Why, if I did so well in college, am I still such a poor writer?

Question

I was a political science and history graduate. I wrote many essays. But even so, I felt that my writing was sub par. I simply did not take many English lit or composition courses. I'm 31. Is it too late to learn the fundamentals of writing?

Answer 1

Absolutely not! Why not sign up for a basic grammar class at your local community college? Or, if you can afford it, hire a private tutor to teach you the basics. Believe me, you are not alone.
I also suggest this book: The Elements of Style(can't remember the authors offhand, but any good bookstore will carry it). Very helpful!

Answer 2

It's NEVER too late to learn, especially something you want to learn.

In my humble opinion, the best way to learn to write is to read things you like to write about. I'm sure, there are classes you could take at night or maybe even some private lessons or some such. Of course, that's coming from a former music major, too...

Answer 3

You didn't say what type of writing you wanted to do. They're all different.

Essays are different from journalism which is different from research papers which is different from storytelling. Whichever you choose will require you to go to different areas where you will find learning materials.

But the Fundamentals of Writing is a vague idea that cannot be taught in a single course to fill all your requirements. And whether the course exists is a high probability it will not, particularly if you're wanting to write fiction.

The first thing I recommend is read a lot in the area where you want to learn. Mimicry is how most writers learn to write because you subconsciously pick up the structure. So, you have to read a lot.

If you're wanting to write essays (including autobiography), I recommend taking an English composition course AND a journalism writing course -- don't overlook journalism where most people who do writing take advantage of these courses -- they aren't journalists by coincidence. If you're writing research papers that will require those courses plus a Grad-level course you could take in how to write a thesis. This will truly introduce some excellent and unique elements to your writing.

But if you're wanting to write fiction, I have a lot more to say about that.

Unfortunately there aren't many colleges that offer courses in storytelling. Some creative writing courses do focus on storytelling but most creating writing classes focus on the extrinsics of the story and examine language, code, and text. If this is what you're talking about graduating but not being able to write, then this will explain it.

This used to not be the case. In the early 20th century through the 50s, storytelling was a requisite course for writers just as much as art was for painters or music for musicians. This became lost in the 60s and the loss of the craft of storytelling has been severe for the past two generations who have never learned how to tell a story. But they can tell you about gender identity, psychology of characters, and other facts that are looking at a story from the outside. But these facts won't tell you how to create a story. But there is still one medium that focuses on storytelling: film schools. If you can take a class at a film school on storytelling you will be far ahead of your peers as you maximize your talent and craft.

If you can't attend, browse CalArts course curiculla in Los Angeles for some textbooks. I recommend Robert McKee's "Story". You can buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060391685/epact

He also has seminars you can attend.

Please note that even though these might use the word "screenwriting", the craft of storytelling is identical for novels, plays, short stories, comic books, etc...

Most novelists, though, subconsciously learn how to craft a story by reading. They then mimic the universal and ancient form of storytelling (there is really only one form, the quest) -- they do not learn this from school because, again, schools don't teach storytelling -- not even in most creative writing courses. Stephen King said in his book, On Writing, that the number one method to learn how to tell a story, and how he learned, was by reading. And he said he still reads all the time to keep fresh.

Additionally, there are many sites that have story tutorials and message boards where you can bounce ideas with other storytellers. I write tutorials on http://www.storyentertainment.com . Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

So, read and maximise your talent by taking a storytelling course and talk to other storytellers.

Answer 4

Just to repeat what many others have already told you, as long as you live it is never to late to learn anything if you put your mind to it.
As we get older and if you have not had much practice lately, it might be a bit harder to write, until you get back in track by practicing. Tutors and or college are good options. Read good solid books, by solid authors such as Poe, Maupassant (master of the short story)Sommerset Maugham, Wolf, and many others, even Stephen King if you can stomach the subjects and the sometimes evident coarseness in his writing. Reading how other authors have approached different subjects or themes, finding metaphore's, similes, irony as you read these books and reflect upon what has been written is an excellent exercise. For myself to answer this questions are also exercises and I ought to know I was born in Argentina, and English is my second language. I took five years of English in high school as a second language, and believe me the teachers, did not concentrate in teaching us students how to write it, most of what we learned was the basic speaking form and enough to read to understand the phrases we repeated like parrots. I moved to Canada and basically have been teaching myself how to write until I began college to earn a second high school diploma and be able to enter university. It was and is hard to be able to be fluent not only speaking but also in writing, specially when I have no expectations of being a great writer, but I feel there is always room for improvement as you will deduce when you read this. Do not be hard on yourself, sometimes we are our worst critics and we are such perfectionists, that nothing we do seems to please us.
Do not give up, when I wrote essays in Spanish I used to get high nineties, now that I am back in school I get eighties, eighty-six my last assignment was marked at. It is hard to reconcile the mark differences but they could be worst, I am not as young as used to be and I have come to accept my many faults . Please follow your dreams.
PS: There are a lot of sources on the net, type books on writing, or visit your local library, another hint: every time I look for a word in the English dictionary I make a point of reading at least two or three other words in the page that I am at, it improves spelling and vocabulary.

Answer 5

In college they don't teach us to be better writers unless we take some creative writing courses. But anyone can be a better writer if he wants to . Read every thing carefully like how a sentence is constructed, most fitting words used, grammar rules are followed. Good writing requires a lot of editing.

Answer 6

I think the key to becoming a good writer is to find teachers that really challenge you. I always did well in school with my papers but it was only after severe critiques from professors that lead me feeling like i couldnt write my way out of a paper bag. Luckily for me though they were great teachers that worked with me....pointed out weaknesses in my thesis and reasoning...it really helped me become a better writer.

The key is to meet with professors and really pick there brains about your paper...often you can get by with an alright paper but if you talk to your teachers you can find out where your weaknesses are.

I would recommend taking classes at your local university or college. You dont have to take them as a degree seeking student, just take them for personal growth.

Answer 7

Strunk & White: Elements of style.
I didn't know much about punctuation when I started writing novels at the age of 50+, but I've learned. It's never too late.

Answer 8

its never too late to learn anything new, but learning writting fundamentals may not be the problem. Maybe a lack of motivation is whats wrong. just keep in mind that there's a little spark in everyone to accomplish their hearts desire, all you have to do is feed it.

Answer 9

Perhaps you went to the wrong college (for your abilities). Continue to pursue your education. Is your heart into your work? That could be the problem. Maybe the current timing isn't right - never quit. Something in the future might surprise you.

Answer 10

I don't think it's ever too late to learn
I think you just haven't found something that inspires you. You aren't a poor writter..you need to look for something that you are passionate about and write about that.