I'm enrolled in school! Well, in a way.

[cjsmith]

Every so often I notice that a snippet I wrote did not get its point across. Sometimes it's a piece I thought I wrote clearly, and other times it's something I wrote in haste. About half the times, I look at my words and the responses and I simply cannot figure out how the point got missed.

I do believe communication takes two (or more) interested parties, but I also strongly believe that if it's *me* who wants to get an idea across, the majority of the burden is on *me* to make that happen.

I was musing about all this this morning, and I came up with the idea of "writing comprehensibility training". That's what I need, right? Making my writing more clear would help, right? Maybe there's a course, I thought.

So I envisioned a school where I would be asked to write many separate pieces per week, ranging in length from a few lines to a well-thought-out multipage essay. The benefit of this course would be the readers. For most if not all of the things I wrote I'd get feedback from multiple readers as to what THEY thought the piece was about. As readers' feedback mentioned more and more the point(s) I had set out to make, I'd know my writing was becoming clearer and less likely to be misunderstood.

Then I thought: CJ, you have an account on LiveJournal.

Comments

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Then I thought: CJ, you have an account on LiveJournal.

Indeed!

Although, you might want to prompt people so they know you want replies of whatever type, because otherwise people pick _weird_ things to reply to. ;)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, true. Maybe that makes it more fun, though. People can reply to whatever they feel like replying to!

I'm waiting for the *complete* non-sequiturs to come rolling in in response to this journal entry. I have a handful of friends who have just the right personality to respond "Try changing your samba password" or "Next time, bake the crust first". :-)

[branwynelf.livejournal.com]

Damn, well if you're expecting us to mis-interpret this post, then there's really no fun in doing so, is there?!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh rats, I spoiled it, huh? But, but, it's still fun to see the clever things people come up with! :-)

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

But you just changed your samba passwd. Wait, I think I missed the point...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

But the crust is still a little doughy.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I do believe communication takes two (or more) interested parties, but I also strongly believe that if it's *me* who wants to get an idea across, the majority of the burden is on *me* to make that happen.

When you're done with it, can I have the brain back? ;-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Why, do you need to use tongs? ;-)

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

His area is moist. ;)

By the way: duh. I look forward to seeing what you shall inflict upon us.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

But, but, I don't have anything in mind. Just stuff. Y'know, like I always post. Stuff.

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

Are we allowed to suggest topics?

;-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sure! I reserve the right to add a bit of whimsy. Spices things up, it does. (Too much leads to heartburn.)

[irascignavojo.livejournal.com]

heartburn? we wouldn't want that.

Oh I got it, this post is about heartburn, right? Maybe you should see a cardiologist, I got a funny diagnosis when consulting one...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

:-)

[kitiara.livejournal.com]

I know! I know!
This post was about using your LJ as a way to improve your writing clarity.

What do I win? :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

You win the Silver Tiara of Unparalleled Comprehension! Two or three more of those and you can trade up for smittens. :-)

(I just asked Rob: How many l's does "parallel" have? He replied: "Three. Unless you're in Japan, in which case it's four, because the r is an l."

This is much funnier if you've just spent the last hour listening to Japanese square dance callers, trust me!)

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

We shall not cease from posting
And the end of all our posting
Will be to encounter what we posted
And read it again for the first time

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

...And comprehend it for the first time. :-)

OK, now I'm worried. I'm wordy enough!

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

yeah, that works better :)

[ambar.livejournal.com]

*snork*

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

Beebalus Bobbalus
CJ the blog writer
wanted to see if her
friends got the drift;

testing her blog entry's
fathomability,
Found that non sequiturs
Gave her a lift.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Gold stars for the double dactyl!