Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Those three nouns in the post title continue to come to mind lo these many years since freshman English Composition.

It was the summer of 1976 – yes, the Bicentennial summer. I was one month out of high school and taking freshman English composition. Dr. Gray taught the class.

Two things stand out about the class:

1. We wrote everyday in a journal.
2. He told us everyday that in our writing we must be precise, concrete, and specific.

And…

1. I write in a journal everyday.
2. I told someone those three words this week (time will tell if they heed the advice).

No generalities (unless required). Tell people (write it) precisely what you mean. Give concrete and specific examples.

• Don’t write about wildlife; write about deer.
• Don’t write about deer; write about mule deer.
• Write about mule deer bucks foraging for blackberries

This is pretty simple advice, but since it is good advice, it never grows old.