If you sit down to write stories or articles or poems etc. you are if you wish to choose to call yourself so, a writer. Talent has nothing to do with it, nor does receiving payment for what you do. I had an article about Kyrgyzstan published in a magazine, I received no payment for it. I am about to have one published about a journey I took to Russia for which I shall be paid for. Does that mean I wasn't a writer before when I wasn't paid but am now that someone will pay me? No of course not.

I write therefore I am a writer.

Post: #29

I like that more people on the forum are getting interested in writing.

I think it's a great way to strengthen your brain and develop your ideas (not to mention spread them), and I imagine a lot of the more intellectual guys here would be pretty good at it. Hope to see some guys out there getting published at some point.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling