Comments on: Non-parallel parallels http://dalewriting.dhemery.com/2007/10/non-parallel-parallels/ Dale Emery on Writing Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:07:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Dale http://dalewriting.dhemery.com/2007/10/non-parallel-parallels/#comment-47 Dale Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:53:41 +0000 http://dalewriting.dhemery.com/2007/10/non-parallel-parallels/#comment-47 I think I'm unusual in that I enjoy looking for the underlying causes of awkwardness and grace. I'm in several writer's groups, where we offer feedback about each other's writing. We try to focus on two things: <ul> <li>Our response to what we're reading.</li> <li>What, exactly, we are responding to in the writing.</li> </ul> It's that second item that nudges me to explore the causes. I want to be able to tell the writer not only "I stumbled here," but also "here's why." I think I’m unusual in that I enjoy looking for the underlying causes of awkwardness and grace.

I’m in several writer’s groups, where we offer feedback about each other’s writing. We try to focus on two things:

  • Our response to what we’re reading.
  • What, exactly, we are responding to in the writing.

It’s that second item that nudges me to explore the causes. I want to be able to tell the writer not only “I stumbled here,” but also “here’s why.”

]]> By: Moof http://dalewriting.dhemery.com/2007/10/non-parallel-parallels/#comment-46 Moof Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:48:43 +0000 http://dalewriting.dhemery.com/2007/10/non-parallel-parallels/#comment-46 Dale, as someone who started out speaking French at home, and who learned English at a later time, I often struggle with awkward phrases ... disassembling, reassembling ... When I pay enough attention, I can usually reword awkward sentences into something with a bit of cohesion and flow. What I've never done, however, is break down the reasons for the original awkwardness, and frankly, I'm not sure I could do so, even if I wanted to. You've given me some food for thought! Thankee! Dale, as someone who started out speaking French at home, and who learned English at a later time, I often struggle with awkward phrases … disassembling, reassembling …

When I pay enough attention, I can usually reword awkward sentences into something with a bit of cohesion and flow. What I’ve never done, however, is break down the reasons for the original awkwardness, and frankly, I’m not sure I could do so, even if I wanted to.

You’ve given me some food for thought! Thankee!

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