Posts Tagged ‘writing’
[zz]浅谈如何写小说
自从在好心情原创文学网上发文得到编辑的肯定后，我将我以前的一些旧作拿出来发表在了网站上。我实在没有想到一篇高中时写的作品竟能得到这么多人的认可，实是我意料之外的。
其实对于小说这一块，我也只能算是勉强挂上点边，一直没能拿出什么像样的作品来。在我看来，一篇成功的小说，首先要能打动自己。在你写这篇小说之前，你 就要问自己，这篇小说的亮点在哪里，凭什么能够得到大家的认可？只有这样的反复问自己，才能让自己的小说不落俗套，实现创新。 Read the rest of this entry »
[zz]让文字功力从优秀走向精致——25位专业人士的写作心得
在1954年的一次采访中，George Plimpton（美国著名演员/编剧）问海明威：“要成为一个有抱负的作家，最好的磨练方法是什么？”海明威说， 多出去走走看看，让自己休息一下。写得好其实并不难。精简你的所见所闻，并保持余生都需创作的精力才是最重要的。至少要把走马观花式的东西作为创作的开 始。”
那么如何才能由内到外地改善写作思维和能力，而不是一直反复地纠结于表面的文字呢？ 以下内容是来自几位知名作家的25条经验分享，供大家参考。这几位作家均是对于作品的品质具有一定要求的并且注重写作的精益求精，所以大部分点子是关于如何寻求突破的经验之谈。
原文：99 % by Behance
翻译：Antonia Huang@DamnDigital（转载请注明来自DamnDigital）
1、On just sitting down and doing it 一坐下就要开始动笔写
别只是花很长的时间在打腹稿，在脑子里写计划——去写吧。只有靠实实在在地写，而不是做写作的白日梦，我们才能培养出我们自己的风格。
——PD James：英国侦探作家，获2004年艾伦·坡侦探小说奖，著有《灯塔》等
2、On starting before you’re ready 彻底抛弃 “做好心理准备后就写”这样的想法吧
逆反心理是这样的：当我们一直想着“在准备，还在准备”，却始终不行动，这就是在给我们自己的拖沓行为找借口。当我们举棋不定的时候，就会出现逆反心理。非要准备非常充分后，才会开始行动。
[zz]怎样写出靠谱的英文？— 英文写作圣经On Writing Well 精华摘选(下)
上半部分猛击这里 怎样写出靠谱的英文？— 英文写作圣经On Writing Well 精华摘选(上)
6. Bits & Pieces 细节才是王道
This is a chapter of scraps and morsels—small admonitions on many points that I have collected under one, as they say, umbrella.
VERBS.
不到万不得已，不要用被动动词
[zz]这样写英文Email,对方会感觉你很有礼貌，很有风度，很想帮助你
需要写的英文邮件多了，就觉得很吃力，尤其是当需要经常写给同一个人时。希望邮件的开头、结尾、一些客套的话能有不同的表达~~
邮件的开头
感谢读者是邮件开场白的好办法。感谢您的读者能让对方感到高兴，特别是之后你有事相求的情况下会很有帮助。
Thank you for contacting us.如果有人写信来询问公司的服务，就可以使用这句句子开头。向他们对公司的兴趣表示感谢。
Thank you for your prompt reply.当一个客户或是同事很快就回复了你的邮件，一定记得要感谢他们。如果回复并不及时，只要将“prompt”除去即可，你还可以说，“Thank you for getting back to me.”
Thank you for providing the requested information.如果你询问某人一些信息，他们花了点时间才发送给你，那就用这句句子表示你仍然对他们的付出表示感激。
Thank you for all your assistance.如果有人给了你特别的帮助，那一定要感谢他们！如果你想对他们表示特别的感激，就用这个句子，“I truly appreciate … your help in resolving the problem.”Thank you raising your concerns.
就算某个客户或是经理写邮件给你对你的工作提出了一定的质疑，你还是要感谢他们。这样你能表现出你对他们的认真态度表示尊重及感激。同时，你也可以使用，“Thank you for your feedback.”
[zz]各种Essay的写法（去国外很重要的）
from: http://blog.renren.com/blog/313839362/480843096
1.) Critical Essay
2.) Literature Essay
3.) Descriptive Essay
Literature Essay
1.) Introduction
a. Introduction to the topic
b. Thesis Statement
c. Essay Outline
2.) Body Paragraph 1
a. Transition Sentence
b. Essay point number 1
c. Explanation + Facts
3.) Body Paragraph 2
a. Transition Sentence
b. Essay point number 1
c. Explanation + Facts
4.) Conclusion
a. Transition Sentence
b. Restate important points and why they support your thesis
Terms commonly use in literature essays:
All fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented in a structured format called PLOT.
Exposition
The introductory material which gives the setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and presents other facts necessary to understanding the story.
Foreshadowing
The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.
Inciting Force
The event or character that triggers the conflict.
Conflict
The essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds. (Man versus…Man, Nature, Society, or Self)
Rising Action
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.
Crisis
The conflict reaches a turning point. At this point the opposing forces in the story meet and the conflict becomes most intense. The crisis occurs before or at the same time as the climax.
Climax
The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted.
Falling Action
The events after the climax which close the story.
Resolution (Denouement)
Rounds out and concludes the action.
