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A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

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GK responds to queries on topics from childbearing to potato salad, with a little bookstore fetish in between.

Send your own post to the host.
Here's your chance to ask GK your most pressing questions—about the writing life, the radio life, Lake Wobegon, Guy Noir, whatever you like. Also, feel free to send feedback about the show. Honest comments and criticism are always welcome!



SOUNDS GOOD TO ME

Post to the Host:
I am a college student and I write a lot because my mind stores up things. So I write about everything. But I still don't know if I like how I write. I have no real critiques except from the dog, but he never goes into details. How do you know if something is good or not?


Nathaniel C.
Carrollton, TX

You don't know, Nathaniel, but you can guess and one good way to measure your work is to read it aloud. Read it to yourself. You'll be able to hear the awkward or pretentious parts and detect gaps in the narrative and problems of logic. And then, after you rewrite it, try reading it to somebody else. Somebody other than the dog. They probably won't even have to say a word—you can hear what's wrong yourself. The basis of writing is one person telling another person a story, and it's always good to go back to basics.

Comments (1)

Good advice.

But, remember even if it's a good
story or research paper or other
kinds of writing, there are some
people who are so contrary they will
never like it.
That's their problem...
Sandy
San Clemente



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