WHEN A BOOK HITS THE SPOT
Most of the time, when I mine material for my articles and it comes from my reading material, it’s when I find things wrong with what I’m seeing. How about when things are right? What is it about when you read a book and love it? What are the things that resonate with you, that put that smile on your face when you close it after the last page? What makes you wish the story hadn’t ended?
I can’t speak for all of you. All I can do is speak not only for myself, but from anecdotal evidence from others I’ve polled throughout the years. As a reader and a writer, even though I initially write for myself, as I’ve honed my skills, I’ve always done it keeping in mind that others might want to read my stuff. I want to present it in the most palatable way possible. That means taking as many of the good things I see and incorporating them into what I write as possible.
CHARACTERS
One of the first things out of a lot of writer’s mouths, and a lot of readers, is characters. Those with a literary bent think it’s all about the characters and little else. In genre fiction, the characters are important but the plot drives things and the characters react to it. However, regardless of which way you go, all characters have to be interesting.
Some say the best characters are the ones the reader can relate to. To be honest, I say bull because that’s not the correct word. I don’t think I’ve ever read a genre fiction story with a character that was in any way shape or form anything like me. Ever. Not even close. Only in the vaguest terms could I relate to any character as in we’re both Americans? We might both be male. That’s about it. Does that mean now that I’ll hate all books now? Give me a break!
How about likability? Now that’s something I can relate to that has nothing to do with whether I’m similar to the character or not. A character may be completely different from me, which they always are, but can be quite likable. That’s someone I can care about and develop an emotional investment in. That’s worth something.
While I cannot specifically relate to any of the characters I read about, there may be some intangible thread there that makes any character relatable, in a way. Maybe the character has the same moral code as I do. Maybe he or she likes the same food I do, or the same movies or music. The other traits, personality, background and everything else can be completely alien, but there can be that one thing that writers and readers might call that “relatable” thing. I’d still prefer likable and I don’t have to relate to the character at all. I just have to like them.
The character can and should have a sense of humor. Even in the worst circumstances, a minor joke or a bit of irony is all it takes to show something to give the character a bit of variety.
I’m not into superheroes. I say that in the broadest terms, not just the comic book ones, but the protagonists, male or female that perform impossible feats. A balance of believable traits is just fine. When the author stretches things too far, I start to lose interest. The exception would be fantasy because in that genre, all bets are off. However, even then, the author has to stick with the rules of their own world.
When the character is well-balanced, I’m all in and that’s the first plus in any good book.
ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere can be light, dark or in-between. However, the thing that makes a story interesting and that hits the spot for me and many people is a bit of variety. Even though the main theme could be dark for instance, if the entire story is dark and dreary with no light moments, that gets to be a bit much. The same for a light story with nothing serious. With no variety, the story takes on a kind of monotone feel to it.
The stories that always hit the spot for me have a little of both, regardless of the main theme.
PLOT
To me, there’s nothing worse than a plot with no twists. Going from point A to B in a straight line smacks of routine. Life usually doesn’t work that way and neither should any story. Seeing as how fiction exaggerates real life anyway, you want a story to exaggerate those plot lines as well.
However…wild and convoluted plot lines that are too busy and sub-plots that go nowhere only confuse things and leave lots of noise. They leave the final outcome fuzzy.
When the A to B has a good solid plot with plenty, but not too many twists and turns, and all of them are tied into the main plot and make sense, that’s gold.
WRITING STYLE – INCLUDING POINT OF VIEW
The writing style is a critical element to whether I’ll enjoy the substance. How the author conveys that story is very important.
First is point of view. For you all that have been reading me a while, you know that I only read third-person. If you’re okay with first-person or third-person omniscient, then POV isn’t an issue. To me, it’s a huge issue and before I’ll read any book, I always scan the pages first to determine whether the book is in the proper POV.
Tense. Some authors like to write in present tense. I despise that. I find present tense unreadable and will almost throw the book back on the shelf. If you are okay with that, fine. Not me.
Literary bent. Some authors like to ramble on. I hate that. When I look through the book and find solid words with no space, little dialogue and lots of half to whole page paragraphs, I know this author likes to ramble. To me, a great story is one where the author gets to the point. That means the story moves, the author takes just enough time to give adequate description and background to the places and characters so I, the reader can fill in my own blanks. Then they move on.
That, folks is gold!
