YouLookFab Forum » Topic: YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:46:33 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Aziraphale on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532886 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:35:59 +0000 Aziraphale 532886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh Claire, I should never have said anything! When I reply on a thread, I do so quickly -- whatever comes off the top of my head -- and sometimes I realize too late that I've put my foot in my mouth. I don't want to make people feel self-conscious, or to discourage anyone from writing. The fact that people don't hesitate to write is one of the great achievements of e-mail, blogging and instant messaging. Prior to this technology, writing so much as a letter seemed like a major effort, and few took the time to do it. Now that we are able to write so often, and with such immediate feedback, it doesn't seem so daunting. We bang off messages all the time. This is a great thing. The drawback, of course, (and there's always a drawback with any new technology) is that so much unedited writing can be viewed publicly that the general quality of writing has diminished. I used to hear English teachers bemoan their own dwindling spelling and grammar skills. They blamed it on the quantity of student essays they had to read, which are usually peppered with errors. It becomes hard to recognize the correct spelling of a word when you've seen it misspelled hundreds of times! So having said that, I apologize for being an insufferable stickler. Everybody's writing is fabulous. Carry on. crwilson on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532497 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:16:29 +0000 crwilson 532497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, although I still don't feel like I'm a "real" writer. I'm an English professor, and so I've published critical essays, of course, but my passion is creative nonfiction and fiction. I'm looking for an agent for my first novel and writing my second something - some strange mishmash of fiction and creative nonfiction. Thanks for starting this thread Suz! Ornella on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532312 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:04:46 +0000 Ornella 532312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Should I or should I not.... declare myself as the aspirational one? My teacher had noticed my, let's put it that way, love for words long ago and encouraged me to try writing for the school paper. I was even the editor in the secondary school. My education and profession, however, are strictly technical and with no real exposure to writing as the form of expressing myself. That's why lamenting on this forum is a much needed creative outlet for me and I surprise even myself with how long and winding, but hopefully still focused, my posts come across sometimes... more like chatting with friends over a cup of warm drink ;-) I am thinking about taking a creative writing course btw. I just love how people use words, which is why I too enjoy immensely reading so many wonderful write ups here, and I'd like to tame and structure my own written words some day. Ornella on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532307 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:01:11 +0000 Ornella 532307@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ .double post. sorry Anonymous on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532248 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:26:17 +0000 Anonymous 532248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm late to the game, but I'm a technical writer and serious reader: 20+ books a month...my dad always says I should write Michelle on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-532220 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:09:05 +0000 Michelle 532220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just wanted to add my thumbs up and higih fives to all my fellow writers here. Who knew so many aspiring style mavens were also scribes. It really is a fascinating link. And Angie, echoing the others. Y ou are a writer and that's all there is to it. Your prose don't sound remotely laboured, and I can't emphasize enough what a gift that is. You convey charm and personality through your writing, which is worth more than all the witty wordplay in the world. Debby on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-531691 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:12:23 +0000 Debby 531691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm late to this thread, but I too am an editor and writer. Have my journalism and library science degrees, and wrote articles for library trade journals. After that, I moved on to a scholarly publishing company where I was an acquisitions editor for over ten years. When our company was bought out, I was laid off, and am still looking for a full-time editing position. In the meantime, I do freelance editing and writing, both fiction and nonfiction, for companies or individuals. Still hoping to write a novel someday too. :) It's so fun to discover there are so many of us here!! Anonymous on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-531672 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:28:28 +0000 Anonymous 531672@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fern posted such a helpful quote. I really appreciate that. @ Elisabeth: Thank you for clearing up the it's vs. its rule. I knew I was breaking it all the time and couldn't remember which application got the appostrophe! I *think* I've got it now....and feel free to PM me a grammar lesson! Suz on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-531263 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:58:27 +0000 Suz 531263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And Patty, you have a true comedic gift. I think your posts are some of the funniest on the forum! Patty on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/4#post-531258 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:54:28 +0000 Patty 531258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm not a writer---but I like to pace and figure out how to to fill the dialogue balloons of life. I think in comic strips--even tho I don't draw so much anymore. Suz on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531232 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:22:38 +0000 Suz 531232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow! Just checking back this afternoon and I am floored by the number of responses! I KNEW there were a lot of us