Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2021 20:37:39 GMT
Everyone has their own style, a word they use over and over, a structure all their own, a tone, a beat.
The word I've used over a thousand times here is "just". I can't stop using it.
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Post by potet on Nov 17, 2021 22:10:05 GMT
I am an author, but I am not a writer. I am an author because I have published over a dozen titles. I am not a writer because I have no style that I can claim as my own. A style is something you can identity, and imitate. I write like all scholars - i.e. correctly and clearly - that's all.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Nov 18, 2021 2:33:10 GMT
Just?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2021 5:49:14 GMT
Justice, just now, just plain happy. Just come visit. You won't regret it. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2021 5:50:20 GMT
I am an author, but I am not a writer. I am an author because I have published over a dozen titles. I am not a writer because I have no style that can claim as my own. A style is something you can identity, and imitate. I write like all scholars - i.e. correctly and clearly - that's all. That is the best way to write, my friend. |
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lonny
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Post by lonny on Jan 20, 2022 7:09:09 GMT
As it happens, one can be identified by one's word choices, at least in word frequency. The laws of big numbers are working against us.
There is actually a word frequency list for each language: Given a large enough and sufficiently diverse sample, one certain word will almost always occur once in every 16 words. The second most common word will occur once in every 32 words, third once in every 48, and so on until you reach words that may be used once a blue moon. The lists are called Zipf Lists, after Zipf's Law.
In theory, a particular author uses around 10,000 to 12,000 words most of the time, and has his or her own "Zipf" pattern. Depending on how much an author's pattern diverges from the language's Zipf list, the word frequency can be like a fingerprint.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 10:22:40 GMT
As it happens, one can be identified by one's word choices, at least in word frequency. The laws of big numbers are working against us. There is actually a word frequency list for each language: Given a large enough and sufficiently diverse sample, one certain word will almost always occur once in every 16 words. The second most common word will occur once in every 32 words, third once in every 48, and so on until you reach words that may be used once a blue moon. The lists are called Zipf Lists, after Zipf's Law. In theory, a particular author uses around 10,000 to 12,000 words most of the time, and has his or her own "Zipf" pattern. Depending on how much an author's pattern diverges from the language's Zipf list, the word frequency can be like a fingerprint. True, when you decrease the sample, it's more pronounced. Say, twenty people, ten people. That being said, I wouldn't have recognized you from your writing. BlueandGold, by now, I think yes. Or, Kevin, Cameron, Ken. Perhaps it's tone as well. |
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Jan 20, 2022 14:03:40 GMT
I use Word's word search looking for instances of words. If I think there are too many of the same used too much, I will use an alternative meaning much the same. repeat adjectives can be an example. in English there are around 220 'common' ones. I have no idea how many there are in total, but from many things I have read, few writers even use those 220. (Gosh, I just looked the total up, and there are 100,000!) grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adjectives/list-of-adjective-words.htmlOne has to write as though you are also a potential reader. I don't even want to bore myself! |
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Post by BlueAndGold on Jan 20, 2022 14:04:16 GMT
I suspect Zipf lists can change widely as any particular author switches subject matter.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Jan 20, 2022 14:08:01 GMT
> One has to write as though you are also a potential reader. I don't even want to bore myself!
I am one of my favorite writers. Does that make me talented or just a narcissist? 
(Maybe just easily entertained.)
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Jan 20, 2022 14:30:14 GMT
I suspect that any writer who thinks others would like to read their works has to be a bit egotistical, if not fully narcissistic.
Myself, I read a lot of books, perhaps a novel a fortnight. So I can compare. I started off a while ago thinking, ermm, I can write as good as that, if not better. (Can I point out I have also been an editor?!) But many of the self-published books I have seen, I often wonder if they have even seen a book, never mind read one, and yet they think they are worthy of a read, for money even.
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Jan 20, 2022 14:37:31 GMT
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lonny
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Post by lonny on Jan 22, 2022 18:56:03 GMT
> One has to write as though you are also a potential reader. I don't even want to bore myself!
I am one of my favorite writers. Does that make me talented or just a narcissist?
(Maybe just easily entertained.)
Not that you mention it, the fan that has followed all of my writing from day one, is me. I've even bought me lunch a time or two. |
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Post by BlueAndGold on Jan 22, 2022 19:46:34 GMT
HAHAHAHA!!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2022 20:54:13 GMT
> One has to write as though you are also a potential reader. I don't even want to bore myself!
I am one of my favorite writers. Does that make me talented or just a narcissist?
(Maybe just easily entertained.)
Not that you mention it, the fan that has followed all of my writing from day one, is me. I've even bought me lunch a time or two. Oh, I just remembered the coffees. Thank you. Regarding one's own writing, when I read my own I can't believe I wrote it. I read it like someone else's novel. |
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