How To Spot Bad Writing - Jack Grapes

Summary

In this insightful conversation, writer and instructor Jack Grapes shares his approach to teaching writing, focusing on helping students write authentically and connect with their natural voice. He emphasizes the importance of writing like you speak, avoiding overly formal constructs, and being mindful of excessive use of adverbs and adjectives. Grapes discusses exercises like the 'transformation line' to help students shift emotions in their writing. He also touches on how voice creates character, using JD Salinger’s Holden Caulfield as an example. Grapes encourages writers to stay true to themselves while engaging readers with their unique voice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jack Grapes encourages students to write like they talk in their journal entries to capture authenticity in their voice.
• 😀 Students are limited to about 500 words for journal entries in class, but they are encouraged to write as much as they want outside class.
• 😀 The transformation line exercise helps students express deeper personal truths, such as identifying fears and core beliefs.
• 😀 Grapes uses the 'dreaded association' exercise to help students explore their creativity and emotional depth, despite initial resistance.
• 😀 One of the main goals of the class is to make students aware of the difference between writing and speaking, especially in sentence structure.
• 😀 Writing in a more 'writerly' manner, such as using adverbs and adjectives excessively, is discouraged as it can detract from authentic expression.
• 😀 Stephen King and Elmore Leonard both warn against excessive use of adverbs and adjectives, considering it a hallmark of amateur writing.
• 😀 The class focuses on understanding the structural differences between spoken and written language to help students write more naturally.
• 😀 Grapes teaches that writers must balance between speech-based writing and more formal literary constructs, using each when appropriate.
• 😀 Writers should aim to create work that resonates with readers, prioritizing connection over impressing peers or conforming to literary norms.

Q & A

What is the first writing exercise that Jack Grapes gives to his students?

Jack Grapes first asks his students to read the first three chapters of his book, 'The Method, Writing,' and then write a journal entry where they write as they talk.

How long are the journal entries supposed to be in the class?

Students are encouraged to write freely but for the class, they are limited to about 500 words, which is roughly two pages, to allow for feedback.

What does Jack Grapes emphasize about the writing style of students in this exercise?

Grapes emphasizes that students should avoid using overly 'writerly' language like adverbs and adjectives and should focus on writing in a natural, conversational tone.

What is a transformation line and why is it important in the exercise?

A transformation line is a key moment or emotional shift in a person's life. Grapes teaches students to identify these lines and explore the deeper emotional truth behind simple statements, such as 'I was hiding the birthday cake,' to uncover personal stories.

How does the transformation line help in writing?

The transformation line helps students understand the core emotional truth of their experience, which can make their writing more authentic and powerful. It goes beyond surface-level storytelling to reveal deeper personal struggles.

What is the dreaded association exercise, and how do students react to it?

The dreaded association exercise is a writing technique that Grapes initially called the 'association exercise.' Students often dread it because it challenges them to dig deep into their personal experiences, but it ultimately proves to be highly effective and surprising in its results.

How does Jack Grapes help students distinguish between speech-based writing and literary writing?

Grapes explains that speech-based writing mirrors how people naturally speak, while literary writing often follows more structured and formal rules. He uses examples, like the incorrect use of a participle phrase ('Standing by the window I could see...'), to show the difference.

What role do adverbs and adjectives play in writing, according to Jack Grapes?

Grapes cautions against overusing adverbs and adjectives, as they are often signs of amateur writing. He references Stephen King and Elmore Leonard, who both argue that excessive use of these elements can weaken the authenticity of writing.

What does Grapes say about the difference between speaking and writing in terms of sentence structure?

Grapes points out that sentence structures in spoken language are often simpler and more direct than those in written language. He encourages students to recognize these differences to write authentically while still adhering to writing conventions when needed.

How does voice contribute to a character's development in writing?

Grapes explains that voice is a fundamental aspect of character development. A strong, unique voice, like Holden Caulfield’s in J.D. Salinger's work, shapes the plot and drives the character's actions, making them more relatable and authentic to readers.