English and Writing Have little to Do with Each Other.

[Ernie Zelinski]

When I was enrolled in the Engineering program at the University of Alberta, I failed English three years in a row. In fact, I received the lowest mark possible on a grading curve of "1" to "9." The reason that I received a "1" three years in a row was that the University didn't offer anything lower.

When people asked me how I did in English, I would respond, "I aced it again with a "1." It came to a point where the Dean of Engineering wouldn't let me enter fourth year of Engineering unless I passed the English course. I finally passed the course with an impressive grade of "5" in summer school.

Ironically, I have ended up being a writer for a good part of my adult life. I often say that by the time I realized how bad of a writer I was, I was too successful at it to quit.

Fact is, having failed English for writers is not as uncommon as you may think. Here are four authors much more successful than me who also failed English:

• Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent and The Burden of Proof, failed English in his freshman year at New Trier High School. Nevertheless, he eventually attended Amherst College, earned a law degree at Harvard and became a bestselling author.
• Although not an author in the strictest sense of the word, "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schultz, not only failed English at Central High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, he failed algebra, Latin, and physics. Schultz's cartoons were turned down by the school's yearbook staff. Moreover, after taking a cartoon drawing course by correspondence, Schultz's job application for a cartoonist's position at Walt Disney studios was rejected.
• Brilliant British playwright Noel Coward, creator of worldly comedies such as Hay Fever, Private Lives, and Blithe Spirit, never graduated from grammar school.
• American writer Leon Uris, bestselling author of historical novels including Exodus, Battle Cry, and Trinity, failed English three times at Philadelphia's John Bartram High School.

So what does this mean? Leon Uris summed it up quite adequately when he declared, "English and writing have little to do with each other." In the same vein, and contrary to popular believe, the level of education, natural talent, and available opportunity have little to do with the amount of success any individual can attain in this world.

Inspirational Quotes — Writers at Work

If you want to be a writer — stop talking about it and sit down and write!

— Jackie Collings

Write drunk; edit sober.
— Ernest Hemingway

I'm a lousy writer; a helluva lot of people have got lousy taste.
— Grace Metalious

When I had got my notes all written out I thought I'd polish it off in two summers, but it took me twenty-seven years.
— Arnold Toynbee

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The Retirement Gifts Cafe

[James Waters AKA. NineSpeed]

Great write. I agree, I think if something is important to a person, That person will find a way to make it happen. And with time and patience that person will become quite good at their endeavor. And maybe one day with perseverance I will learn to spell with out using spell check. Just kidding. well written and very informative. keep them comming