OUTCOME
This is the point where it all comes together. The final outcome. No matter what comes before, no matter how good the rest of the book is, if the author disappoints with the final outcome, it negates the rest of it. The payoff is the whole point of spending all that emotional investment and time into this story, not to mention the money on the book!
I don’t read to get bummed out. I don’t read to see the hero die. I’m a glass is half full type person.
Some people love that emotional tug when the hero dies, for a good cause or for a doomed whatever.
I’m not one of them. When that happens, or when the hero or heroes (heroines) die for stupid reasons it pisses me off. I felt I’ve wasted my money and time. It completely ruins the experience. I’m not alone in this either.
However, like I said, there are those that love this kind of stuff. Stephen King is a big advocate and that’s one reason I usually avoid any book he endorses. I’ve been burned before!
To me, the hero, heroes or heroines must prevail in the end. If that happens, the story is gold. It hits the spot.
I just read a great book that had all of these elements. Sure, there were a few minor quirks, but overall, it was good to go. Lately, I haven’t had such a great streak because I’ve been trying a lot of new authors. Then again, that’s the point. My favorites can only put out so many books.
When I get one of those great books and it hits the spot, I really do close the book with a smile on my face, and a bit of sadness knowing the story had to end. I wish there was just a bit more. Now that’s a great book!
Happy writing!
THE ELUSIVE REVIEW – VOLUNTARY REVIEWS
In my article last September called Soliciting Reviews, I talked about trying to obtain pre-release reviews. I also talked about getting “professional” reviews once the book is released. You know, developing buzz.
Let’s just say, that’s not as easy as it sounds and can end up costing much more than you may ever generate in sales, especially with what you’ll end get in royalties if you don’t have a best-seller.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS
As hard as I tried, I ran across so many issues that I pretty much gave up, at least aggressive-wise with trying to elicit professional reviews. Why?
First off, don’t believe when they tell you “free reviews.” They almost never are. Once you delve into them, there’s always some fee either to pay the reviewer or to become a member of their site or their group “or something” so you can elicit their “unguaranteed” review. Yeah, right.
Second, there are free reviewers out there. However, what I found is that either they’re overloaded, they don’t take your genre, or their daughter is going through a divorce and they have to stop all work while they straighten everything out for their baby bla bla bla. You know the story.
Third. There are free reviewers who would love your book except they give no guarantee they’ll review it. Sure, send it in. In fact, send in two copies. However, to get their “premium service with a priority and a guaranteed review,” it costs $200. That tells me that the only ones that actually get read are… Not only that, but I’ve never even heard of this place and neither has anyone else I’ve ever talked to.
Fourth. In a fit of inspiration, I wrote every newspaper in every town I’ve ever lived in. I tried using the personal connection angle. That’s a fair amount of towns. I got back one response telling me they’d pass it on to the correct editor (in that case they had no proper editor listed on their site). I never heard a word from any of the others.
Fifth. There are some high profile publications out there that do book reviews all the time. Entertainment Weekly is a good example. However, ahem…the books they choose to review are what I call the snooty literary ones that I would never read. I don’t want to insult or demean anyone, that’s not the issue here. The issue is that every book they review is highbrow and they would never stoop to the level of reviewing a genre book, especially from some schlub unknown author. There are a few other periodicals I also read and it’s pretty much the same thing. All literary and no genre fiction. The chances of any of us genre writers getting widespread coverage in one of those is almost non-existent unless we can fork out maybe twenty to thirty grand for an ad page, which I’ve seen a few genre fiction authors do. Sorry, folks. I don’t have that kind of cash lying around.
So, I have to depend on individuals who have actually read the book. Independent people, who aren’t necessarily friends and relatives. The public who I don’t have control over.
VOLUNTARY REVIEWS
Since Treasure Of The Umbrunna went live on November 30, 2015, I’ve done the dance like every other new published author, whether they want to admit it or not. I’ve watched my numbers on Amazon jump up and take the ever-depressing nosedive.
Folks, the book does sell. It may not be setting the world on fire yet, but the day is young.
I’ve also encouraged people that I met and have sold copies to and autographed to please do a review on Amazon.
Oh…kay. Getting people to do a review is like getting blood out of a turnip, cliché intended. Very few people, whether using Amazon or not do reviews. Even if they do, some might be blocked because I found out a nasty little surprise. If you happen to link your social media pages to Amazon and they find out you know the author, Amazon will block you from every doing reviews of anyone you know! I don’t know if that’s the case with me not getting reviews, but if so, I wish I could tell every person to de-link their social media from Amazon!
