How much do you write for 1) your career and 2) spare time?

[Jenson71]

Writing is a serious chore for me when it's a topic I'm not exploring for fun. But, my future career will require my writing all the time. And, unfortunately, I'm not too good at it.

In my spare time, I write occasionally. Mostly here or on another site. I do not write poetry, letters, or books in my spare time, but I do like the idea of doing so.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

So, with Hamas and NewChief, there are two authoritative voices for getting rid of "One could/might say."

My question is then: Isn't that being too authoritative? Because one could say that the atomic energy age began before the wave of a wand.

Including "One could say" allows a more open-minded view of when the atomic energy age actually began. Plus, what if you don't actually believe that it began with the wave of a wand, but you just want to present that argument?

There's no such thing as being too authoritative with your writing, and that's a very common problem for writing students. Trying to avoid sounding too authoritative leads to a lot of passive construction and wordiness.

If you're intentionally trying to leave it open for interpretation, then your construction is superior to the other in my opinion.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by NewChief

There's no such thing as being too authoritative with your writing, and that's a very common problem for writing students. Trying to avoid sounding too authoritative leads to a lot of passive construction and wordiness.

Do you find that such writing is due more to a lack of confidence or a lack of writing skills?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by NewChief

There's no such thing as being too authoritative with your writing, and that's a very common problem for writing students. Trying to avoid sounding too authoritative leads to a lot of passive construction and wordiness.

If you're intentionally trying to leave it open for interpretation, then your construction is superior to the other in my opinion.

I haven't read the thread. Has the differentiation between legal writing and other forms of writing been taken insto consideration? Or is Jenson not focusing solely on the writing he is required to do for his classwork?

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by vailpass

I haven't read the thread. Has the differentiation between legal writing and other forms of writing been taken insto consideration? Or is Jenson not focusing solely on the writing he is required to do for his classwork?

This thread is a free-for-all.

[crazycoffey]

I do a lot of writing for work, narrative reports, supplements, evidence, warrant applications, but I do very little writing at home. the planet is probably 95% of my off duty writing, and that's mostly just bs posts like this one.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Do you find that such writing is due more to a lack of confidence or a lack of writing skills?

Not sure, actually. Varies from case to case.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by vailpass

I haven't read the thread. Has the differentiation between legal writing and other forms of writing been taken insto consideration? Or is Jenson not focusing solely on the writing he is required to do for his classwork?

That's a good point. Legal writing is, by nature, crap.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by NewChief

That's a good point. Legal writing is, by nature, crap.

You try underlining endless pages with a four colored pen for 3 years and see how much people like your writing.

[Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan]

Originally Posted by durtyrute

You get paid to write for fun? And you write at work. Where do I sign up

Do a stint in the Army and then get hired by a Defense Contractor. You'll get to write more than you ever thought you could. *grin*

[Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Do you find that such writing is due more to a lack of confidence or a lack of writing skills?

It took me quite a while to get out of the Army style of writing (Bottom line up front, inverted pyramid, any document with more than 10% passive voice was an automatic fail for a school paper.)

But, that being said, it taught me that tight, concise writing was much more effective at getting a point across for a business paper.

And it doesn't hurt to get to the point in fiction either. No one's going to sit through a chapter about playing Bridge these days. Fleming could get away with it in "Moonraker", but no editor is going to settle for it today.

[durtyrute]

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

Do a stint in the Army and then get hired by a Defense Contractor. You'll get to write more than you ever thought you could. *grin*

lol...got my fill in the Navy. Must pay pretty well though, huh

[Buck]

I'm part of a film production crew and obviously we have to be create stories to film, and its fun especially when its a comedy. I like writing a story, reading it, cracking up, giving it to other people to read, and then they crack up. Makes you feel good.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Buck

I'm part of a film production crew and obviously we have to be create stories to film, and its fun especially when its a comedy. I like writing a story, reading it, cracking up, giving it to other people to read, and then they crack up. Makes you feel good.

I once had a short play produced in Pittsburgh and I sat in the back and could see several people actually laughing until they were wiping their eyes. It was an awesome feeling.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by NewChief

That's a good point. Legal writing is, by nature, crap.

Which is exactly why all the schools are focusing heavily on cleaning it up through mandatory writing classes and requirements.

And our professors are required to rip us apart, and they don't hold back. I know this all too well.

[Jenson71]

Classic example of bad legal writing:

And in the outset we may as well be frank enough to confess, and, indeed, in view of the seriousness of the consequences which upon fuller reflection we find would inevitably result to muncipalities in the matter of street improvements from the conclusion reached and announced in the former opinion, we are pleased to declare that the arguments upon rehearing have convinced us that the decision upon the ultimate question involved here formerly rendered by this court, even if not faulty in its reasoning from the presimses announced or wholly erroneous in conclusions as to some of the questions incidentally arising and necessarily legitimate subjects of discussion in the decision of the main proposition, is, at any rate, one which may, under the peculiar circumstances of this case, the more justly and at the same time, upon reasons of equal cogency, be superceded by a conclusion whose effect cannot be to disturb the integrity of the long and well-established system for the improvement of streets in the incorporated cities and towns of California not governed by freeholders' charters.