Istoryan Writers

[diem]

---

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why cant I paint you?
The words will never show the you Ive come to know.

-- from the song, "IF" by Bread

Good writing is usually ‘accurate’. Accurate writing can be considered free from errors in form and content, or the article itself is written carefully, only what is necessary is written.


Accuracy gives your reader a clearer picture in their minds of what you want to relay through your writing. Other than giving a simple, direct description, there are two other ways to make your writings an interesting read.
The Use of Actual Pictures or Images

Visual images, like photos or illustrations, do aid in presenting a better description of what you want to write. The use of tables and charts also achieves the same result. You would want your readers to easily comprehend the ideas you wrote. Ideas are easily understood through images supported by textual content.


Images not only give a more accurate presentation, it also makes one’s article more attractive. This is particularly effective for blogs. Photos or images in a blog first catches the viewer’s eye who then would have to read the words that surround and support the photos.


Another thing, images can also serve as writing prompts, helping you formulate the article, sets up the mood for your mind to the writing you want done.

The Use of “Imagery”

Imagery is the use of language in a descriptive manner to suggest a sensory experience (sight, sound taste, smell and feel) in the mind of the readers. Imagery in one’s writing can be achieved through the use of literary devices or figures of speech.


If you can recall your high school or college Literature classes, the three common figures of speech are metaphors, similes and personifications.
Similes are figures of speech where two unlikely objects are compared to be ‘like’ each other.


Examples:

• Her skin is as smooth as silk.
• Like lightening, he ran across from one end of the open field to the other.

A simple form of imagery, similes are used to give the reader a reference for the imagery created.


Metaphors are similar to similes, however these do away with “like a” or “as a”. Metaphors are a direct comparison between two or more seemingly unrelated subjects.


Common examples are:

• He is a handsome devil.
• When it comes to treating others, she’s a witch.
• God is our shield.
• He’s a saint, generous to friends and strangers who are in need.

Many aspiring writers start out abusing metaphors in their writing. The keys to the proper use of metaphors are to use these in moderation and to come up with more original metaphors rather than use the common cliches like ‘angelic beauty’, ‘fat pig’, et cetera.


To come up with a unique set of metaphors is part of the fun of writing.
Personification is to fill inanimate objects with animal or human-like qualities, in appearances or actions.


Examples

• All of a sudden, the gun choked.
• The iPod sang out a medley of songs.

The appeal of personification is that it gives ordinary objects ‘special attention’, to make readers take notice.


The use of images and imagery support one of the basic challenges of presenting information in whatever medium, “To SHOW, not just TELL”. Aside from than receive direct exposure of information or emotions, why not give your readers an experience?


For an example, please compare the following:

• He was having a stomach-ache.
• His insides were in twisting knots while his tummy felt cold as ice and heavy as lead.

One was more direct, the other longer but which was more interesting to read?


When one masters the use of images and imagery in writing, the resulting work would definitely the type that grabs readers off their seats, making reading as real as an experience as Life itself.

[Nino Gonzales]

hi guys,

just wanted to share this essay that got published in the august issue of BITE magazine:

In Barcelona I Found Love (for my Mother Tongue)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._tongue%29.pdf

grab your copy in the following venues:
Cebu City Venues:
Afterhours, Bo's coffee club, Monster Radio, Bravio, Brown Cup, Casa Gorordo, Citigym, Club P.U.M.P. (mango square), Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (sm, i.t. park, ayala), Eperformax (jy discovery mall), FORMO, Gizmos (Emall), Giuseppe's, Iamix Chicken & Grill, The Gustavian, Habagat Shop, Holiday Gym & Spa, Ila Puti, Kaona Grill, Kagura, Kukuk's nest, Les Amis de la France, Loft, Marco Polo Hotel, Mariott Gym, The Outpost, Parklane Hotel, Ronnie's Tattoo, Turtle's Nest, UP Lahug,...
Mactan Venues:
;Airport Tourist Desks, FTV, Bigfoot apartments, Hilton Hotel, Maribago Blue Waters, MB's Tavern, Shangri-la Hotel, Shangri-la Dive Shop, Western Watts,
Other Regions:
Habagat Outdoor Equipment, Bacolod City, Bohol, Davao, Dumaguete City, Ilo Ilo City
Manila Venues: SM Megamall - Habagat Outdoor Equipment, Mag-Net Cafe
& Visayas wide - PAL Offices;

[cute_6423]

wow..a thread for writers..
i haven't been writing (except for school and work notes) for more than two years now,
and im already feeling there's a void inside me..
i want to write again,
to regain my passion,
but i don't know where to start..

[LeonitoGoto]

@Nino Gonzales

good work; great read--a well written essay. i would agree with your sentiments. i too feel that i am cebuano/bisaya first before filipino.

i got published myself. check out philippine speculative fiction 4 edited by dean and nikki alfar. my story is entitled revenge of the tiktaks. hope you guys check it out. psf4 is available at power books.

[[PROTOTYPE]]

If you are a writer, what is your forte? and why?

say anything about writing (experiences,etc.) and how important writing is in your life...

i write fantasy... kanang power2x churvah hehe kana akong pili kay gamer man pud ko gamay nahan pud kog mga super powers. para nako, nice ang characters with powers, especially kung grabe na ang effects (like nuke or something).

writing for me is important because it enables me to express myself, especially if maglagot kog usa or duha ka butang. kung naa koy kalagotan, diha ko makasulat ug tarong

[diem]

wow..a thread for writers..
i haven't been writing (except for school and work notes) for more than two years now,
and im already feeling there's a void inside me..
i want to write again,
to regain my passion,
but i don't know where to start..

hey cute, I humbly suggest that you start writing what you usually enjoy reading.

For example, are you fond of reading poetry? Then maybe you should start penning your own poems. Or basin ganahan ka ug balak? Sulay suwat ug balak.

Or maybe you like love stories? Horror stories? Then try your hand in writing something close to your heart. Usually, no one goes wrong doing that It's enjoyable too.

And hello to the other posters too. Welcome.

[[PROTOTYPE]]

aw o, naa diay koy samples sa akong deviantart acct... search lang si 'storyteller-san'. kit-an ra na ninyo dinha hehe

[galenostiel]

I see new posters. Welcome!

*wonders if the old-timers are still around*

Hi to everyone. Thanks diem for all the tips!

[madredrive]

i make poems too.. but nobody cares to read them... well anyway..

[[PROTOTYPE]]

i make poems too.. but nobody cares to read them... well anyway..

i-post nalang somewhere sa istorya