I’ve never linked them together and never will. I never saw a need to do that in the first place.
RESULTS
There’s a thing about Amazon. If you get, I think it’s twenty-five reviews, they put your book in a certain advertising level on their site. Your book will pop up in certain search areas. If you get fifty reviews, it goes to another level and shows up more.
Folks, as much as I’d love to get professional reviews, which would help me get in the library system, for one, I’d probably sell more books if people on Amazon could see that book cover pop up when they access the site! A lot more people access Amazon than read obscure book reviews!
So far, I can’t really complain. As of this writing, I have five reviews and all of them are five-star. Not bad at all! One of them is a top five-hundred reviewer too.
The thing is that I’ve sold way more than five books. If everyone I sold a book to reviewed it, I’d be in at least that next Amazon category.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
All of this I’m going through is food for thought for you, either for your future or what you’re going through right now. Maybe you’ve had better luck. Maybe not. More reviews usually mean more book sales, even if not all of them are stellar. It at least puts you in a different advertising category.
Happy writing!
FOCUSING ON THE BAD GUYS
I guess there are some people that just love bummer stories. I know Stephen King does. That’s one reason I tend to avoid any book with his endorsement on it. I’ve been burned too many times when I’ve seen his blurb saying how much he loved a book only to find out the hero, or heroes all die in the end. For those of you that know me, I hate lousy payoffs.
Once again, as a heavy reader, as well as a writer, I’m never wont for inspiration. Case in point, I book I just read. In this story, the focus was on the bad guys.
WHY PICK THE BAD GUYS?
I suppose there’s always the simple reason that the story calls for it. For an author, you have to follow your muse. On the other hand, if it’s out of sheer boredom and you want to give your reader a twist, okay. However, does it really work? Sure, it has in the past and there are plenty of classic movies (and books) to prove it. Anyone seen Bonnie And Clyde? Thelma And Louise? In Bonnie and Clyde, they’re pure evil, well at least Clyde is. In Thelma and Louise, they’re just a couple of women who get into a bad situation and end up with a bummer ending. In both cases, the key is the bummer ending.
I’m being very general here, so don’t get in a fluff.
In the one book I read that I will name because it was the most awful piece of crap I’ve ever read, The Ruins, there was nothing redeemable about it. The “heroes” weren’t so much good or bad guys as they were just a bunch of whiny millennial schmucks who all ended up dead. No payoff at all. What I thought would be a great icky bug, recommended by Stephen King, was a complete waste of time with lots of characterizations (rambling) and the ending was terrible.
Going back to the main theme, some authors like to tell the story through the bad guy’s point of view to delve into their motivations and feelings. In other words, they put on the black hat, versus the white hat. All the while, the reader knows from the beginning that they’re (the main characters) more than likely going to get it in the end. I guess the enticement is to see if somehow, they can pull it off and get away with it. Will they? In some stories, they actually do. Those stories I might actually like, as long as the crime isn’t that bad, or it is done for the right reasons. How many of you remember The Exterminator, for instance? Vigilante movies are basically good bad guys.
Then again, there are other readers that love bummer endings. Why? Because that is real life to them. Because they’re probably glass-is-half-empty people!
WHAT I READ (PAST TENSE)
What I just read was a story told almost entirely through the eyes of the bad guys. A small portion was told through the eyes of the good guys…a disproportionate amount. In this case, all of the bad guys got it in the end, in other words, the main characters.” The actual good guys, who played second fiddle, took home the bacon, but because they had so little to do, their parts kind of fizzled.
The author tried something unique, I’ll give him that. It just didn’t work all that well for me. I put all that emotional investment and reading time getting to know the main dirtbag. I thought he might get away with what he did, or somehow redeem himself in the end. The author portrayed him as sort of a good guy. Nope, never happened. Through plot twists and surprises, the main character turned out to be worse than he first appeared. In the end, he got his just deserts, which some might call a payoff. To me, it was good to see him get it. On the other hand, it was a waste of time because I prefer to spend my emotional investment a character more redeeming, like the law enforcement character that was chasing him.
SOME PEOPLE
I’m certainly not everyone and I can’t account for taste. Some people love…in fact they eat up bummer stories. They love Debbie Downer extravaganzas. They love the unhappy-ever-after stories. They get bored of the good guys always winning. I understand that.
What I enjoy most are the stories that are black and white and clear with the motivation. I do enjoy gray areas, but I also prefer a clear and concise B after the A, regardless of what happens in-between. If you aren’t clear on what your main plot is and don’t give a good payoff, it doesn’t matter what games you play in the middle. You’ve lost me.