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Almost always round or three-dimensional characters. They have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or her. A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to in literature as a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.
Protagonist
The main character in the story
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
Foil
A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.
MINOR CHARACTERS
Almost always flat or two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two striking qualities. Their predominant quality is not balanced by an opposite quality. They are usually all good or all bad. Such characters can be interesting or amusing in their own right, but they lack depth. Flat characters are sometimes referred to as STATIC characters because they do not change in the course of the story.
First Person
The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters. He can’t tell us thoughts of other characters.
Third-Person Objective
The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.
Third-Person Limited
The narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of one of the characters.
Omniscient
The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one of the characters.
Conflict is the essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds.
Man versus Man
Conflict that pits one person against another.
Man versus Nature
A run-in with the forces of nature. On the one hand, it expresses the insignificance of a single human life in the cosmic scheme of things. On the other hand, it tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live.
Man versus Society
The values and customs by which everyone else lives are being challenged. The character may come to an untimely end as a result of his or her own convictions. The character may, on the other hand, bring others around to a sympathetic point of view, or it may be decided that society was right after all.
Man versus Self
Internal conflict. Not all conflict involves other people. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. An internal conflict is a good test of a character’s values. Does he give in to temptation or rise above it? Does he demand the most from himself or settle for something less? Does he even bother to struggle? The internal conflicts of a character and how they are resolved are good clues to the character’s inner strength.
Often, more than one kind of conflict is taking place at the same time. In every case, however, the existence of conflict enhances the reader’s understanding of a character and creates the suspense and interest that make you want to continue reading.
An author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story. Not all foreshadowing is obvious. Frequently, future events are merely hinted at through dialogue, description, or the attitudes and reactions of the characters.
Foreshadowing frequently serves two purposes. It builds suspense by raising questions that encourage the reader to go on and find out more about the event that is being foreshadowed. Foreshadowing is also a means of making a narrative more believable by partially preparing the reader for events which are to follow.
Irony is the contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is.
Verbal Irony
The contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.
Irony of Situation
This refers to a happening that is the opposite of what is expected or intended.
Dramatic Irony
This occurs when the audience or reader knows more than the characters know.
TONE/MOOD
Tone
The author’s attitude, stated or implied, toward a subject. Some possible attitudes are pessimism, optimism, earnestness, seriousness, bitterness, humorous, and joyful. An author’s tone can be revealed through choice of words and details.
Mood
The climate of feeling in a literary work. The choice of setting, objects, details, images, and words all contribute towards creating a specific mood. For example, an author may create a mood of mystery around a character or setting but may treat that character or setting in an ironic, serious, or humorous tone
A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. Things, characters and actions can be symbols. Anything that suggests a meaning beyond the obvious.
Some symbols are conventional, generally meaning the same thing to all readers.
For example: bright sunshine symbolizes goodness and water is a symbolic cleanser.
The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. A theme may be stated or implied. Theme differs from the subject or topic of a literary work in that it involves a statement or opinion about the topic. Not every literary work has a theme. Themes may be major or minor. A major theme is an idea the author returns to time and again. It becomes one of the most important ideas in the story. Minor themes are ideas that may appear from time to time.
It is important to recognize the difference between the theme of a literary work and the subject of a literary work. The subject is the topic on which an author has chosen to write. The theme, however, makes some statement about or expresses some opinion on that topic. For example, the subject of a story might be war while the theme might be the idea that war is useless.
Four ways in which an author can express themes are as follows:
1. Themes are expressed and emphasized by the way the author makes us feel.. By sharing feelings of the main character you also share the ideas that go through his mind.
2. Themes are presented in thoughts and conversations. Authors put words in their character’s mouths only for good reasons. One of these is to develop a story’s themes. The things a person says are much on their mind. Look for thoughts that are repeated throughout the story.
3. Themes are suggested through the characters. The main character usually illustrates the most important theme of the story. A good way to get at this theme is to ask yourself the question, what does the main character learn in the course of the story?
4. The actions or events in the story are used to suggest theme. People naturally express ideas and feelings through their actions. One thing authors think about is what an action will “say”. In other words, how will the action express an idea or theme?
IMAGERY: Language that appeals to the senses. Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.
Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language. Any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and alliteration.
Simile
A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.
Metaphor
A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not announced by like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.
Alliteration
Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words. Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to important words, and point out similarities and contrasts. Example: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken.
Personification
A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. It is a comparison which the author uses to show something in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it. Example: a brave handsome brute fell with a creaking rending cry–the author is giving a tree human qualities.
Onomatopoeia
The use of words that mimic sounds. They appeal to our sense of hearing and they help bring a description to life. A string of syllables the author has made up to represent the way a sound really sounds. Example: Caarackle!
Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point. Example: She’s said so on several million occasions
Descriptive Essay:
1.) Introduction
a. Introduction to the topic
b. Main point in the paper
c. Essay Outline
2.) Body
a. Break down event chronologically, in order of importance, etc.
3.) Conclusion
a. Transition Sentence
b. Restate important points
Research Paper
Title Page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Outline of a Critical Essay
Notes: Footnotes, endnotes, and parenthetical in-text citiation
Bibliography
Appendix
Paraphrase, Summarize, Quotes
Apollo Connecting the World 