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.

[Saulbadguy]

I only "write" for school.

[ReynardMuldrake]

I used to write fiction all the time in high school. I always meant to get back into it but it never happened. I've always had trouble finishing things. Short stories - no problem. If I try and write something longer, I usually get about 25-50 pages in or so and then run out of steam.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Bill Lundberg

If it's going to be your future career and you're not to good at it then may I suggest you pursue another future career. Perhaps one that you are good at. Otherwise you could end up being 35 years old and not know what you want to be when you grow up which is never a good thing...

I don't mind working at my writing in order to get better.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

A sentence from The New Yorker:

"The age of atomic energy could be said to have begun, literally, with the wave of a wand."

I think the sentence sounds better like this:

"One could [or: might] say the age of atomic energy began, literally, with the wave of a wand."

Is my sentence better than The New Yorker's?

Your sentence is better. I would tighten it up even more and say:

The age of atomic energy began, literally, with the wave of a wand.

[Jenson71]

Thank you! The phrase "could be said to have begun" is (I think the term fits) a passive voice and seems very unsure of itself.

[Iowanian]

I compose more written word than I'd prefer. Typically in the form of email, written proposals, technical documents, project descriptions, grant applications etc...


The only thing I write for fun would be "kick me" signs and outhouse poetry.

I do have a concept for a book, that I intend to write one day, when time allows.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Thank you! The phrase "could be said to have begun" is (I think the term fits) a passive voice and seems very unsure of itself.

I like yours better, but I was actually thinking maybe the person from the New Yorker didn't want the "could" or "might" at the beginning because it makes the sentence start off passive.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

A sentence from The New Yorker:

"The age of atomic energy could be said to have begun, literally, with the wave of a wand."

I think the sentence sounds better like this:

"One could [or: might] say the age of atomic energy began, literally, with the wave of a wand."

Is my sentence better than The New Yorker's?

"The age of atomic energy began, literally, with the wave of a wand."

[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?

[Jenson71]

It's strange how enjoyable playing with the sentence is.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

It's strange how enjoyable playing with the sentence is.

It's strange how enjoyable it is to play with the sentence.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

It's strange how enjoyable it is to play with the sentence.

Playing with the sentence provides such a strange enjoyment.

[Jenson71]

I want to become an English teacher.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

I want to become an English teacher.

Bad sentence: An English teacher I want to become.

[Jenson71]

Who are the best living writers? Scalia? Gladwell? Roth?