Which story should I use? - Writers Forum

PipHobbit · 10-30-2006, 05:24 PM

I'm in the middle of writing a "Personal Project" for school. This is a really important project that sums up my entire high school education - if I fail it, I won't get a certificate for graduating from the enriched program I am in.

I chose to write a story for my project. The thing is, I don't know what I want to write about. I had written a fair amount already when my teacher told me the language was inappropriate (the story was about poverty, prostitution, drug use etc). She told me that I could continue writing the story if I changed the language, but I refused because I don't believe that that type of topic should be censored.

So now I have a dilemma: I wanted to write a "highschool memoir." I find this really difficult to open up and get started on. The other option is to write a fiction piece, but I would have to start from scratch, and I don't know what I would write about.

What should I do: should I write a strained memoir or a piece of fiction?

Mike C · 10-30-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PipHobbit

She told me that I could continue writing the story if I changed the language, but I refused because I don't believe that that type of topic should be censored.

Stop being prissy and change the language. Using appropriate language isn't censorship, but failing to complete it because you think you're better than that is.

Get the grade, then write what you want.

Quillpen · 10-30-2006, 07:50 PM

Yeah...Just get rid of the bad words.If you really want to use them you could do this:!@#$%.Comic strip writers have nothing wrong with it.A dumb i dea ,but hey if your desperate...

Emoking · 10-30-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Stop being prissy and change the language. Using appropriate language isn't censorship, but failing to complete it because you think you're better than that is.

Get the grade, then write what you want.

Don't be a jerk. Some people have different writting preferences, if she doesnt want to then she doesnt have to. Just because you have a buncha posts doesn't mean you can go around telling people what to do.

I say write what you like better, it's better that way. You won't be able to write something meaningful if you cant get into it.

PipHobbit · 10-30-2006, 07:58 PM

I didn't mean to be prissy or that I thought I was "better than that." It's just that since it's a Personal Project, I didn't want to rewrite the story for the sake of marks when it conflicts with my personal views. I thought that it would take away from the rawness that I wanted to write with.

Anyway, I didn't want the discuss that story, really. I was wondering what I should write instead.

Shawn · 10-30-2006, 08:25 PM

Try focusing in on a very crucial event... or over dramatize one.

PipHobbit · 10-30-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quillpen

Yeah...Just get rid of the bad words.If you really want to use them you could do this:!@#$%.Comic strip writers have nothing wrong with it.A dumb i dea ,but hey if your desperate...

I'm not desperate to keep the swears in or anything =\

Talia_Brie · 10-30-2006, 10:31 PM

Pip, to me the first idea seems the strongest, the poverty/prostitution idea. It seems like that story has something to say, where the others seem to be an effort to produce just anything.

I know your preference is to come up with something different, but I think the most value is going to be attained by working the strong story, the important story, and cleaning it up to make it accessable for the market.

Using market appropriate language is not censorship, not if the message doesn't change. If your teacher had said, 'take out the poverty, the prostitution and the drug use,' then you'd have a point.

A friend of mine used to say you could always tell a student's writing because they breached the 'fuck' envelope. I mentioned this to someone else at one point and they said to me, "I know people who actually talk like that."

Well, I swear quite a bit as well, but when I talk, the swearing is not all you hear. You actually hear the message, it's just coloured by the swearing. When you're writing 'fuck fuck fuckedy fuck', that's all you hear.

Billy Connelly says people shouldn't swear unless they are good at it. I think the same way about swearing in my writing. Use it when it's appropriate. You are trying to give the reader the impression of the language that the characters use. You don't have to slam it in everyone's face.

But to me, I think write the good story, and present it so it's acceptable to your teacher.

Talia_Brie · 10-30-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoking

Don't be a jerk. Some people have different writting preferences, if she doesnt want to then she doesnt have to. Just because you have a buncha posts doesn't mean you can go around telling people what to do.

I'm going to jump in here as a staff member and ask Mike C not to respond to that.

Mike is offering an opinion, not telling anyone what to do. Opinions were requested, and he has offered one.

We don't advocate flaming here, and what I have highlighted is flaming. What Mike said was blunt. There's a difference.

Vee · 10-31-2006, 12:12 AM

I'm guessing your in the States, its known to be uptight about language and nudity and such and I apologise for expressing such a political opinion to the board if it finds it offensive.

The alleged inappropriate language is quite appropriate when used in context. A lot of drug dealers, hookers, etc, swear - sure its sign of a small mind but things need to be kept in context. I say rebel.

Then again, I don't have anything riding on it.

Now if you do go with a new story: write one about the censorship of the story: it'll still have that raw edge.

FrankBlissett · 10-31-2006, 12:42 AM

"if I fail it, I won't get a certificate for graduating".

If ever one is writing "on assignment", so to speak, this is it. My advice is to write whichever you feel, given your abilities, will be most likely to get you a passing grade.

-Frank

ps: Vee, she's in Canada, by the way. Similar culture, though not as up tight as here in the states.

Fantasy of You · 10-31-2006, 01:38 AM

Ask yourself which of the two is the better story. I think you'll chose the first you wrote. Just take the language out. Your characters will still be real if you write them well, and if you don't write them well, cursing won't improve the story. Just take it out and get off your high horse. Like Mike said, get your grade, then write what you want.

-Fantasy

Mike C · 10-31-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talia_Brie

I'm going to jump in here as a staff member and ask Mike C not to respond to that.

NP, Talia, I try to stay out of the sandpit.

My point is that you're writing to get grades, not to change the world or make a bold literary statement. You have to do whatever it takes to move your education on. Once you've done that, you can write what you like.

Having said that, writing an assignment within guidelines is a useful skill to have. If you write for money you don't generally get to write what you want (if you expect to get paid) and being able to deliver a well written piece on-subject, on time and to the right number of words is an essential.

As for what else you can write - well, only you know what you're good at, but my strong suggestion (for the feeble-minded: a suggestion is not telling someone what to do) is to complete the work you have, with revisions, rather than starting afresh.