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Monday, November 9, 2015
Post #10: Letter to your writer
Write a short (think 7-9 sentences) letter to your writer. Tell the writer whatever you like, but make sure you include some specifics about what you've read, enjoyed, loathed, or learned.
17 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Dear Mr. Brooks,
I have really enjoyed becoming familiar with your writings throughout these past couple of months. I have learned a lot about politics and social science through reading your opinion pieces. I really enjoyed the scope of your articles -- ranging from political analysis to societal commentary. Specifically, I found your pieces titled "The Evolution of Simplicity" and "The New Romantics in the Computer Age" especially engaging and fun to read. In both articles I felt that you grabbed my attention not only with the subject matter, but also with your writing style. I found your varied diction and sentence structure really interesting and it really helped me develop my views on what makes a piece of writing appealing. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful opinions and strong writing.
Thank you for sharing your life and mind with your readers. I learn a lot from reading your work. Your piece on suicide hotspots made me really think about how government and legislature interact with culture. Your articles have helped me see the world through a different lens. Your humor and honesty make each piece you write engaging and exciting to read. I feel like we've become good friends, I think your writing paints a good picture of you and your personality. Even some of your articles about weird Scottish stuff that I don't understand are intriguing because you pull in the reader with topical and poignant remarks. I chose you as my author because you had the most articles written for vice over other writers, so thank you for not dissapionting me, your writing has quality and quantity!
I want to thank you for taking on the often-neglected task of putting complex foreign policy and domestic issues into language simple enough for non-experts to understand. As someone who has had very little education in modern issues involving the Middle East or American politics, I have sincerely enjoyed reading your articles and seeing your perspective on these issues. I have especially liked your humorous frankness when discussing the Republican Party and American-Iranian relationships. However, I do wonder if you think it would be valuable to acknowledge your own biases. I understand that your types of articles rely on presenting your own view of an issue, but I think acknowledging your political leaning and foreign policy philosophy would clarify your articles and even make them more credible. Overall, this is just a small consideration, and I will continue to read your column even after my obligation to my English class has ended.
Recently, I have really enjoyed your posts surrounding the sorry state of the forty-niner's offense and defense. It is your ability to form the perfect similes describing the niners that drives my continued interest in your writing. You have opened my mind to a form of informative journalism that is exciting to read for more than the news being told. I wonder how you have gotten to your specific career path? Did you plan on being a sports writer? What was your alternative route? Anyhow, you are doing something great.
Thank you for keeping your articles relatively short and too the point. You never try to overcomplicate them, rather state the facts while adding small doses of your opinion in a creative and intriguing way. Although I may not love your articles about horse racing, your articles about concussions in football are interesting to read. Your titles are long and descriptive but I appreciate how that is a part of your style. My favorite thing about your articles is the fact you are able to write about an upset in boxing, as well as touching pieces about some special people in the realm of athletics. For example your piece about Tim Medvetz captivated me as I could put down the piece. Thank you for spending countless hours writing engaging articles. -Lacy
Thank you for taking the time and effort to craft your articles in a way that makes them exciting, interesting, and funny. Your pieces are always a good read and your passion for writing comes across. I am also impressed by your knowledge on the issues on hand. You write with an authority that presents you as a trustworthy author. My one complaint is that your humor sometimes comes off a bit heavy handed. There are times that I wish you would focus more on the facts, which you obviously have a firm grasp of, and less on trying to be clever or comedic. That being said, on the whole I am a fan of your writing style and your articles always make me grin.
The way that you write your columns is how I want to live my life. Okay, this may be a big claim, but you first have to understand that I used to be a part of the group of prematurely-jaded children who was always sick of "over-analyzing" literature and film; I didn't believe that meaning could transcend an author's or artist's intended message. The way in which you ask questions that no one else could think of and do research that seems, at first, completely divergent from films is inspiring. In my view, you are a pre-Gladwell of the film world, an unsung hero to young people like me who might need a little bit of prompting to spark divergent thinking. Though I don't want to be a film critic--I'll be going to school to be in front of the camera, actually--I hope to use the same curiosity that you harness to explore whatever I explore as an actor and as a person. Thank you for asking questions that, truly, no one else could, and give my thanks to The New Yorker for publishing your creativity--it's a gem.
You are me. Your unique combination of writing about hard-hitting reports to banging monthly playlists, and even to pieces about flat out celebrity gossip. Your widespread coverage of all topics that I am infatuated with makes all of your writing a joy for me to read. Your playfulness with parentheses, exclamation points/ question marks, and commas make your grammar/use of punctuation inspirational. Although sometimes your ostentatious word choice is, at times, obnoxious and overwhelming, my own vocabulary has grown immensely just from reading your posts. Just writing to let you know, keep up the good work. You have made writing seem not so dreadful to me with lively content and moving grammar, and I look forward to reading your work in the future.
