more on competent writing

[albionidaho]

Okay. We need to define competent writing because, so far, the responses I've received from the last post surprised me.

How do you define competent writing?

Comments

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Okay, I just read this, and I'm starting to feel less and less competent.

Ah, bloody hell. I'm screwed.

Well, back to the keyboard.

Still, any comments?

[welshwmn3.livejournal.com]

Dictionary dot com has these definitions for competent:

1. having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified: He is perfectly competent to manage the bank branch.
2. adequate but not exceptional.


I think you were using competent as in definition number two, while others are using definition number one.

When I think of competent, I usually think of definition number two, myself.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, Welshy, that's exactly the definition I'm using.

[shaolingrrl.livejournal.com]

That's what I think of, too, especially in regards to myself.

My solution is to come up with exceptional stories, since I cannot tell them in an exceptional fashion.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably one up on me ;). Still trying to dig through for those exceptional stories.

Stories

[(Anonymous)]

No no. This is wrong! The story is the most important part of the writing. Writing isn't just the words. It is the writer who manipulates words well but says nothing who is incompetent. If you have an exceptional story your writing is exceptional.

Re: Stories

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Ah, this is a nice thought, but I must admit that I think that it is a combination of things in the end.

[shaolingrrl.livejournal.com]

BTW, thanks for that link. Very interesting post.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

I thought so, too.

I must admit, I would like to sit down with him, and go through an example of competent and past competent with him and see what he sees. I would think I would learn a lot.

And while I'm at it I also want a pony and to be financially independent.

[shaolingrrl.livejournal.com]

And world peace and a cure for AIDS.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

And don't forget cancer.

And a well-received novel.

[(Anonymous)]

for a story, i think competent is anything that manages to touch the reader. of course, there are levels of competency, and the more competent the writer the more the reader is touched. as with most words, i think our definitions can vary from person to person, based upon our baggage.

rando

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you have a fine point, Rando. Well, several points. More stuff to think about...

Thanks for coming over and sharing your thoughts!

[taerkitty.livejournal.com]

For me, competent writing is "writing possesed of skill sufficient such that the reader experiences the story the way I want hir to, be with spirits soaring high, bitter tears wetting the page or keyboard, or that heart-stopping shock during the denoument."

I have attained those standards, though infrequently, and I feel them not to be lofty at all. I think, with more practice, I can hit that mark regularly.

This is my 'moderate' level, by the by. I feel this alone is not enough to make a living of my writing. After this comes the next hurdle, that of capturing the muse's little hints to create that exceptional story those before me have mentioned. See, I think exceptional stories can be mis-written, and often are.

I think a great writer is someone who has paired competency in the craft of writing with mastery of the art of storycrafting.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

These are some great thoughts, taer. Thanks. And like many others here, you've made some fine points.

Ah, to hit that great point :).

[mznetta.livejournal.com]

you can have an exceptional story marred by incompetence.

the trick it to marry your exceptional story to the translation to the written word. but then, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it with great success.

i have moments. i would like to string those moments together to create something fabulous, something once read, is hard to forget.

in the meantime, i will just write my exceptional stories marred by incompetence.

:)

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Mmmm... Yes, you do have your moments of lovely storytelling ;). Lots and lots of them.

And it's not easy. Not at all.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I will call myself a competent writer when I know what I'm doing. When it's not just a bleaugh spill it on the page hack it to bits I have no idea where this is going mess.

Well, I guess I AM a competent writer in one area: I feel competent when I write my column. I know how to say it, I know what I want to say, I know how to do it in exactly 750 words every six weeks. I find it invigorating and challenging and it makes me work hard, but I am not at a complete loss as to how the process works.

Fiction? Complete loss.

[albionidaho.livejournal.com]

Yes, your column rocks. Consistently.

I have to admit, it gives me comfort to hear you talk about your bleaugh spill it on the page hack it to bits mess :). Not so alone here :).

internationalinsuranceauto

[(Anonymous)]

MESSAGE