here, but had no idea how very many! Saretta, I think you make an excellent point; it is probably that those of us who write particularly appreciate the conversational atmosphere here. I know that is a huge part of the draw for me, personally. Especially conversing with so many stylish and thoughtful women! I couldn't agree more about Angie being a true writer (whether she thinks she's one or not!) Janet, I'm not at all surprised to learn that you are as experienced with words as with images. Marley, somehow I knew you must write fiction! Lisa, yay for medical writers!! (I come from a medical family and so feel a kinship with that profession, too, and can imagine enjoying medical writing if I did it.) Velvety Chocolate...I love that this post got you thinking about your commitment to writing. I say, if it is something that you always do through all your changes, then it really does seem to be a genuine part of you. What to do with that knowledge is hard to say, but I guess I'd ask...do you want to go more public? If so, you might start thinking about how. Fern, I LOVE that quote; it is so so true. And we're all, always, beginners. Girl X: you GO!! Crossing fingers that you publish something soon, and please let us know! Kate and Kyle: Yay!! You, too!! Elisabeth, I know what you mean. I have a friend who made some funny fridge magnets about her grammar obsessions. She calls the series: Why Editors Have No Friends: <a href="http://www.sarahleavitt.com/category/comics-and-writing/comics/why-editors-have-no-friends/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sarahleavitt.com/ca.....o-friends/</a> (Of course I share her obsession, so I'm still her friend...) But I also sympathize with our members who are writing in a second (or third) language and think they ROCK!! Rhubarbgirl (Laura) congratulations!! So happy for you, and I know this is going to be an exciting development. Krish, waving happily at you!! Mander: academic writing certainly counts. Laura and Inge, you are our two most visible professional writers here! We're lucky to have you grace the forum. Jonesy, I love what you say here: Writing is my favourite part of the job and defines who I am. High five! Aziraphale on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531212 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:38:29 +0000 Aziraphale 531212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm pretty sure that if you write for a living, you are a writer, whether or not you like the process. Which writer was it who famously said that he didn't like writing, but he liked having written? It's a good quote, and probably rings true for a lot of people. In any case, Angie, you are a very good writer, despite your insistence that you don't like to do it. We wouldn't enjoy your blog so much if it wasn't this awesome! Jonesy on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531192 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:56:05 +0000 Jonesy 531192@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fun and interesting thread, Suz! Angie, you are *so* a writer--a very gifted one at that! Just thinking about your tribute posts, to your Mum for example, gives me a little chill. You manage to accurately convey your personal warmth and expertise through your writing, and you touch people and help them move forward with their own goals. I mean, what more could a writer ask for? I am a writer/scholar as part of my job as a professor at a research university. A very big part of my job is writing, and reading/editing others' writing. Writing is absolutely my favorite part of the job (vs. teaching and the dreaded service obligations to the department), and defines who I am. Irene on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531186 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:48:46 +0000 Irene 531186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm pretty good in Spanish. English, not so much! Angie on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531154 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:26:12 +0000 Angie 531154@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ smiling @ Elisabeth :). You crack me up. Scarlet, thank you. Laura, Inge and Steph, luckily all those years of standing in the corner in primary school for being an *incessant chatterbox* did not have it's desired effect. My late Mum always said: "Angelique is niet op haar mondje gevallen" - which translated from Dutch means "Angelique did not fall on her mouth". I'll give you that much sweet Laura, Inge and Steph - I can gab with the best of them. (Hugs to you), mrseccentric on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531139 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:16:22 +0000 mrseccentric 531139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A while back. We will get thru eventually. mrseccentric on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531135 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:14:22 +0000 mrseccentric 531135@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Laura and Inge-i had same convo w Angie Saretta on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531083 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:31:38 +0000 Saretta 531083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I guess I'm a writer, too, although my oficial job titles are teacher/translator. I teach academic writing skills at the university level and I translate documents (mostly academic research, but I have done a bit of everything) from Italian to English. I have a degree in journalism and worked briefly both in radio journalism and print advertising. I have two blogs (both in momentary hibernation, due to time constraints) and I write travel/cultural tidbit articles for an Italian travel agency's blog. Maybe it's not that writers are necessarily connected to fashion, but that people who write are attracted to the conversational, expressive nature of this site/forum. I love that this is a place where ideas about fashion are discussed. In addition to trends, brands, and outfits, Angie asks us to think about what fashion means on so many levels. That's what gives this site an edge up on the thousands of other fashion blogs, in my opinion. Inge on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531042 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:43:48 +0000 Inge 531042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The sheer amount of talent on the YLF forum - writing and other - never ceases to amaze me. It's just brilliant! Thank you, Laura, for the "Angie intervention", I was about to do the same thing. We are on the same page here!