Happy writing.
SPRING FLING BOOK FESTIVAL
Since November 30, 2015, the date Treasure Of The Umbrunna went live on Amazon, I have depended solely on word-of-mouth and social media to sell it. I’ve given quite a few away, sent a few for reviews, of which I only got a few (but well worth it), and for the most part, went with the flow. Last Saturday, I attended my first live event.
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE
For those of you that have never done a book signing or a festival, you’re going to hear lots of stories. Most will tell you it’s more of a networking thing, or just a chance to meet people. More than likely, unless you’re a celebrity, even with publicity, you probably aren’t going to sell a lot, if any books.
Does that mean you won’t sell anything? Does that mean you shouldn’t come prepared? Well, duh…
The other side of the coin is that you might show at one of these events and find a “depends on the crowd” situation. Your book just might be the magic potion for a “depends on the crowd” group and before you know it, your box of books is empty and you have to refer people to the on-line sites or the bookstores because you can’t give them anything on-the-spot!
WHAT IS SUCCESS?
Are you a glass is half full or half empty person?
You might as well be a half full type right from the start or don’t even bother.
Case closed.
Save yourself a lot of disappointment.
There’s always something good in going to these events.
To me, and what I get over and over again from other authors, is that these events give you a chance to network with other authors. Not only that, but when people do come by, they may not be interested in your genre, book or may even think you’re ugly. Who cares? However, they may remember you and mention that to someone else who may not think the same.
Maybe some people who are slightly interested will at least stop by your table and pick up one of your bookmarks or business cards.
Maybe…just maybe, someone will buy a book or two.
While sitting there, you’ll have a chance to chat with the other authors. You’re sitting amongst people with varying levels of experience at this game. They’ll have expertise on what to and not to do. Maybe they know of the next big event that you haven’t heard of. Maybe they even have an extra pamphlet or flyer to give out.
“Hey, why haven’t I heard of that?”
WHAT I GOT OUT OF THE FESTIVAL
First, I had a great time networking. I had a chance to chat with a bunch of different authors and get their take on working these festivals and book signings, not only here in Las Vegas, but as far away as France, of all places (not recommended, by the way!).
Second, I actually sold a book while some didn’t sell any and a few just gave theirs away.
Third, I got a line on how to place my book in the libraries in town.
Fourth, I got a foot in the door to maybe do speaking engagements at the library.
Finally, I got wind of a couple of outlets I haven’t thought of to present my book around town.
SUMMARY
You’re going to hear that these events are a waste of time and gas. Don’t bother, forget it, you’ll spend more to get there than you’ll make.
I say, if you never get out there and try, you might as well tape up any boxes of books you have and stash them in a dark corner of your garage and move on to some other passion.
Happy writing!
CONFERENCE TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – 2016
Wow, how time flies. April isn’t far off and it’ll be the Las Vegas Writer’s Conference time again. Since I’ve been going every year since 2005, this will be my 11th conference in a row. In a way, this is like my Christmas time of year. Since writing is more of a passion – a calling for me rather than a hobby, just like astronomy, I look at it the same way as my star parties when we go out to remote dark sites to observe the stars. I don’t expect most of you to look at the upheaval of your life and the expense of such a thing in the same way. That’s why I write a fresh approach to the same subject year after year here at Fred central.
I know many of you have no desire to scroll through the 200+ articles I’ve written on the subject of writing craft, though I’d love it if you did! In that case, you’d find probably a dozen articles on writer’s conferences. To save you the time, especially for those new to my site, I’m presenting it fresh for you today. For those of you that have been around awhile and haven’t attended a conference, maybe it’s time and I can talk you into attending.
LEARNING THE CRAFT
There are many reasons to attend a writer’s conference. One of them is to learn the craft. Our conference is made up of training sessions that go on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each session covers various subjects that deal with writing, pitching, marketing, publishing, editing and everything you need to hone your skills. Folks, this is the meat of what you need to succeed at this passion/hobby/business. These sessions are held by experts in the field. This is the time to get first-hand knowledge, ask questions and learn valuable stuff you might never learn an easier way.
NETWORKING
You’ll never find a more concentrated gathering of like-minded people plus experts in one area. You not only get to talk to other writers, you get to mingle with publishers, agents, editors and marketers. You’ll hang out with them and pick their brains. You’ll have meals with them, chat them up in the halls between sessions, talk to them in the main room between events or just hang by the front desk and grab whoever walks by. Folks, this is the golden opportunity.
