I have trouble expressing my thoughts and opinions without it coming off as too short and plain. I'm not a writer, I want to be able to contribute thoughtful inputs that are longer than 1 or 2 sentences. It would greatly help me make meaningful conversations with people about media i'd like to discuss or just about anything else. To put it into perspective: I was never good at making essays and at paraphrasing especially, I have a habit of just taking someone else's words in a subject because I can't form it in my own way as it'd sound like a mock opinion. I've not read much books, nor have i written much paragraphs online, even a review of a game i was passionate for only had 50 words. It's a struggle as i want to talk to people and have something long and coherent to say and not have it just be point-to-point ramblings. This post alone took me somewhere around 30 minutes to an hour to write and i could've structured it a lot better or have more helpful details to tell but i'm lacking knowledge in composition and writing the message i want to convey as a whole.
>I've not read muchmanyI try to improve verbally. i go through a practice lsat pdf. i should have kept the weekly library routinewww.sojust.net/speeches.htmli recall once watching a lecture that 'writing is not to be expressing yourself or stating a point, but trying to persuade a mind'try coming up with a point, then halving the word countthere's an exercize called the morning pages where you just write without editing and filtering
>>32592448Shorter is actually better, but focus on essay styled writing, and learn more vocabulary words.
>>32592448This might be the only time my English degree is ever useful. The best advice is to read voraciously. One of the reasons Stephen King seems to have a quote on every other book at your Barnes and Noble is because he reads constantly and keeps a book on him. The best writers are stronger readers. There's a reason why musicians listen to others' music and comedians listen to others' comedy. They have a passion for it and want to learn by experiencing different techniques. That isn't to say you should add a novel to your EDC, but I find that as I read I pick up on the style of the author subconsciously and begin to adopt their tone/mannerisms when I write. All you need to do is head down to your local library and check out a couple of books you may like. There are many books on writing itself you can look into, but don't ignore fiction since that will show you how words influence tone. Fight Club reads way differently than To Kill a Mockingbird and both are far different from The Elements of Style.Hope this makes sense, I'm half asleep and just happened across this before I shut my laptop. TL;DR: Read more and practice makes perfect.
>>32592470Thanks for the correction, i learned something new. I'll try the morning pages, do you have to do it as you wake up? Or can i do it on the computer instead
>>32592496Thank you for the advice. I'll go look for story books to read, I want to read The Little Prince.Can visual media like anime have the same benefit? But I suppose you subconsciously pick up an idea of writing easier with a book.
bump
>>32592448First off cute pic OP.I don't know if I can give solid advice on this, because I suffer from this myself. In fact its getting even worse with less interactions I have with people. Do you find yourself good at mirroring others in their manner of speech? Or unconsciously doing so? One thing I found helped was surrounding myself with verbally expressive, smart people and communicating with them Try looking for clubs or groups that involve your interests and have smarter than average people, like a reading club.
>>32592546>Can visual media like anime have the same benefit?NTA, but yeah, if you pay attention to quotables and things you like. Although I've been writing for 20 years, so maybe that's more advanced. Just read more books.
>>32593019Thanks anon. Growing up i had a tendency to mirror one friend i have who was older than me, he's eloquent and is one of the inspirations of making this thread. I usually just observe the posts smart people make, such as their reviews of certain movies and games, their interpretations or analyzation of animes for example, I try to study how they write and form their essays or opinions. It certainly helps, but i have trouble doing what they do, I think i just don't try at all in fear of contributing nothing and sounding basic.
>>32592546Original replier here, I'll have to disagree with the other guy. Don't take this the wrong way but I imagine you already watch visual media and by your own admission it isn't doing you any favors. You don't have to stop watching it but set aside at bare minimum 30 minutes a day to read a chapter from a book. The spoken word is radically different from writing.
>>32594113>>32593095 Thank you for the advice anons, written works does force my brain to be creative and think of the world within it, i'll set time for both.
>>32592448>even a review of a game i was passionate for only had 50 words.If you had 50 words' worth of things to say, that is VERY much better than padding it out.>This post alone took me somewhere around 30 minutes to an hour to write And it is all the better for it - clear and coherent in a way just dashing it off wouldn't have achievedThat said, remember this 100 year old vaudeville joke:TOURIST IN NEW YORK: " Excuse me, how do I get to Carnegie Hall?"NEW YORKER: "Practice."
>>32594518It's the first time I've heard of that joke and i find it amusing. Thank you for the acknowledgement anon, it really made me feel better today.
