Many books on writing advise : “Show don’t tell” and it’s been fun to try to write this way. I have been playing with short sentences – I used to write much longer complex sentences but now I tend to break thoughts up into shorter sentences. But that can also be boring or tiring. Writing has a rhythm and flow – the word choices, the sentence structure – all have a way of affecting the mood of the reader.

I’ve tried fictional writing and I found it’s not my strength. People seem to like my voice as opposed to a fictional character’s “voice.”

I’d say that the essay is the closest thing to writing that I like best, which is odd since I had to crank them out for high school. I like taking a thought or idea and wrapping it up tidily.

Of the specific forms of writing that you’ve done (or at least tried), which do you like best?

UT: Thanks for the tips and the compliments. I love how your writing is progressing!

Derek: Strict or free expression? Hmmm. I would say I like both but maybe tending towards strict. It’s taken me a while to break free of first being grammatically correct and then to start adding my “voice” and then to start letting loose.

When it comes to writing, I believe there is value in trying different styles. I read a lot and have seen many different styles.

delmer: cable bills? Huh. I’m trying to figure out how I track time and I think it’s more like people’s birthdays.