And so it begins!
I've been reading erotic fiction for well over a decade now, mostly of the gay male variety. Before that, I was an avid reader of books - mostly science fiction and fantasy. That's more than twenty years of recreational reading, but it wasn't until two years ago that I started writing. Admittedly, the stories I've posted aren't complete - the main one has sat untouched for a year now, and the other almost twice that.
But I have been reading this whole time. I'm a fast reader, as well, so I go through stories like nothing.
And over the years, I've noticed some regular errors authors tend to make - everything from typos to spelling errors to misplaced (or missing) punctuation. I've put together a writer's guide, to help smooth out some of those errors. I realize writing fanficion (or even original works to be posted on the internet) isn't college-level writing, but there are some basic rules that, when followed, would make a story much better.
Normally, I lurk on AFF (adultfanfiction.net), but I wasn't sure where to put this. And so I made a LJ account, just to have somewhere to preview it. I'm posting these in backwards order, so you can read them right.
Keep in mind, I am not an English major, and it's been more than twelve years since I took basic English classes in high school. While I remember the main rules, I probably don't remember all the proper terms.
Chapter 1 - Basics
In which we learn some of the core rules for writing.
Chapter 2 - Homonyms
In which we learn 'homo' shouldn't always make you giggle, and discover the difference between words that are spelled or sound similar.
Chapter 3 - That's what she said!
In which we learn there are more ways for people to talk than simply 'said'.
Chapter 4 - Other bits
In which we learn some other things that don't get their own chapters. Poor other things.
But I have been reading this whole time. I'm a fast reader, as well, so I go through stories like nothing.
And over the years, I've noticed some regular errors authors tend to make - everything from typos to spelling errors to misplaced (or missing) punctuation. I've put together a writer's guide, to help smooth out some of those errors. I realize writing fanficion (or even original works to be posted on the internet) isn't college-level writing, but there are some basic rules that, when followed, would make a story much better.
Normally, I lurk on AFF (adultfanfiction.net), but I wasn't sure where to put this. And so I made a LJ account, just to have somewhere to preview it. I'm posting these in backwards order, so you can read them right.
Keep in mind, I am not an English major, and it's been more than twelve years since I took basic English classes in high school. While I remember the main rules, I probably don't remember all the proper terms.
Chapter 1 - Basics
In which we learn some of the core rules for writing.
- Capitalization
- Punctuation
- Character speech
- Paragraphs
- Tenses
- Point of View
- Abbreviation
- Numbers
Chapter 2 - Homonyms
In which we learn 'homo' shouldn't always make you giggle, and discover the difference between words that are spelled or sound similar.
Chapter 3 - That's what she said!
In which we learn there are more ways for people to talk than simply 'said'.
Chapter 4 - Other bits
In which we learn some other things that don't get their own chapters. Poor other things.