Long Winded Much???
By TLChimes
@TLChimes (4822)
United States
February 20, 2009 8:55pm CST
I have a Keep It Simple way to me. It's all through my life. I want to make good posts here but even more I want to be a paid writer.
So here's my thought: Do you have to be long and fancy to be good or to get you thought across? Should you go on and on when you could have said the same thing in half the time?
I have noticed several MyLotters as well as a few friends who read the stories that I write comment that they don't read posts that are too long and drawn out.
Can you prove a point, make an intelligent argument, loan you brain in a simple to the point way? Which way is better? Can you hold a lay person's attention if you use a "I know it better then you" format.
As I'm sure you noticed several discussions on the same basic subjects pop up on here. I have seen someone who asks a simple "what do you think" in 8 or so lines and get 4 pages of responses and someone else who writes half a page longer on the basically the same topic and get two or three responses.
Also, how do you avoid sounding like a pompous know it all when you do add the big words and long wind?
4 people like this
9 responses
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Feb 09
Write as much or as little as you want. It's YOUR story! Ignore the idiots too lazy to appreciate a good post. People tell me that too and I just think to myself "Hey jerk, can you READ?" LOL I don't dare tell them that though.
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Shoot, you get away with it because you keep them all smiling. They can't read the whole post because they laugh till tears flow and then blurred their vision.
Was that title good? I'm trying to get to your level but I think it'll take a bit longer... LOL
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Feb 09
Well the title certainly got my attention, and I'm picky! LOL
It was a little long winded though.........................OUCH! I was kidding! ROFL
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Feb 09
TL, don't try to live up to anyone else. Be yourself. Explore your own imagination. You have talent and you have great humor. Type before you think. Just let the fingers fly. Then read it over and decide what you're going to edit out. Trust me, you'll find your own style and you'll be better than me one day.........
2 people like this
@doc_alma_jones (822)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
if you would rather write long discussion posts, then that's you're prerogative. others' preferences are just that: preferences. if it will take you one sentence to get a message through, that's okay. if it takes you ten paragraphs, that's alright too.
this is myLot, not creative writing, so if you are itching to start a loooong conversation, go ahead and scratch that itch! ^_^
as for being pompous, i think that a lot of authors are misinterpreted at one time or another. it doesn't matter if people THINK you are pompous - as long as you KNOW that was definitely not your intention and you simply wanted to use big words. but the story is different if you wanted to be arrogant in the first place. (i'm sure that is never what you want, but i know of others who do that.)
we can all try not to sound arrogant, but people may have different interpretations of what we write. regardless, i think it's more important that we try to sound like ourselves. ^_^
2 people like this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I think you have hit on a key point here: to sound like yourself. When you use your own unique voice to write something, people will be interested. When you try and sound like something you are not (whether through snooty words or attitude), then others reject it. It's about being a natural voice and speaking what is true to you.
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Since I know my faults I never try to be above my own brain... which means I try hard to not sound like I know everything. Like everything else i strive for balance and clarity. I don't always get there but hey, can't fault me for trying.
I am what I am and I'm going to write as I do... if others don't like it... they can go read some one else... but I do want to better my self and bettering my writing is part of that.
Does that make sense?
1 person likes this
@doc_alma_jones (822)
• Philippines
22 Feb 09
tlchimes, of course that makes sense. ^_^
i think you write quite well. i know that there will always be room for self-improvement for everyone. perhaps we want to never sound arrogant when we express our thoughts... but that's the problem, not matter how clearly you try to express yourself, there will always be people who will misinterpret your words. sometimes it may not even be about the mood of the sentence; sometimes, the message itself is misinterpreted. :/
i don't think there is a "best" way to make a post when it comes to length. short or long, one sentence or one hundred, posts are subject to different interpretations from different people. some will like long posts, some will prefer short ones...
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
21 Feb 09
well i think it can be said in half the space but im one that rambles because i want the people to fully understand what i think and feel.. but i have read that its best to make it less detailed so that they use their imagination as far as stories go..
2 people like this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 09
Make the rest of it interesting and fun and then the big words won't mean you sound so pomous. It is all in the writing style and love for the written word. And why shouldn't you use a big word here and there. There is a word for every situation. If it is a big word- oh well.
2 people like this
@mscott (1923)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Thanks for the reply to one of my discussions. Every little bit helps right? I know this is quite a bit off topic but I promised at least one reply for each response so I am making good on what I said in the other post. It sounds like you are pretty close yourself and should be able to make it. You leave good responses and that should help. Thanks again and good luck making it yourself.
@ljbinkop (744)
• United States
21 Feb 09
As a writer myself, and I think a lot of us are here, I am often troubles by whether or not just to go on and on when I am responding to discussion or to get to the point. I more often than not find myself going on and on, but I think in this venue that is what we are supposed to do!
In REAL wiring, it is not really a good thing to be long-winded or to use fancy words to fill up space. I write several different kinds of articles, but I try to make them easy to understand for the layman reading them. They do not have the knowlege yet, they are looking for an answer, so I try to provide it and not write as to make someone feel stupid.
It is challenging sometimes to write an article that has a minimum word requirement if it is on a subject or product that I am unfamiliar with, but I usually just start writing and the words flow, in case you can't tell by this response!
Have a great day and thank for the question!
2 people like this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Thank you!!! I try to balance the right information, fun, and not talking down to folks. I know I don't know everything and don't want to seem like I do... but sometimes it's tough to know where the lines are.
I hope you are doing very well! Thanks for responding!
1 person likes this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
21 Feb 09
One person's long winded is another person's expansive. I am one of those people who tend to write a long-ish response, but that's just the way I am, take it or leave it. On MyLot, they reward you for being long-winded (I mean expansive), so why not take advantage of it.
I think people are too darn lazy to read long posts. They want the quick way because they are all about making money. They don't even really want to read what others write. I don't cover as many discussions, but I do read the WHOLE THING when I participate, which is more than I can say for some people.
Do what you want, enjoy it how YOU like it. No one can stop the Wind!!!!!
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Thanks for your kind reply! Good luck with your writing, long or short.
1 person likes this
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I think I like you... a lot. You said it all and well. Thank you for your response and insight.
I think the money is just a side note to being able to practice my writing, meeting folks, and learning and laughing. I think some people get it and others don't.
Same goes for my writing and personality.
Thanks again... Be Well!!!!
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Two authors answer your question: Hemmingway and Faulkner. Hemmingway cut through the filler as he saw it; Faulkner wrote so long that one sentence could take up one page.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
21 Feb 09
Talking about Keep It Simple, it reminds me of the shortest poem I ever read. It contains only 2 words. I posted it in AC and it seemed to draw attention from readers. I can't see a way anyone can win the 2 words poem. Can't make it any shorter.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
22 Feb 09
Because those 2 words, when you arrange one on top and the other at the bottom, they do meet the requirement of a poem. A poem must convey experiences, emotions. Those 2 words happen to rhyme. And to most folks, those 2 words really reach their hearts and souls.
I read it long time ago, in an old Reader's Digest. Author unknown, he submitted the poem in a small town competition. That was in the 50s or 60s.
2 people like this
