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   Yukari 丼Peerless☑️ (yukari@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:28:05 JST Yukari 丼Peerless☑️

   Serious question. How can I be a more eloquent writer? English is my second language; I can speak/write well but in creative writing I hate how my writings sound like a child ? Too simple.

   #writing
   #writingtips
   #nanowrimo
   #writer
   #esl

   • Embed this notice
     Jeff C (jeffc1956@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:30:40 JST Jeff C

     in reply to

     @Yukari I read a book once, I believe it was called the Elements of eloquence. Basically how to use rhetorical flourishes to make your writing a little more flashy. You learn a few of these in high school of course but this book was really extensive.

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     Yukari 丼Peerless☑️ (yukari@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:36:36 JST Yukari 丼Peerless☑️

     in reply to

     • Jeff C

     @JeffC1956 I'll check it out. Thank you!

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     Dee Carney (dee_carney@romancelandia.club)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:37:02 JST Dee Carney

     in reply to

     @Yukari You might think it's too simple, but to someone else it's your voice and exactly why they like your writing.

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     Yukari 丼Peerless☑️ (yukari@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:37:38 JST Yukari 丼Peerless☑️

     in reply to

     • Dee Carney

     @dee_carney Aww! I think you are right. I shouldn't try to be somebody else.

   • Embed this notice
     natalie (paparatti@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:48:00 JST natalie

     in reply to

     @Yukari my answer is the boring one: read more books. If you read enough different books, especially from people that match your own background, it's easier to appreciate that the way you process & record language is a reflection of your experience as a human being. Just because you're not writing like *insert upper middle class white English speaker* that doesn't make it inferior writing. Personally, I try and work to an internal aesthetic: is it accurate to my intentions & does it please me.

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     Rachel Thorn (rachel_thorn@queer.party)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 09:52:09 JST Rachel Thorn

     in reply to

     @Yukari Hi, Yukari. I struggle with the same thing in reverse. Fortunately, with writing, you don’t have to rush. When I write in Japanese (in columns, afterwords of pocket paperback editions, essays for anthologies), I reread what I wrote and try to think of all the different ways I know how to phrase the same idea. One thing I try to be conscious of when writing in either Japanese or English rhythm and meter. But honestly, your English seems great to me.

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     Yukari 丼Peerless☑️ (yukari@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 12-Nov-2022 10:03:13 JST Yukari 丼Peerless☑️

     in reply to

     • Rachel Thorn

     @Rachel_Thorn Right. I think this is common for anyone who writes in second/third language.

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     Bert Latamore (bertl@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 13-Nov-2022 08:10:42 JST Bert Latamore

     in reply to

     @Yukari hmHi. I am a professional nonfiction writer /editor (50 yrs of experience) and lifelong reader. I always recommend "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White as the basic text on writing clear English. Nothing is wrong with writing in simple English as long as you can fully express your thoughts. Basically there are two kinds of writing: Writing to inform and writing to impress. You want to do the former.