Posted by Bruce Marsland on Wednesday, September 28, 2011,
In :
Text-spotting
Whenever writers meet, either physically or virtually, it is probably inevitable that, at some point, talk will turn to "the writing process".
"The writing process" can mean different things to different people. For some, it may be almost mystical, as in the question frequently put to great writers of fiction, asking where they get their ideas from. For others, on the other hand, it may have an actual form, perhaps in the shape of an incomprehensible software manual, which often bears as muc... Continue reading ...
Posted by Bruce Marsland on Saturday, July 9, 2011,
In :
Text-spotting
Like a business, a piece of writing needs a unique selling point. The initial 'hook' gets the reader interested, and the subsequent material provides the meat and gravy.
Sometimes the unique selling point will come naturally from the subject matter. Sensational breaking news might have sufficient impact in itself to attract readers. However, in the vast majority of cases, language choices add to the pulling power of a text - or, in the worst cases, dilute its appeal.
Posted by Bruce Marsland on Monday, May 30, 2011,
In :
Text-spotting
It happens to many writers, but how often can it be avoided? A carefully worked text, with errors corrected and stylistic edges tidied, finally sees the light of day. And it is placed next to something that completely changes the intended mood. It might be another text, or an image, or some piece of every-day realia, but the context alters everything.
In texts that are published on paper or on-screen, these text-life-threatening juxtapositional clashes need not occur. The solution may be in ... Continue reading ...
