[資訊] 新科作家應如何避免「矯飾」
時常看許多人努力練習寫英文，然後今天看到這篇文章，覺得對大家有幫助，就隨手簡單
翻譯一下轉過來。
-----------------------
How Beginning Writers Can Avoid Coming Off as Pretentious
新科作家應如何避免｢矯飾」
Kevin Purdy —
凱文‧普爾帝
If you only rarely get the chance to write for a public audience, you pieces
can very well end up reading like a first-year Comparative Literature major,
eager to prove your skills and range.
如果你平時鮮少有機會寫公開性的文章，那一旦有此機會，你極可能會像文學比較班上的
大學生一樣急切希望顯露鋒芒，而過於表現。
Noted author V.S. Naipaul offers seven-step boot camp for breaking down your
writing and instilling discipline.
著名作家 V‧S‧Naipaul 提出了七項規則的｢寫作訓練營」，讓你在寫作時更能嚴謹分
析、更自律。
Naipaul, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001, states that you
can't write long sentences with big words until you know how to write with
small words, in small sentences. Each sentence, too, needs to make a clear
statement, adding to the previous statement.
2001年諾貝爾文學獎得主 Naipaul 表示，一位作家一定要先會用簡單的字寫短句，才能
用艱澀的字來造長句。同時，每一句都應以上一句為根基，清楚表達重點。
It's good advice and a refreshing tonic for those looking to remind
themselves of the fundamentals. Naipaul provides an action plan to put this
routine into place:
對那些在基礎寫作方面需要點醒的人們，這是項令人雙眼一亮的好建議。Naipaul 還提供
了一套行動計畫來協助人們鍛練這些步驟。
以下為 Naipaul ｢寫作訓練營」的七項規則：
1. Do not write long sentences. A sentence should not have more than ten or
twelve words.
別寫長句。一句話不應超過10-12個字。
2. Each sentence should make a clear statement. It should add to the
statement that went before. A good paragraph is a series of clear, linked
statements.
每一句話都應清楚陳述其重點，並與前句有所連結或補充。一個好的段落是由一系列清楚
且連貫的句子所構成的。
3. Do not use big words. If your computer tells you that your average word is
more than five letters long, there is something wrong. The use of small words
compels you to think about what you are writing. Even difficult ideas can be
broken down into small words.
別用艱澀的字。如果電腦顯示你每字的平均字元數超過5，那就一定有問題。用簡單的短
字會逼你去仔細思考你想寫的內容。許多難以理解的想法其實是能以短字表達的。
4. Never use words whose meaning you are not sure of. If you break this rule
you should look for other work.
別用任何你不確定其意義的字。如果違犯這一條，那你還是另謀高就較好。
5. The beginner should avoid using adjectives, except those of colour, size
and number. Use as few adverbs as possible.
新科作家應避免使用形容詞，除了顏色、大小、及數量之類。盡量少用副詞。
6. Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.
新科作家應避抽像而趨具體。
7. Every day, for six months at least, practice writing in this way. Small
words; short, clear, concrete sentences. It may be awkward, but it’s
training you in the use of language. It may even be getting rid of the bad
language habits you picked up at the university. You may go beyond these
rules after you have thoroughly understood and mastered them.
花至少六個月時間每天練習這樣寫作：用簡單短字，寫清楚且具體的短句。一開始可能會
感覺很不便，但這會訓練你使用語言的能力，甚至能讓你擺脫一些求學時得到的壞習慣。
你得先清楚了解這些規則並能將其運用自如，才能開始跳脫這些規則。
來源：
http://lifehacker.com/#!5795318/how-to-avoid-coming-off-as-pretentious-as-a-beginning-writer
http://www.indiauncut.com/iublog/article/vs-naipauls-advice-to-writers-rules-for-beginners/
--
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet, You're a slave to money then you die
-Bittersweet Symphony, The Verve
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 70.166.3.190
推
04/26 17:10, , 1F
04/26 17:10, 1F
推
04/26 20:10, , 2F
04/26 20:10, 2F
推
09/28 15:35, , 3F
09/28 15:35, 3F