Oh no, what have I gotten myself into

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland) 08/10/2017 at 12:44 • Filed to: None

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I submitted two abstracts for a technical conference. BOTH WERE ACCEPTED. Crap, now I have to write a 10 page paper for both projects. I don’t write good either.

One of the projects was photographed by satellite last fall. I think this is cool.

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 12:49

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Depending on what field you’re in, you are almost certainly not alone. Very few technical fields ever include effective writing skills in their didactic curriculum. Most of us learn it on our own...or we don’t. Find someone who writes well, even if they’re not in your field, and ask their help editing. Also, there are people who do it for a living that you can hire.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove 08/10/2017 at 12:51

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I’m writing this myself then having a good technical editor make it better.

Roadster Man > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 12:53

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*write well

I know you were making a joke

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 12:54

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Yes, you have to write it first. Also, congrats! Building a national/international reputation is important to your career.

random001 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 12:58

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I am technical to edit paper!

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 08/10/2017 at 13:01

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Very few technical fields ever include effective writing skills in their didactic curriculum.

And many kids don’t even know how to write a complete sentence. Gee, I wonder why.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove 08/10/2017 at 13:13

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I got a C in my technical writing class. I think it was a mercy grade. My design was top notch, my explanation of the design was not so top notch.

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 13:17

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You are not alone. My P-Chem lab class had a unique thing: a writing TA. For each lab, we were required to write an abstract that would be graded on the quality of the writing separate from the science of the lab write up. Never seen anything like it before or since.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 13:19

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Oops. And congratulations.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 08/10/2017 at 13:27

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I am a big fan of learning writing and sentence mechanics. They are not the goal of learning to write; they are the first step. Without them, I believe you cannot effectively tackle more complex skills. Some people naturally learn them by example because they read a lot and absorb it, but it’s not a given that reading will always combine with expression ability. Those are different parts of the brain.

I took a jazz improvisation clinic in high school. I remember the instructor talked about how he would get a kid on an instrument who couldn’t improvise a riff, but when he had the kid put down the instrument and just hum an improvisation to a tune, it came out. He taught us that learning to improv was about connecting the music in your head to your fingers. I was a fairly accomplished musician for the high school level, and I loved jazz, but I couldn’t improv worth shit. It just occurred to me that this is similar to writing ability.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 08/10/2017 at 13:30

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I have some things to say about this, but I have to run play a show ( Annie Get Your Gun ). I’ll reply at length later, perhaps tomorrow. I’ve got two shows today. Gonna be a late night. :/

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 08/10/2017 at 13:33

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Have fun!

BahamaTodd > Roadster Man 08/10/2017 at 14:02

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Came to be “that guy”. Left satisfied. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 08/10/2017 at 16:10

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Perhaps Zoolander can help.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/10/2017 at 16:18

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What is this, a reply for ants?