OT Meta Q: Finding post where Brian talks about writing

Submitted by BrewCityBlue on

I've searched the site numerous ways and can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Hoping for a Christmas Eve miracle from my MGoBrethren. If this is completely inappropriate then please delete and kick me in the MGoPoints. I've had this question for weeks and have waited to post at a slow time. 

Brian once wrote a post (i think it was something on the front page, maybe in a UV, but it's possible it was just a comment) where he talked about his writing. 

I believe i remember him talking about writing, his writing style, giving some tips on writing, mentioning a favorite author or two, etc. 

I enjoy writing, and have begun doing some small things to see how it goes. Brian is one of my favorite people to read, and I'm trying to improve so I was hoping to find this content that I remember reading at some point but haven't been able to find. 

Thanks to anyone that can help me out. It's appreciated. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, and a big thanks to everyone making this site what it is. 

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sheepdog

December 24th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^

I remember what you are talking about and i wouldn't mind reading this again.  Brian has a unique writing style I have not seen anywhere else.  I have used his tips as well. Don't know where this post is this though. It was definitely sometime post joining the board, so after summer 2011.

Joined: 06/15/2011

MGoPoints: 3277

LJ

December 24th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^

Read some David Foster Wallace and you'll be like, "oh, that's where Brian gets it from."  And that's a big, big compliment to Brian.

I particularly recommend Roger Federer as Religious Experience (which brian quotes in the linked piece), Consider the Lobster, and 9/11: The View from the Midwest (Which I think is where Brian got the idea to name the App State game "The Horror").

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 18306

BrewCityBlue

December 24th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^

This is it I believe.

I was actually remembering 2 things and melding them in my brain as 1 subconsciously.

This UV after Terry Pratchett's passing, as well as the post mentioned by Bacon which I searched for and found the main quote I was thinking of (Brian judges his writing by how many adverbs he edits out), were what I was thinking of. 

Thanks to all for the help!

Merry Christmas!

 

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 2336

Wolverine 98284

December 24th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^

Interesting!

I read a writing advice article (once, really I did) and the author, acting as editor, replaced every 'very' with 'damn' (or something stronger).  Then he reedited and found all the damns and, well, you cannot swear in print so they were X'd out.  Now the sentence was much better.

Joined: 11/28/2008

MGoPoints: 374

bacon

December 24th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^

There was also a post where he talked about his style in reference to how different TomVH was (in the past year). It may have been more about editing than writing though. In a similar vein, I've always wondered, but I don't think I've searched for, a post Brian wrote about Lloyd Carr believing in out executing the opponent and how that might not be enough. It was related to the very first coaching search and I've often thought about that idea since with a clear lack of out executing the opponent in the post-Carr years (this year not necessarily included). I don't disagree with the point I remember Brian making, I just think it would be interesting to reread that post in light of how badly we under executed with RRod and Hoke.

Joined: 01/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18645