You found my old blog. Thanks for visiting! For my new writing, visit mikesententia.com.
I started this blog two years ago today, and I’m so glad I did. It’s exposed me to new ideas (thanks for the comments, everyone), and I’m better at writing and explaining magick because of it.
If you’ve thought about blogging, but you’re worried you don’t write well enough yet, here’s my advice: Get started. No one wrote well at first, except for professional authors, who already went through the pain of learning to write in books. The way to solve that problem? Write, get a friend to give you feedback, and write more.
Also, thank that friend for giving you real feedback instead of empty encouragement like “Looks great.” They risked making you upset and put in honest work because they care about you.
Don’t believe me? Check out my first few posts. They’re awful. Each one took me hours to write.
Two years later, I’m somewhere around decent. A “non-bad writer.” Which is really all you need for non-fiction.
You can do it, too. It’s just a matter of putting the time in.
If you liked this post, consider visiting my current blog at mikesententia.com.
I need to get back into writing. I used to be an amazing writer, getting “A’s” in all my English classes, even in college. However, that all changed when I was exposed to “The Temple of Psychic Youth’s” books as well as “Energized Hypnosis” by Dr. Christopher S. Hyatt and Timothy Leary. I realized that not only is the English language simply a symbol system (a deified one albeit), but that modern English doesn’t make any sense. Why does the word “Knife” start with a “K” that’s silent? It’s stupid. If a 6-year-old wanted to look up how to spell it in the dictionary and they’d look for it in the “N” section. Why? Because they know their “ABC’s”! Why does “-tion” make the “-shun” sound? That 1/4 letters which are correct according to the “ABC’s”. What’s the point of having the letter “C” when “K” and “S” have already got that covered. The fact that two distinct letter cover those sounds would make it less confusing than using “C” interchangeably, which is why I propose we do away with the way “C” is used and replace it with the “Ch” sound. I don’t care what anyone says, no letters in the alphabet can make the “Ch” sound while still abiding by the rules of the Alphabet. Furthermore, I found that the English language itself is dubious compared to other languages like Hebrew. In Hebrew, the written portion of the language is based on ideas not the construction of the letter. Even the letters themselves change based on the context of the sentence. Although I am not fluent in reading, speaking or writing in Hebrew, I don’t need to be in order to see how this can affect the psyche culturally. It means that when someone fluent in Hebrew reads something written in Hebrew, they understand what they read. Their language puts them in connection with the reality of the subject, not ensnaring them in the trappings of language and piling a welter of words on their shoulders. Language is applied for what language is: a tool for communication.
Still, I really want to get back into writing. I’ve recently started reading poetry again. I’ll refresh myself and then get back into writing by April 1st. That’s my goal, it’s on my calendar.
Dark Blessings,
(D/A)
I’m thinking more about choice of words and clarity of message, rather than spelling. There’s an art to choosing the most relevant things to say — things your readers will find fascinating or useful — and then saying them clearly. Don’t worry, it’ll come with practice. Glad to hear you’re getting back into writing.
While it is true ‘American English’ has more exceptions to the ‘rule’ then most other languages; others do have some wonky bits also. Having studied French, German, Russian, and a smattering of Latin and old Greek, I can honestly say, there are some really odd ‘rules’ in those languages too.
One must also remember that ‘AE’ is derived from ‘the Queen’s English’ which itself was a mashup from Anglo Saxon influences, Roman/Latin, Spanish, Turks, Germanic, and others. English is the ‘melting pot of languages’ and has tried it’s best to incorporate all the quirks of the inclusion of those ancient roots.
And, I’d much rather spend an evening sitting around with a knight from the round table rather then ‘just’ spending a night at a round table. :p