Chapter 10 -14
Summary
Chapter 10 (Bits & Pieces):
Verbs: use active verbs more.
Adverbs and adjectives: Most are unnecessary because they have repetitive meanings with verbs and nouns.
Little qualifiers: They dilute a writer's style and persuasiveness.
Punctuation: A primer in writing.
Mood changes: Try to make mood changes in sentences that can save words and confusions.
Contractions: They can show a writer's personality but do not invent constractions that can not be found in the dictionary.
That and which: Always use "that" unless it makes your meaning ambiguous. "which" serves a particular identifying function, different from "that".
Concept nouns: They are cold in sentences.
Creeping nounism: If one noun or one verb can express things clearly then do not use creeping nounism.
Overstatement: Do not exaggerate one droll point.
Credibility: Don not write bogus statements.
Diction: Dictated sentences are tend to be pompous, sloppy and redundant.
Writing is not a contest: Compete with yourself and move studiously toward your goal.
The subconscious mind: Your subconscious mind does more than writing and it percolates for a long time.
The Quickest fix: Try to delete the difficult part in a sentence.
Paragraphs: Keep your paragraph short but not tiny.
chapter 11 (Nonfiction as literature): No matter fiction or nonfiction, writers must follow their hearts.
chapter 12 ( Writing about people———The interview）: Writing about people with humanity, warmth and truth.
Chapter 13 (Writing About Places——The Travel Article): Travel writing needs fresh words and images in style and useful and significant details in substance.
Chapter 14 (Writing About Yourself—The Memoir): We need to narrow our focus and write something true but unique to show our personalities in memoir.
Words and Expressions
1 scrap n. 小片 （就是标题中的pieces）
morsels n. 少量 （就是标题中的bits）
2 dilute v. 削弱，降低
whittle away这里也是削弱，降低的含义
3 knead into揉捏成
4 vexing adj. 使人烦恼的 （和后文中出现的“bothersome”是一个含义）
5 makeshift adj. 权宜之计的
6 cumbersome adj. 麻烦的，累赘的
7 be infested with 充满着
8 elapsed adj. 消逝的 （passed）
9 strenuous adj. 热烈的, 激烈的
10 preponderance n. （数量上的）优势
11 canonize v. 推崇，把......奉为圣徒
12 dismal adj. 忧郁的;阴沉的，惨淡的，凄凉的
13 muse vi. 沉思，冥想
14 multitudes n. 大量， 众多
15 platitude n. 老生常谈 （cliche）
16 constellation n. 一系列（相关的事物和想法）
17 custodian n. 看守人，管理员
18 embarke on 从事，着手
19 prattle v. 东拉西扯
20 wrestle with 与...搏斗
Thoughts
今年暑假去了日本镰仓，买了江之电的一日周游券，就是途径每一站都可以下去游玩观光。有那么一站好像除了日本学生和当地居民会下站外，就是中国观光客了——镰仓高校站前。第一次知道这个地方是从朋友圈看来的，同学在经过的电车前拍了一张照，旁边还配了一张《灌篮高手》的片尾曲《走到世界尽头》的场景。如果不是童年记忆里有《灌篮高手》，那么下站后一定像我一样，满怀期待却内心平静。满怀期待是因为这是国人镰仓之旅必去打卡地点，我期待的是可以发朋友圈。内心平静是因为那的确是风景宜人却又着实普通。如果不是因为《灌篮高手》，这里真的不会有人为此停留。说实在的，来这里抓拍电车经过模仿《灌篮高手》片尾曲场景的游客中有多少人是看过这部动画的呢？至少，我没有。看着一些被爸爸妈妈带来拍照的孩子更是一脸茫然，不知道为什么有那么多叔叔阿姨，哥哥姐姐在这炙热的午后站在轨道的一侧拍了一张又一张背景里有电车经过的照片。其实，我虽然知道原因但也觉得好笑，因为我觉得里面大多数的人应该和我一样纯粹是来打卡拍照的。
直到上周在朋友圈看到一篇转载的文章《去镰仓吧，铁轨的另一端有你的青春》才明白有些人不仅仅是来拍照打卡的。文中作者回忆小时候一放学连书包都没放下就打开电视看《灌篮高手》，而这部漫画对作者影响深远。所以作者认为那些看着这部动画片长大的孩子会爱屋及乌来到镰仓，看一看梦开始的地方。所以在镰仓高校站前的十字路口，每天都有无数人在等，一些人是在等电车经过拍照，而一些人是在等他们逝去的青春。
当一个地方和自己有所联结，那我们所看到的，所感受到的便不再是这个地方本身而是我们自己。
