Inner Workings discussion

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/4...

Hello Davis,

Perhaps you could introduce yourself. Also, it would be nice if you would post some original essays here rather than dropping in and posting a link.

Thanks,
Margaret

not to be a dick (who am i kidding?) you lost me with the first sentence:

"liberal principles are the paramount for my country."

grammar issues are rife throughout - if you are not going to take the time to clean up your sentence structure and usage I'm certainly not going to take the time to read your work

and as Margaret mentioned who are you? and while we are at it why not try to figure out who your audience is in this group? and maybe you should try finding out what we do here before posting your link?

a lot of rude going on - poor start - but er...? hi? welcome?

"As a result of the my participation in some the heated debates here on Goodreads, I end up writing plenty of Political arguement and theory. This a collection of some of my finer writings." - Davis

This could use some work.

Ah...he's young and did not know any better. Maybe next time, you can try to wait until you post several thoughts on the essays in Inner Workings.

What you just did was what I call a drive by posting or bungee posting which is kinda harsh and cold.

Good luck with your 'finer' writing.

""liberal principles are the paramount for my country."

It is called circular structure; Joyce was one of the pioneers of using it in essays. If you will note, the sentence is completed in the last paragraph.

Haha, I'm sorry guys, I did just barge in, I apologize. I don't know how this group works, however I am intrigued :)

wow Joyce?

next time try English

your structure = 'principles are the supreme for my country'

(or: 'the chief in significance' or 'the preeminent')

it's not a sensible construction - paramount is an adjective which requires a noun

so you might say something like 'liberal principles are... 'the(sic) paramount *importance...* for(sic) my country' but your articles and prepositions will also need to be reworked

(and please provide me with some of those Joycean essays you refer to I'd love to have a look - I'm a huge fan of Joyce essays)

Well, Finnegans Wake was written that way.

And I have been told their is one on aestheics in 'Critical Writings of Joyce' that I just picked up. I hope my librarian didn't lie to me and make me look like a fool :S

All writing follows some kind of aesthetic principle. At least, it should, or the writer is just scribbling words on a page the same way my daughter used to write nonsense words, backwards and diagonally, on notebook paper at age 4. I suppose that had it's own dada aesthetic, if I choose to view it that way.

BUT I think that there's a fundamental difference between the form of the essay and a work of fiction. You might want to read up on that.

As in - essays do need to follow conventional rules of grammar and construction. Last time I checked, political essays were about about convincing a reader, or telling a story and relating it to a larger picture, not playing with grammar. Even personal essays don't play around with grammar, at least not any I've read. For really good political and personal essays, read Orwell.

Fiction is the playground. Yes, it's creating a picture, sometimes even an argument, through storytelling... but obviously with more room for unconventional sentence structure, play, and aesthetics.

"For really good political and personal essays, read Orwell."

Hahahahaha, I have.

An essay can be whatever the writer makes the essay. It can be a place for beautiful sentences that intrigue the reader the way they would if it was placed in a fiction novel or it can be filled with simple, bold statements. There are no real rules, besides basic grammatical ones that are necessary for comprehension. If reading great literature has taught me anything, it's that.

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

This may be more your age group.

Margaret wrote: "http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

This may be more your age group."

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Even if that was mean spirited, I still laughed.

A sense of humour is important. Now I'll leave you to the wolves.

Margaret wrote: "A sense of humour is important. Now I'll leave you to the wolves."

Haha, well any input is welcome. I didn't make any real effort at editing this, it was just something written for a debate in another group. I'm there are some improper clauses, minor grammatical errors, maybe even a misspelling or two.

Oh no, he did not. Are you kidding me? Tell me he did not just laugh at Shel's comment.

Good writing consists of mastering the fundamentals: vocabulary, grammar and the elements of style. And a promising writer knows how to accept constructive criticism.

"And a promising writer knows how to accept constructive criticism."

Am I not accepting?

Margaret wrote: "http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

This may be more your age group."

Hey! Who said you can whore out my group? :)

Stranger, you've overstayed your welcome. I suggest you find another campsite to crash for the night.

While it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.

No, I don't believe that you are accepting any of our constructive criticism.

Dan wrote: "Margaret wrote: "http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

This may be more your age group."

Hey! Who said you can whore out my group? :)"

No,no,no. You may have discovered it but I actually joined it.

I think that whenever we get a spammer we should refer them out to one of the crazy goodreads groups. Like paranormal romance, or bunnies with electric guitars who read Harry Potter.

(Um, yeah. Generally ***laughing at requested input*** is not considered ***accepting criticism***.

But I digress. This schmo isn't even worth the time I'm taking to type.)

Oh, He quit.

you guys scare me

Matt wrote: "you guys scare me"


Haha, you are one of us "you guys"

Quel dommage.

Sorry, kiddos. Arrogant lack of respect gives me a twitchy trigger finger...

Um, hey Bonita, I have the perfect guy I want you to meet with that twitchy trigger finger.

Ha! I made a divorce joke!

Yay! Shel.

Just caught up reading this whole thread...you all are funny.

Please warn me if I start to piss any of you off. Thanks.

have any of you read one of Joyce's essays? I wasnt aware a great fund of such existed (outside of Finnegan's Wake of course)

Patrick wrote: "Good luck with your 'finer' writing."

haha! (don't anyone spellcheck me in my rantings)

Matt wrote: have any of you read one of Joyce's essays? I wasnt aware a great fund of such existed (outside of Finnegan's Wake of course)


I have no memory of reading any Joyce. Can't you just google or wiki it? If you find one post it.

Matt wrote: "have any of you read one of Joyce's essays? I wasnt aware a great fund of such existed (outside of Finnegan's Wake of course)"

Maybe he is talking about this?

Occasional, Critical, and Political Writing

then again, maybe not

Swanny wrote: Please warn me if I start to piss any of you off

That would take all the fun out of it. Besides we've "known" you for a while.

This collection includes newspaper articles, reviews, lectures, and propagandizing essays that are consciously public, direct, and communicative. These pieces also clarify and illuminate the transformations in Joyce's fiction. Gathering together more than fifty essays, several of which have never been available in an English edition, this volume is the most complete and the most helpfully annotated collection.

Holy cow, what a group we have here! Don't worry Swanny, my aim's not all that good, especially when the winds pick up. And Shel, your ex-hole doesn't sound like the perfect guy to me. :P

I don't guess I'll be looking over that article on political writing. I know as much about politics as I do about engine rebuilding.

I think I may be a snob after all. No not really. Haha. I think I named myself the"rouge link paster" at some point. I was being silly. Maybe the Hard Core Chicks will be nicer to him.

Bonita wrote: "Holy cow, what a group we have here! Don't worry Swanny, my aim's not all that good, especially when the winds pick up. And Shel, your ex-hole doesn't sound like the perfect guy to me. :P


Yes, but he is the perfect guy to get in front of someone with an itchy trigger finger. :-)

Aw, it's a perfect group. Perfectly perfect.

ha! Just let the sum-bitch get in my way :D

I missed you guys. =D

Glad you're back!

I'm trying! Just took my GRE on Saturday...my husband says I ignored him for a week leading up to it. I only had eyes for my study guides.

Still have my lit test but that isn't until October so I'm free to write and read what I want for the next few weeks until school starts back up.

You wouldn't believe how many times I loaded Goodreads only to scold myself back into studying. "Single-minded to the point of recklessness."