W VS E

I'm convinced Westerners and Easterners write differently. I suppose it's the same with Northerners and Southerners, but living in Alberta, I'm caught up in the East and the West. This is a theme in my own work, and a huge topic in North American history (I'm not sure if it's more of an issue in Canada or if it's the same in the States).

At any rate, the people from West Canada certainly write differently than the people in East Canada. Westerners appear to be fans of short sentences and straight-forward facts. The Easterners love their long, flowing sentences with over-the-top metaphors. I'm convinced the thesaurus is their top tool, followed by a dictionary. I often wonder what causes the differences. Of course there are the exceptions. There are many exceptions, but I can't help but notice that novels written in, say, New York, are a lot more “elegant” than ones written in somewhere like Saskatoon. Does this have to do with the environment? The vernacular? The way Easterners and Westerners look at life? How we live our lives? Or is it just like saying a gigantic “screw you” to each side?

As for myself, I prefer to write simply. I find that my vocabulary and range of sentences are lacking in breadth and depth, but at the same time I try to write the moment. I'd rather have the reader engaged with the actions and characters rather than in awe of the elaborate vernacular and beautiful descriptions. Tell it as it is rather than confuse the hell out of everyone. Not that these wondrous sentences cannot be enjoyed and even admired. I am often jealous of these fantastic similes and personifications and descriptions and verbs, but sometimes they slow the story down to the point where I read entire paragraphs without absorbing any of the content. By the time I get to the end of the page, I couldn't tell you what happened, but I couldn't keep track of the numerous words that I was either impressed by, or had to consult a dictionary for.

I may be exaggerating a bit.

On the other hand, the simple, straight up approach can get painfully repetitive. I conducted an experiment in WMRR (my novel in progress) by bringing up the find feature in my word processor. I search for how many times I used the word “watch” and came up with 66 results within the first 100 pages. My largest offence was the last chapter where it turned up 10 times. This is mostly because I haven't edited it yet, but I shouldn't make excuses.

Some time when I don't have three research essays and a truck load of readings to do, I'd like to do a little reading and research of my own. I'm sure tons of work has been done on this topic. An inventory of styles would be interesting to make as well, just in my causal (or school) readings. My fiction writing professor stated that there was a certain Albertan vernacular that appears in writing that mimics the way we speak. Reading the lines, you can almost hear the words being spoken. I have to agree with this notion, encountering it many times myself.

Regardless, neither form appears to be inherently better, though many would argue for one side or the other. I like to look at it as a learning experience, where elements can be taken from both sides to make something entirely new. I've done more critical reading in these past two years than I have done in my entire life, and I think that shows in the progression of my reading and writing abilities. I see right through the mechanics now.

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.

And this is where the internet has broken me folks. Schwa out.

Shwout?

Wind Tunnels

The University has become an expert in such matters. I assume without meaning to. They have made at least 2 successful ones on campus, one in the path between Social Sciences and Administration and one now between the old library and the new Taylor Digital. Every time I walk in these areas the wind is blowing. And it's COLD. Seriously is this some sort of multi-million dollar experiment or is the university just bad at placing buildings?

Maybe I should ask the engineers with their shrinking hallways and doors that lead to no where.

Triple Corpse Hammerblow

Death metal is...pretty awful.

After much contemplation. I am pleased with my wedge of internet. Mmmm wedge.

ARGH WHY WON'T THE LINK WORK?

http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/f/forer-effect/

Here you can have this one instead.

Also Blogger doesn't like LESS THAN 3.

Hey Now

Not cool bro:


http://openmedia.ca/meter

Also, I have left retail. I plan on not returning. At least...for a very long time. I am sad to say goodbye to my coworkers. Then again, they're just at the mall so it's not like I won't see them again. Meh. Anyone up for a Dance Party? I've scheduled one for WS on March 22.

Gatta get up to get down.