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How does one become a good writer?
a. Anyone who has the brains to gain a commission has the brains to become a good writer. It requires work. It doesn’t come easily or quickly. It demands time and effort to master the language. It demands practice, practice and more practice. Lastly, the writer must have something to say. The task is to deliver the message of substance in the clearest possible way. Almost always this means the shortest way.
b. A person who reads a lot soon finds that writing is almost as easy as reading. Most effective officers read a lot, and not just instruction manuals.
c. The only way to become a writer is to write. There are reasons why the services are so free with dictionaries and run so many courses on fundamental writing skills. There are reasons why the services have either published or adopted a manual style and format. The services want to provide opportunities for mastery of the language. Just as a condition of the profession demands that an officer master a particular weapon, learning the language of the profession is similarly essential. Poor spelling, poor grammar and lack of specific vocabulary are excuses, not the result of effort. Even great athletes, whose stock in trade is essentially muscular coordination, understand the need for practice.
d. In the same way, good writing comes from practice and practice and more practice. Only after the process of making words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs and paragraphs into chapters becomes a natural rhythmic process does the stamp of individuality and personality shine through the writing to the reader.
e. Extensive practice creates the ability to look at a problem, define its important parts and discover the possible solutions. Before one can write, one has to think. What an officer thinks will be reflected in the structure, the choice of words and the logic of the writing. This does not mean that the task will ever become easy. Good writing always will require more perspiration than inspiration.
f. While this may sound formidable, it is one key to professional progress and is worth the effort.
From: The Armed Forces Officer, Chapter 12
More humor from Jeff Bacon HERE.
Navy Chiefs should be good writers as well, so the officers don't spend half of their time correcting grammar mistakes in admin. Anchor up!
ReplyDeleteThat goes both ways. More than once I've re-corrected a grammar 'correction' made by an officer or retired officer. Grammar is too often overlooked and/or misunderstood. Even in my one doctorate-level class, I was astounded and horrified by the inability of educated Americans - including career educators - to form a grammatically-correct sentence.
ReplyDeleteImplying Chiefs don't no grammar but officers does is misguided. The truth is, most people don't have well grammar.
We all make mistakes. If you aren't making mistakes, you may not be doing anything. If we can learn from them, we are better off. I am always willing to accept any correction or criticism. MCPO Hughes is often my most frequent advisor on matters of grammar, spelling and authenticity. But I welcome all of it from all sources.
ReplyDeleteIn case you haven't heard, we don't need to read, write, think or do anything else. CNO and the rest of the flags are doing it all for us.
ReplyDeleteI just love those people who make blanket and potentially incendiary statements about everything and then don't have the intestinal fortitude to sign their names to it. If these are your true beliefs and thoughts, then at least have the backbone to sign your name. Own it! Don't hide behind "Anonymous."
ReplyDeleteI just love those people who make blanket and potentially incendiary statements about everything and then don't have the intestinal fortitude to sign their names to it. If these are your true beliefs and thoughts, then at least have the backbone to sign your name. Own it! Don't hide behind "Anonymous."
ReplyDeleteCaptain Lambert,
ReplyDeleteIn the typical daily rush it is easy to make mistakes both minor and major, I have been observing your words for a number of years now and have found few errors that you have made. I try to report those things that I see to you in an informal way through your other site. I still marvel at how you can generate an average of one post per day, rain or shine, if I were to try this I am sure I would make multitudes of mistakes.
To me the words that one uses to pass something of value to others should always be as nearly correct as possible, when the troops look at these words and notice one error they will form a lack of confidence automatically, at least that is the way I feel about such things. Some overlook these typos, errors or whatever you may want to call them, but that is a mistake in itself. As your post points out it takes effort and determination to overcome the problems of spelling, grammar, sentence structure and logical thinking while writing, but as you work on all these areas consciously you will find that you will continue to gain the confidence required to master this art of communication, which is what this is all about.
Very Respectfully,
E. A. Hughes, FTCM(SS)
US Navy (Retired)
Navyman834