Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Writers.
Colorado
Being a high school student in the UK is very different from the American experience, I can say with confidence. Apart from our archaic requirements of uniforms and umbrellas (because monsoon season runs all year), there's also the mood. I am not writing from experience of attending an American high school, but this starts because I grew up on American TV shows. Ask any British kid growing up in the 90s, the first accent you learn to replicate is the American one thanks to the likes of Melissa Joan Hart, the Mowry Twins and The Midnight Society.
By Konrad Kramp11 months ago in Writers
A Personal Opinion on the Power of Redundancy to Lift Up Your Writing and Deliver a Better End Product
Author's preface: A few years back Random House copy chief Benjamin Dreyer published an article in which he suggested a list of redundant words which he said we should "delete" from our writing. I took that as a challenge and prepared a short essay using as many of these words as I could squeeze in. Below is the final result of that effort.
By Everyday Junglist11 months ago in Writers
There is a Price to Be Paid For “Dumbing Down” Your Writing to Appeal to the “Average” Reader
There seems to be some consensus, at least on across the blogosphere, that in order to appeal to the so called “average reader” and maximize readership it is necessary to “dumb down” one’s writings. In the past I have come down very hard against this idea. In particular I take issue with the idea of grade level writing, or trying to keep one’s style and grammar and vocabulary choices at or below a certain arbitrary grade level, sixth and eighth grade seem to be the most common options. The idea being that people are generally not all that smart, not that patient, and will quickly click away from anything that challenges their intellect or in which they encounter unusual words they are not familiar with. Basically anything that makes them to think too much or forces them to come to terms with their own ignorance. Recently a writing colleague on a different site responded to my insistence that I would never dumb down my writing by asking a very simple question, would it hurt to do so? She went on to explain that as a non native speaker of English it is even more difficult for her than for most to keep up with “higher level” writing and she lamented that it was very frustrating having to constantly “go up and get a dictionary” to look up words that she did not know. I will admit the non native speaker was not the stereotype of the person I had in my head when imagining these so called ordinary joe’s and jane’s, and her points had some validity. They certainly forced me to stop and think about my position, and ultimately caused me to write this piece. For that I am eminently thankful to her and her question.
By Everyday Junglist11 months ago in Writers
Eight Rules for Publishing Articles That No One Will Ever Notice
I get almost no views here on Vocal (and, until I got suspended for the second time, I got almost no views on my previous internet publishing home, Medium). On Vocal I have had just 74 reads in the past 30 days. I’ve been writing for close to seven years, one to three stories most days. It’s pretty exciting to think about how much time I have wasted.
By Everyday Junglist11 months ago in Writers
“The Enchanted Lighthouse”
Once upon a time, nestled on a remote stretch of coastline, there stood a lighthouse that held a secret. Aptly named "The Enchanted Lighthouse," its beacon not only guided ships safely through treacherous waters but also possessed a mystical power that few knew about.
By Mina Ayman11 months ago in Writers
"The Enchanted Forest: A Tale of Friendship and Adventure"
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there existed an enchanted forest, a place where dreams came alive and extraordinary adventures awaited. The forest was home to mystical creatures, shimmering waterfalls, and ancient secrets. Amidst this magical realm, two unlikely friends, Lily and Ethan, embarked on a journey that would change their lives forever.
By Mina Ayman11 months ago in Writers
Feeding the Ducks
I was writing long before I can recall scrawling words with ink. Not on paper but in oral fashion like my ancestors from long ago. I would tell elaborate stories, usually through song, to the trees in our yard or the animals at the barn. As a child, my life was a constant narrated musical of what I was doing, what I wanted, and how I was feeling. So, naturally, the first piece of writing I can remember putting to paper was an echo of a song; a poem.
By Laura Lann11 months ago in Writers