I would love to be like you. I long to have my words spill on a page like yours does, being able to articulate feelings and emotions so well on the page. Do not feel bad though, you have inspired me to take what I do very well and try and incorporate emotions and feelings into what I do. I have also learned from you a way to use what is passionate to me in the world and use it to bring awareness and knowledge through what I do. I thank you for that, another thing I like is how we agree on things for example your article on trump was perfect for describing how I felt. Your use of language and sentence structure was like a choreographed piece but in words and great syntax, I honestly can not wait to read more of your articles in the future.
Dear Mr. Taibbi, I thoroughly enjoy your work. I'm always looking for a good laugh, and your articles provide a reliable source. Although I can't drink, the latest installment in your GOP Debate Drinking Game Rules was hilarious. Honestly, I don't completely understand all of the rules (mostly because I don't follow politics or the news especially closely) but they're always good for a laugh one way or the other. I also find your more argumentative articles to be good reads. Your article about Bernie Sanders the other week presented a view and then flipped it around in order to make a different point which I thought was incredibly skillful. I look forward to reading your future articles, thanks for the laughs.
Dear Caitlin, I feel comfortable using your first name due to the fact that I've become quite familiar with you the past couple of weeks, as i have been reading your writing weekly. I've also seen you draw a smily face on your stomach and morphing your stomach to make it talk to the crowd in San Francisco. Your writing constantly shocks me. Your humor consistently puts a smile on face while your forward tone forces me to reconsider topics such as transitioning from girlhood to womanhood. You cover extremely relevant and important topics and force them to be noticed with your humor and inappropriate in-your-face tone. Unlike other writers, you don't tip-toe around sensitive topics, sensitively asking for them to be noticed. Rather, you force them to be noticed. I admire your confident and daring tone and look forward to reading more of your work. You've made a fan of me.
My family and I have been watching you on Univision for the past few years now. You are one of the few people I continue to look up to since my childhood. From watching you on “Al Punto” to watching you on interviews and press conferences, you have not failed to impress me with your knowledge and your critical view on the world. I recently read your piece titled “The Realm of the Superrich,” and I have to say, I am glad that you have brought up the issue of economic inequality in America. As an American citizen who lives in a low-income community in one of the richest counties in the country, it’s upsetting to see people who work multiple jobs and are still unable to maintain themselves and their family. I strongly agree with your argument that America needs to return to its roots of equal opportunities so that all families are able to attain their own American Dreams and move forward. Thank you for bringing awareness to different issues that not only impact the Latino community, but the whole world as well. I cannot wait to read your next piece!
I absolutely have to give you props for taking on such an unpopular subject: the weather. Based on what you have read, you have (on most occasions) successfully engaged me in your content via your language. It's funny that you have had such a passion for the weather and that you have put forth the time and effort to put language and explanations behind the weather. It's funny how most people in the DC area might actually be missing out on all of the details of the weather. Most would be simply using their Google app or Siri app on their phones to check out the weather forecast without any important details, and those people would be missing out. Because of your vivid detail on the weather, even providing nice visuals and data, you take me on a path more than simply statistics. Although your papers are not necessarily the most fun to read, I like to say that you are getting there. But for now, I'll keep reading.
Dear Joe Queenan, You inspire me. I love that you have dominated topics from Donald Trump's policies to fancy words used to describe food. You mock the ridiculous corners of life, and I appreciate your brutal and critical honesty. I look forward to reading your column, but I feel that occasionally your writing is targeted towards adults who are committed to reading the newspaper. I would like to remind you that not all of your fans are adults who are committed to reading the newspaper; I'd love to see you talk about social media or the younger generation or how sensitive we all are. I think you are a fantastic writer with a unique perspective on life. I'm glad I found you.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles over the past few months. The topics you choose to write about may at first seem complex, but they are applicable to the American reader. Your dry sense of humor makes reading about seemingly uninteresting subjects pleasurable to read about. I have learned so much about politics today, foreign affairs, and even the nature of tipping. Regardless of your opinion, I find credibility in every article, as it poses great arguments to debated topics. Thank you for informing and entertaining me.
17 comments:
Dear Mr. Brooks,
I have really enjoyed becoming familiar with your writings throughout these past couple of months. I have learned a lot about politics and social science through reading your opinion pieces. I really enjoyed the scope of your articles -- ranging from political analysis to societal commentary. Specifically, I found your pieces titled "The Evolution of Simplicity" and "The New Romantics in the Computer Age" especially engaging and fun to read. In both articles I felt that you grabbed my attention not only with the subject matter, but also with your writing style. I found your varied diction and sentence structure really interesting and it really helped me develop my views on what makes a piece of writing appealing. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful opinions and strong writing.
