Writing tip for the day.
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
By Lynne Truss
see related
First of all, get this book. Don't stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Get this book. Because knowing how to properly use English grammar is just one of the tools that a writer absolutely must learn to use. Like, how to use semicolons. And that you don't use semicolons in dialogue. Ever. Learn to properly use puncutation!
If you have kids, they have a great kids version.
Learn to spell. Don't rely on spellcheck. Here's why - you can use the wrong form of a word - they're, there, their, wait, weight... or scrapping when you mean scraping., teaming when you mean teeming. And you'll spell it correctly, so spellcheck won't pick it up. I do use spellcheck for long words that I'm always forgetting, like mischievous. I can never spell it right the first time.
Go and buy this book too -. Self Editing for Fiction Writers. Again, run, don't walk, to the bookstore for this. Read it. then read it again. Ditch the passive voice. Get rid of all the 'had's, 'that's and 'was's that you can. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you need those words. Just not all the time. Here's a test; take the word out and read the sentence. Does it still make sense? Is is even a little stronger, not so wishy-washy? Then leave it out. It takes practice, but you'll get the hang of when you can ditch them. Same goes for -ing and -ly words. Use as few as possible, and when you do use them, they'll be more powerful.
Learn to be your own editor, and you will stand out from the slush, and look more professional. When you sell that book, your editor and the copyeditor will thank you.
Of course you still need a great, well-written story with memorable characters, but that's for another day.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
By Lynne Truss
see related
First of all, get this book. Don't stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Get this book. Because knowing how to properly use English grammar is just one of the tools that a writer absolutely must learn to use. Like, how to use semicolons. And that you don't use semicolons in dialogue. Ever. Learn to properly use puncutation!
If you have kids, they have a great kids version.
Learn to spell. Don't rely on spellcheck. Here's why - you can use the wrong form of a word - they're, there, their, wait, weight... or scrapping when you mean scraping., teaming when you mean teeming. And you'll spell it correctly, so spellcheck won't pick it up. I do use spellcheck for long words that I'm always forgetting, like mischievous. I can never spell it right the first time.
Go and buy this book too -. Self Editing for Fiction Writers. Again, run, don't walk, to the bookstore for this. Read it. then read it again. Ditch the passive voice. Get rid of all the 'had's, 'that's and 'was's that you can. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you need those words. Just not all the time. Here's a test; take the word out and read the sentence. Does it still make sense? Is is even a little stronger, not so wishy-washy? Then leave it out. It takes practice, but you'll get the hang of when you can ditch them. Same goes for -ing and -ly words. Use as few as possible, and when you do use them, they'll be more powerful.
Learn to be your own editor, and you will stand out from the slush, and look more professional. When you sell that book, your editor and the copyeditor will thank you.
Of course you still need a great, well-written story with memorable characters, but that's for another day.