-) Angie: I agree 200% with Laura's definition of "writer", and everything else in her very astute comment. Finding your voice can be very hard, and many writers would kill to sound as natural and engaging as you. You also have a knack for explaining concepts clearly and concisely - also not as easy as it sounds. I write magazine articles, and work as an editor, copywriter and (book) translator. And recently I started contributing to YLF as well;-) - Thank you Nancy and Angie, your comments mean a lot to me. - Suz and Natalie: I would definitely read that anthology:-) Nakidra on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531017 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:38:36 +0000 Nakidra 531017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ MaryK already did the shout out to us lawyers - thanks! I feel like being more casual and abbreviated here because I write and speak to people all day long. This is a release for me so I think it's okay to be short and sweet the occasional typo or grammar mistake. Laura on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531016 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:37:48 +0000 Laura 531016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Okay, Angie, I need to perform an intervention here. Perhaps it's our definitions of "writer" that differ. In my mind: You write, therefore you are a writer. And I would venture to guess that 1) You write more than a lot of people who call themselves writers actually do; and 2) You are read by many more people too!! You know I say this with all the best warmest fuzziest feelings for you, my fellow writer Angie. xoxo p.s. Writing as you speak is called "voice" and some writers struggle for years to find it. You are blessed with the gift of gab and it translates directly to the written word. Another clue that you are a writer! Welcome to the club. Mochi on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531009 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:30:29 +0000 Mochi 531009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I haven't had my coffee yet and fear that inevitably I'm leaving people out, but per Angie's latest comment, I wanted to say that for example, Inge's and Astrid's command of English--not just technically correct, but completely natural and comfortable and "native"-sounding--is truly astonishing. ButterflyLady on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531008 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:30:23 +0000 ButterflyLady 531008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Not a writer, but I enjoy writing. Apart from the assignments for my final module for my degree - if I didn't have to grapple with Actor-Network Theory and difficult psychoanalytic and sociological ideas and perspectives at the same time as writing, I'd be fine! Janet on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-531001 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:21:41 +0000 Janet 531001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh Elisabeth, I need that support group too! Especially when I'm on Facebook. I say this even though I know errors slip through in my posts all the time. I mostly log in here on my iPad, and autocorrect is often helpful, but sometimes definitely not! Mander on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530978 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:04:26 +0000 Mander 530978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I suppose I am as well, in a sense, as I've spent the last 10 years or so writing first my MA thesis and then my PhD, plus assorted papers and presentations along the way. I do a bit of freelance editing, too, although I don't have any formal training so it has mainly been friends of friends who need help with their English. This does seem like a great networking opportunity for all of us who are interested in writing and editing, though! Is anybody else looking for a job, or do they know someone who is looking for an editor/writer? Seems like we have a good pool of people to draw on! krishnidoux on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530964 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:50:42 +0000 krishnidoux 530964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jumping in late: I am a writer too. Scarlet on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530929 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:05:02 +0000 Scarlet 530929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ah, that is an interesting tip to write about something else when you are stuck. I will give that a try next time. The truth is I have to write a lot for my work (technical writing). I just find it painful. Terribly painful. I love to read though. Hmm, well if Angie is not a writer she is certainly a fantastic communicator. Aziraphale on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530926 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:02:28 +0000 Aziraphale 530926@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LOL Angie, that wasn't a criticism of other people, it was a criticism of myself! I twitch internally when I see goofs, even when I know there's a good reason. And even though I make plenty of goofs myself. I wish there were a "relax and enjoy the ride" filter that I could put on. :-) ETA: Aaaaand I just caught your deliberate typo. You have a sly and dry sense of humour! Thanks for the best joke of the evening. Off to bed now for me! Angie on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530924 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:56:56 +0000 Angie 530924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, thanks for being a honey. While it's an understandable eye sore for some to read grammatical mistakes and typos, please remember that there are plenty of people on this forum who are not writing in their mother tongue. It's impresses me no end how well those forum members express themselves in English, and I would never want to discourage that. Aziraphale on "YLF Writers, Come out of the Closet: Declare yourselves here!" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ylf-writers-come-out-of-the-closet-declare-yourselves-here/page/3#post-530915 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:45:30 +0000 Aziraphale 530915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Aaaaaaa! Laura! You're making my eyelid twitch! Must -- scan -- into -- Photoshop -- and -- fix -- sign.... Scarlet, same goes for me. Although my fingers itch to fix other people's errors when I see them, I make my own all the time. Note to everyone: please feel free to correct me when I make a glaring mistake! I am not proud!