Sincerely yours,
Michelle Ullman
Dear James Nolan,
Thank you for sharing your life and mind with your readers. I learn a lot from reading your work. Your piece on suicide hotspots made me really think about how government and legislature interact with culture. Your articles have helped me see the world through a different lens. Your humor and honesty make each piece you write engaging and exciting to read. I feel like we've become good friends, I think your writing paints a good picture of you and your personality. Even some of your articles about weird Scottish stuff that I don't understand are intriguing because you pull in the reader with topical and poignant remarks. I chose you as my author because you had the most articles written for vice over other writers, so thank you for not dissapionting me, your writing has quality and quantity!
Fangirlingly,
JR
Mr. Friedman,
I want to thank you for taking on the often-neglected task of putting complex foreign policy and domestic issues into language simple enough for non-experts to understand. As someone who has had very little education in modern issues involving the Middle East or American politics, I have sincerely enjoyed reading your articles and seeing your perspective on these issues. I have especially liked your humorous frankness when discussing the Republican Party and American-Iranian relationships. However, I do wonder if you think it would be valuable to acknowledge your own biases. I understand that your types of articles rely on presenting your own view of an issue, but I think acknowledging your political leaning and foreign policy philosophy would clarify your articles and even make them more credible. Overall, this is just a small consideration, and I will continue to read your column even after my obligation to my English class has ended.
Appreciatively,
Jaq Pyle
Dear Paul,
Recently, I have really enjoyed your posts surrounding the sorry state of the forty-niner's offense and defense. It is your ability to form the perfect similes describing the niners that drives my continued interest in your writing. You have opened my mind to a form of informative journalism that is exciting to read for more than the news being told. I wonder how you have gotten to your specific career path? Did you plan on being a sports writer? What was your alternative route? Anyhow, you are doing something great.
Thank you,
Brodie Cohen
Dear Bill Dwyre,
Thank you for keeping your articles relatively short and too the point. You never try to overcomplicate them, rather state the facts while adding small doses of your opinion in a creative and intriguing way. Although I may not love your articles about horse racing, your articles about concussions in football are interesting to read. Your titles are long and descriptive but I appreciate how that is a part of your style. My favorite thing about your articles is the fact you are able to write about an upset in boxing, as well as touching pieces about some special people in the realm of athletics. For example your piece about Tim Medvetz captivated me as I could put down the piece. Thank you for spending countless hours writing engaging articles.
-Lacy
Dear Ms. Dowd,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to craft your articles in a way that makes them exciting, interesting, and funny. Your pieces are always a good read and your passion for writing comes across. I am also impressed by your knowledge on the issues on hand. You write with an authority that presents you as a trustworthy author. My one complaint is that your humor sometimes comes off a bit heavy handed. There are times that I wish you would focus more on the facts, which you obviously have a firm grasp of, and less on trying to be clever or comedic. That being said, on the whole I am a fan of your writing style and your articles always make me grin.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Sincerely,
Douglas Vetter
Dear Mr. Brody,
The way that you write your columns is how I want to live my life. Okay, this may be a big claim, but you first have to understand that I used to be a part of the group of prematurely-jaded children who was always sick of "over-analyzing" literature and film; I didn't believe that meaning could transcend an author's or artist's intended message. The way in which you ask questions that no one else could think of and do research that seems, at first, completely divergent from films is inspiring. In my view, you are a pre-Gladwell of the film world, an unsung hero to young people like me who might need a little bit of prompting to spark divergent thinking. Though I don't want to be a film critic--I'll be going to school to be in front of the camera, actually--I hope to use the same curiosity that you harness to explore whatever I explore as an actor and as a person. Thank you for asking questions that, truly, no one else could, and give my thanks to The New Yorker for publishing your creativity--it's a gem.
Sincerely,
Jack Petersen
Dear Lanre,
You are me. Your unique combination of writing about hard-hitting reports to banging monthly playlists, and even to pieces about flat out celebrity gossip. Your widespread coverage of all topics that I am infatuated with makes all of your writing a joy for me to read. Your playfulness with parentheses, exclamation points/ question marks, and commas make your grammar/use of punctuation inspirational. Although sometimes your ostentatious word choice is, at times, obnoxious and overwhelming, my own vocabulary has grown immensely just from reading your posts. Just writing to let you know, keep up the good work. You have made writing seem not so dreadful to me with lively content and moving grammar, and I look forward to reading your work in the future.
Love,
Kyndelle
Dear Charles,
I would love to be like you. I long to have my words spill on a page like yours does, being able to articulate feelings and emotions so well on the page. Do not feel bad though, you have inspired me to take what I do very well and try and incorporate emotions and feelings into what I do. I have also learned from you a way to use what is passionate to me in the world and use it to bring awareness and knowledge through what I do. I thank you for that, another thing I like is how we agree on things for example your article on trump was perfect for describing how I felt. Your use of language and sentence structure was like a choreographed piece but in words and great syntax, I honestly can not wait to read more of your articles in the future.
