Together, we’ll explore how the tried-and-true writing guidance in The Elements of Style can be incorporated into authentic, honoring and compelling newsletter writing for today.
This post came at the right time, as I was wondering about this myself, as I've only just started my substack. Which, really, doesn't feel like neither like a newsletter, nor a blog. Substack is so unique <3
I read the Elements of Style years ago thinking it would finally help me with style and voice (something that bewildered me for years). The way you interpreted how that section sounds to an autistic brain is exactly how I read it. Much of Strunk and White read that way to me. Did it help? I think I took away a few tidbits about how they thought style should work, but I didn't always agree with them. Maybe it was because I didn't understand them, which made me think, "Hmm, these guys really need to work on their style."
I was telling Erin when she was editing it, "Oh those lines are so important — I've heard from so many autistic writers that this is how they translate that kind of advice." Much of Strunk & White is now reading this way to me, now that I'm not masking all the time. I have a whole series of these posts in the queue. It felt audacious at first (I mean, taking on and challenging a classic like The Elements of Style?), but I do think it's worthwhile. I hope you enjoy what's coming down the pipeline. ALSO your last line made me LOL for real.
I really loved the way this was written and the details added drew my attention in even more. Makes me wonder how I improve myself. Making my own storytelling richer and the feelings conveyed through my writing. An elderly client I use to go to started losing her vision and one day I asked if she would like me to read her old letters she had kept from friends/family. It turned into something we did every fortnight I saw her. Being able to share those moments I could feel the setting, experiences and feelings of the writer. It's truly wonderous how we can use writing in this way to. Sharing in such a delightful way to draw us in.
This was a brilliant "deconstruction" of the advice from the book (which I've never read). I love the way you take the process apart to help us make sense of it. I'll be turning this over in my head when I sit down to write my next essay. Thank you!
Both clear and subtle - wonderfully written. My take on Strunk and White is that White was doing a favor for an inspiring and honored teacher. His own writing is so unlike what the book advises. S&w is baffling to students; I have no idea why it’s still assigned. Thanks for this.
This is so helpful in explaining and breaking down this bit of advice. I have been absolutely yearning for help editing, a fresh pair of eyes, a way to “level up” what I am writing. So am I really looking forward to the rest of this series.
I’m thinking specifically of an essay I’ve had in the drawer for about half a year now, and although it’s a personal essay about a specific event, I’m wondering if the problem isn’t that I’m still too much in the foreground. Will dive back into it later with this in mind.
Beautifully written!
Very thought provoking. I’ve been analysing in my head writing I like reading and writing that just jolts with and trying to understand why that is
Thank you for the warm welcome :)
This post came at the right time, as I was wondering about this myself, as I've only just started my substack. Which, really, doesn't feel like neither like a newsletter, nor a blog. Substack is so unique <3
I read the Elements of Style years ago thinking it would finally help me with style and voice (something that bewildered me for years). The way you interpreted how that section sounds to an autistic brain is exactly how I read it. Much of Strunk and White read that way to me. Did it help? I think I took away a few tidbits about how they thought style should work, but I didn't always agree with them. Maybe it was because I didn't understand them, which made me think, "Hmm, these guys really need to work on their style."
I was telling Erin when she was editing it, "Oh those lines are so important — I've heard from so many autistic writers that this is how they translate that kind of advice." Much of Strunk & White is now reading this way to me, now that I'm not masking all the time. I have a whole series of these posts in the queue. It felt audacious at first (I mean, taking on and challenging a classic like The Elements of Style?), but I do think it's worthwhile. I hope you enjoy what's coming down the pipeline. ALSO your last line made me LOL for real.
I really loved the way this was written and the details added drew my attention in even more. Makes me wonder how I improve myself. Making my own storytelling richer and the feelings conveyed through my writing. An elderly client I use to go to started losing her vision and one day I asked if she would like me to read her old letters she had kept from friends/family. It turned into something we did every fortnight I saw her. Being able to share those moments I could feel the setting, experiences and feelings of the writer. It's truly wonderous how we can use writing in this way to. Sharing in such a delightful way to draw us in.
This was a brilliant "deconstruction" of the advice from the book (which I've never read). I love the way you take the process apart to help us make sense of it. I'll be turning this over in my head when I sit down to write my next essay. Thank you!
Both clear and subtle - wonderfully written. My take on Strunk and White is that White was doing a favor for an inspiring and honored teacher. His own writing is so unlike what the book advises. S&w is baffling to students; I have no idea why it’s still assigned. Thanks for this.
This is so helpful in explaining and breaking down this bit of advice. I have been absolutely yearning for help editing, a fresh pair of eyes, a way to “level up” what I am writing. So am I really looking forward to the rest of this series.
I’m thinking specifically of an essay I’ve had in the drawer for about half a year now, and although it’s a personal essay about a specific event, I’m wondering if the problem isn’t that I’m still too much in the foreground. Will dive back into it later with this in mind.
Excited to try this method.