Creatively Failing

ElfManDan · February 03, 2009, 01:30:02 PM

I just got a bad grade on my English paper because it was to creative. My teacher told me it was good, but there were to many miss used words and gram errors. He said it was very creative, but I can't do that in an english class or I'm going to get a bad grade.

I'd rather fail the class then conform to be a standard english writer. I'd have to unlearn all the things my creative writing teacher in high school taught me. I don't want to unlearn my style just to have to relearn it.

Guess as long as I pass the class that's all I need. I've always had this problem in school. Most classes don't allow us to be creative and successful, but I've always just made it by. I figure I can likely do that here.

Still bugs me though, that I can't be so creative to do well.

Rico · February 03, 2009, 01:36:44 PM

Well I'm not sure without reading it, but grammar mistakes and certain other technical issues can make reading something more difficult. I would hope you can be creative in your ideas and story but still stick to certain rules of English. But I'm not quite sure that's all you are speaking about.

ElfManDan · February 03, 2009, 01:47:07 PM

Well what I did was creatively change my sentences to not be so standard. Like not using I, he, or the at the beginning of every sentence and changing the order of words to make it sound more exciting as opposed to being plain.

My teach told me that I would have to change my writing style to be more correct and not like a creative writing essay.

Ktrek · February 03, 2009, 01:48:45 PM

Misused words and bad grammar may be OK for blogs and message boards but in the professional world I think you might have a difficult time. It's one thing to be creative and dis the rules of proper English in the appropriate sphere but my first inclination would be that an "English" class is not one of them!

Sorry for the bad grade but I would encourage you not to let it get you down but to learn from it. After all that is what you are going to school for to do is to learn. Right? There's a time and a place for everything and I'm sure that your teacher just wants to make you the best writer you can be.

Kevin

billybob476 · February 03, 2009, 01:52:12 PM

All I ca say about spelling and grammar is that they are important. As an example, I have a much, much easier time doing RPG readings for the Ready Room when they are well punctuated and spelling is proper.

If school is preparing you to enter the "real" world then your teacher isn't wrong. At the end of the day, creativity is a wonderful amazing thing that is lacking in much of our lives, but getting your message across is just as important.

KingIsaacLinksr · February 03, 2009, 02:09:46 PM

I think we're confusing what he is saying. Are you:

A: Stating that talking like this is bad: Da Doog iss bad (poor grammar and english) This is what was bad?
or

B: Stating that talking like this is bad: Due to the dog being destructive, my family had to slap him with newspaper. Rather than: The Dog was bad so we had to punish him.

(Changing the sentence to sound "more exciting") This was what was bad?

Could you clarify what he/she criticized specifically?

King

ElfManDan · February 03, 2009, 03:24:05 PM

Quote from: Kinglinksr on February 03, 2009, 02:09:46 PM
I think we're confusing what he is saying. Are you:

A: Stating that talking like this is bad: Da Doog iss bad (poor grammar and english) This is what was bad?
or

B: Stating that talking like this is bad: Due to the dog being destructive, my family had to slap him with newspaper. Rather than: The Dog was bad so we had to punish him.

(Changing the sentence to sound "more exciting") This was what was bad?

Could you clarify what he/she criticized specifically?

King

B really.

X · February 03, 2009, 03:34:55 PM

I hate to be the one to side with your English teacher, but if you take a deep breath and a step back, you might see what they are talking about. I haven't read your paper, but in your post, you have several places where words are misused or spelled awkwardly. You also substitute then for than or to for too. As a writer myself, you have to look past the sting of a critique and see if there is any validity in what was said.

It might not be your creativity that they are questioning, just the words that you are using.

Rico · February 03, 2009, 03:44:32 PM

Well, it kind of depends on the assignment. If the idea was to play with grammar and sentence structure, that is one thing. But if that wasn't what was assigned then you may have to conform a little.

Bryancd · February 03, 2009, 04:07:12 PM

You are a very creative young man, but try not to fall in love with the power of your ideas. :)

Jen · February 03, 2009, 04:30:12 PM

I have to agree with the things people have already said. Shep, you are very creative and talented and taking the advice of your teacher is only going to make you better. I hate to say it, but you should throw style out the window at this point in your college career. Developing a writing style should only come second to writing a mechanically correct paper, whether it's fiction or non-fiction. Use the RPG to practice and if you need our help we would be happy to do that. Though I can't say I'm anywhere NEAR perfect at punctuation—I do keep a reference handy when I'm not sure about things.

As a creative person myself, I know how hard it is to accept criticism... especially if it isn't delivered in a constructive way. I've come a long way in getting over that, but it's still difficult for me to hear someone pick apart something I've worked hard on. Yet every time I've implemented the suggestions that others have made—even if I thought their comments were contrary to what I was trying to do—I found that those suggestions improved my work. Criticism is tough for me to hear sometimes, but all those uninvited suggestions taught me a little something I would not have learned on my own if I had rejected the input of others (particularly teachers). There's always room for improvement. ;)

ElfManDan · February 03, 2009, 07:09:47 PM

After going through the rest of my day I'm feeling a bit better about the whole thing. When I wrote the post I was between classes and just out of English. The topic was still heavy on my mine. Now that I look back you guys are really right. I think I just needed some time to let the whole thing settle into my own head. He did tell me it was creative, so I don't think that's in question. I know I'm just going to have to try a little harder to write the proper way. Thanks for setting me strait. I do appreciate it.

Ktrek · February 03, 2009, 08:00:57 PM

Quote from: Sheppard on February 03, 2009, 07:09:47 PM
Thanks for setting me strait. I do appreciate it.

You're welcome! Glad we could help! :)

Kevin

Jen · February 04, 2009, 04:26:51 AM

Anytime Shep. And again...use the RPG to practice. If you need help let us know. :)

billybob476 · February 04, 2009, 04:28:28 AM

We're always here to lend a word when needed. Glad to help.