Sincerely,
Jason Walker
Dear Mr. Thrasher,
Thank you for making your articles clear and informative. I always come away from your articles feeling like I have a new perspective on something. I thoroughly enjoy your interjections of ideas or comments in your writing and allows you to have a voice without taking away from the main ideas of the piece. Your brutal honesty in these comments make your work effective on an emotional level as well. An example that comes to mind is when you were criticizing Raven Symoné for her comments on the View. Your brutal honesty combined with your insightful comments on today's society made the piece very effective. I envy this skill and hope to find this balance in my own writing. Thank you for sharing your work and I look forward to read more of your work as it comes out.
Sincerely,
Andrew Pryor-Ramirez
Dear Mr. Taibbi,
I thoroughly enjoy your work. I'm always looking for a good laugh, and your articles provide a reliable source. Although I can't drink, the latest installment in your GOP Debate Drinking Game Rules was hilarious. Honestly, I don't completely understand all of the rules (mostly because I don't follow politics or the news especially closely) but they're always good for a laugh one way or the other. I also find your more argumentative articles to be good reads. Your article about Bernie Sanders the other week presented a view and then flipped it around in order to make a different point which I thought was incredibly skillful. I look forward to reading your future articles, thanks for the laughs.
Micah
Dear Caitlin,
I feel comfortable using your first name due to the fact that I've become quite familiar with you the past couple of weeks, as i have been reading your writing weekly. I've also seen you draw a smily face on your stomach and morphing your stomach to make it talk to the crowd in San Francisco.
Your writing constantly shocks me. Your humor consistently puts a smile on face while your forward tone forces me to reconsider topics such as transitioning from girlhood to womanhood.
You cover extremely relevant and important topics and force them to be noticed with your humor and inappropriate in-your-face tone. Unlike other writers, you don't tip-toe around sensitive topics, sensitively asking for them to be noticed. Rather, you force them to be noticed.
I admire your confident and daring tone and look forward to reading more of your work. You've made a fan of me.
Cheers,
Nora
Dear Mr. Ramos,
My family and I have been watching you on Univision for the past few years now. You are one of the few people I continue to look up to since my childhood. From watching you on “Al Punto” to watching you on interviews and press conferences, you have not failed to impress me with your knowledge and your critical view on the world. I recently read your piece titled “The Realm of the Superrich,” and I have to say, I am glad that you have brought up the issue of economic inequality in America. As an American citizen who lives in a low-income community in one of the richest counties in the country, it’s upsetting to see people who work multiple jobs and are still unable to maintain themselves and their family. I strongly agree with your argument that America needs to return to its roots of equal opportunities so that all families are able to attain their own American Dreams and move forward. Thank you for bringing awareness to different issues that not only impact the Latino community, but the whole world as well. I cannot wait to read your next piece!
Sincerely,
Jorge Hernandez
Dear Mr. Samenow,
I absolutely have to give you props for taking on such an unpopular subject: the weather. Based on what you have read, you have (on most occasions) successfully engaged me in your content via your language. It's funny that you have had such a passion for the weather and that you have put forth the time and effort to put language and explanations behind the weather. It's funny how most people in the DC area might actually be missing out on all of the details of the weather. Most would be simply using their Google app or Siri app on their phones to check out the weather forecast without any important details, and those people would be missing out. Because of your vivid detail on the weather, even providing nice visuals and data, you take me on a path more than simply statistics. Although your papers are not necessarily the most fun to read, I like to say that you are getting there. But for now, I'll keep reading.
Jez
Dear Joe Queenan,
You inspire me. I love that you have dominated topics from Donald Trump's policies to fancy words used to describe food. You mock the ridiculous corners of life, and I appreciate your brutal and critical honesty. I look forward to reading your column, but I feel that occasionally your writing is targeted towards adults who are committed to reading the newspaper. I would like to remind you that not all of your fans are adults who are committed to reading the newspaper; I'd love to see you talk about social media or the younger generation or how sensitive we all are. I think you are a fantastic writer with a unique perspective on life. I'm glad I found you.
Dear Mr. Cohen,
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles over the past few months. The topics you choose to write about may at first seem complex, but they are applicable to the American reader. Your dry sense of humor makes reading about seemingly uninteresting subjects pleasurable to read about. I have learned so much about politics today, foreign affairs, and even the nature of tipping. Regardless of your opinion, I find credibility in every article, as it poses great arguments to debated topics. Thank you for informing and entertaining me.
- Angus Strawbridge
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