I find it hard to critique my own style and voice of writing as it is not something I often think about. Now that I am however, I guess my style is fairly relaxed, conversational and straight forward. I would find it hard to believe that anyone found my writing hard to follow, I don’t know that many long words that could throw anyone off! One thing I know that I definitely do is ramble which brings me to Vonnegut’s second point, “Do Not Ramble”! It a lot harder to do than he makes out. I think I am doing it right now.. I also loved his suggestion that teachers want you “to write like a cultivated Englishmen of a century or more ago”! I know that I always used to think that I should include longer, more specific words and would go through an essay with my thesaurus and change words where appropriate! Vonnegut’s very next point “Keep it simple” was something I had to learn to do when writing. I now know that I don’t have to use extremely long, witty words in my writing as long as what I do write means what I want it to. I learned to sound like myself.
His first point was the most relevant to me however. I always want to write about something I would like to know more about, and in writing a paper on such a topic, I learn more about it! Take my second paper for example. My shitty first draft was about 3 people I love to watch in movies, but who I really don’t know anything about. When I changed course and wrote about 3 people I know everything about my essay became a lot more personal to me and a lot easier to write!
I don’t think my style changes much depending on my audience. I think I can be more formal when necessary, like when I wrote the entry essay needed to attend FSU. I really enjoyed reading Vonnegut’s essay and found I could relate to everything!
2 comments:
I have to agree with you when you say it is hard to critique yourself because i am the same way. I always have trouble doing so because i always think everything i say and everyway i say it is always right! When you talk about the points that Vonnegut makes in his artice i totally agree with everything you say about how the efect you as a writer. They do the same for me. I have to say that this article effected me the same way it effected you.
Response to Hannah:
It truly is sooo much easier to write about subjects youre actually interested in. Like you said, when you write about something you like, you learn more about it, making the research and finding the background information for your paper ten times easier, and alot less stressful. Also, i agree with you about critiqing your own writing, because everyone thinks everything they have to say is important. Sometimes, when im reviewing my papers its hard for me to take things out, because to me they are important or i tthink they add to the paper. Plus, sometimes i write things in my paper that i think are funny, but i'm sure not all the readers think its as funny as i do.
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