On writing in English
I can see some people back home complaining about my writing in English.
Let me explain in advance, why that is:
First of all, I'm an avid reader as my dad. I read from 6 to 10 books every year and listen to audio books when traveling (you should try it, by the way). And guess what, the books here are in English.
But I started writing in English when I took a Composition class for my Business course. Of course I had to write all my short stories in English, as well. I even wrote a couple of short stories that I really liked. All with the encouragement of my instructor. I don't have to say that I got an A on that class, and considering that some other American students got Bs and Cs, I figured that my writing wasn't too bad.
Well, after reading one particular sci-fi short stories book, I thought that maybe I could write some stories of my own. I had some ideas already, so I sat down and wrote two stories. By that time, I actually wrote one in English and one in Portuguese. The Portuguese one is about to be published in a fanzine called "NotÃcias do fim do nada" (literally, News from the End of Nothing). But, having read Orson Scott Card's How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, I had dreams of greatness of getting my stories published. So I took them to one of the writing tutors at SCC, and I asked if he could proofread them (being a student has it advantages). But hey, how is he going to help me with my Portuguese story?
For some people it's hard to understand, but English is the language I speak and write everyday and therefore it's only natural being comfortable to write in it and to practice it.
Don't worry, I'm not becoming American. But what's the point of living in a country and not trying to understand its culture. I've met a lot of foreigners here that still act as if they were still in their own countries. Hey, more about that later.
Let me explain in advance, why that is:
First of all, I'm an avid reader as my dad. I read from 6 to 10 books every year and listen to audio books when traveling (you should try it, by the way). And guess what, the books here are in English.
But I started writing in English when I took a Composition class for my Business course. Of course I had to write all my short stories in English, as well. I even wrote a couple of short stories that I really liked. All with the encouragement of my instructor. I don't have to say that I got an A on that class, and considering that some other American students got Bs and Cs, I figured that my writing wasn't too bad.
Well, after reading one particular sci-fi short stories book, I thought that maybe I could write some stories of my own. I had some ideas already, so I sat down and wrote two stories. By that time, I actually wrote one in English and one in Portuguese. The Portuguese one is about to be published in a fanzine called "NotÃcias do fim do nada" (literally, News from the End of Nothing). But, having read Orson Scott Card's How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, I had dreams of greatness of getting my stories published. So I took them to one of the writing tutors at SCC, and I asked if he could proofread them (being a student has it advantages). But hey, how is he going to help me with my Portuguese story?
For some people it's hard to understand, but English is the language I speak and write everyday and therefore it's only natural being comfortable to write in it and to practice it.
Don't worry, I'm not becoming American. But what's the point of living in a country and not trying to understand its culture. I've met a lot of foreigners here that still act as if they were still in their own countries. Hey, more about that later.
posted by Andre | 5:14 AM
2 Comments:
Great site loved it alot, will come back and visit again.
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Interesting site. Useful information. Bookmarked.
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