PITCHING YOUR WORK
If you have something ready to pitch, or even if you just want to practice, this is the place for you. The event is set up so you can schedule pitch sessions with the various agents and publishers. This is your chance to plug your story and see if they’re interested. There is nothing better than face-to-face with an agent rather than an anonymous letter or e-mail. I’ve had 100% success rate getting their attention even if I’ve had 100% success rate at getting rejected for a long time. On the other hand, I obtained a step up over others in that these agents and publishers had a familiar face to attach to my work. Ultimately, I also obtained success in finding my publisher at this event. At other conferences, often you have to pay separately to pitch to an agent. Here, that’s all part of the fee. Also, because of the limited attendance, you almost always have the ability to pitch to every agent you want to.
IT’S A GREAT THREE DAYS
We keep hearing over and over that the Las Vegas Writer’s Conference is one of the best in the nation. Because it is smaller and more intimate, it’s a more quality event. We attract a quality staff and quality people. It pays for what most get out of it and we get lots of repeat attendees. I highly recommend it.
You can check it out at: http://lasvegaswritersconference.com/
Happy writing!
COMMAS
If you’re a writer, you can’t avoid using commas at some point. They’re a part of almost every sentence and give them life. There are still some people who just don’t get the hang of them, some that fear them and others who don’t pay attention.
Today, I’m going to give a few thoughts about the use of commas.
Even though I’ve been using them both properly and improperly for too many years to count, I try to keep up and use commas to the best of my ability. In my own writing, when I have the forest-through-the-trees thing going on, I can always count on my favorite comma Nazi at the writer’s group to find the ones I miss. We’ve given her that name because she’s super sharp when it comes to commas, in part from her Air Force writing days. A lot of that was instilled in me as well.
As an editor, I see it much easier in other people’s work.
WHY USE A COMMA?
Special uses notwithstanding, one of my best definitions for using a comma is to break a sentence into clauses. When writing a sentence, even if it’s not spoken, when you read it, think as if you were speaking it. Where in that sentence might you want to take a breath before continuing on? THAT is probably a good place for a comma. The comma is the symbol for a pause, a place to break the sentence into parts to take a breath without turning them into separate sentences that require noun-subject-verb all over again. It allows flow without becoming choppy.
RULES RULES RULES
By looking in the Chicago Manual of Style, there are several pages covering general “rules,” but they all boil down to the same thing in most cases. Feel.
After reading every single one of the rules, and there were thirty-eight of them, given the sentence examples, they still boiled down to clauses and feel. Now that’s just the general rules. There are other sections for special rules that I’m not going to cover. To keep it simple, I want to stick to text and not things like dates, titles etc.
OVERUSE
The one thing I didn’t see addressed in those rules was the overuse of commas. There’s nothing more annoying than reading something with an abundance of commas. I have a very simple rule for that.
If you have more than three or at most, four commas per sentence, something is wrong! Except in rare cases, that means either:
- The sentence is too long.
- The sentence is too complex.
- It smacks of a list (lists are bad and a whole different subject).
- The phrasing is choppy and breathing is erratic.
Too many commas means it’s time to edit.
UNDER-USE
Not using enough commas means you don’t know how to breathe in the sentences, phrase them right or like to ramble on too much. This will tire out your readers and make their minds wander. Keep in mind that when reading, your mind needs to breathe as much as your voice when speaking.
THE ONE RULE I BREAK
It’s not that I’m so much breaking this rule, but instead of going by the Chicago Manual Of Style, I go by Air Force Manual 50-34, the manual for writing, which is probably some other manual now. It has to do with commas in a series.
Joe had seven dimes, three nickels, five pennies and a half dollar.
The Chicago Manual of Style says there should be a comma after pennies. The AF manual says the and takes the place of the final comma. I agree with the AF on that. Instead of adding in another punctuation mark, I use the and as the final mark. Adding a comma adds an unnecessary bit of punctuation, our doubles the meaning of the and.
Whenever I read at the writer’s group, I sometimes get corrected by certain people who like to add in the comma before the and while others don’t, like the comma Nazi! My editor at the publisher agrees with me also.
SUMMARY
In the end, learning how to use commas comes with time and feel.
I have not gone over every case, such as in dates, addresses and special circumstances because the article would be way too long. I’ve covered the gist of what you need to know for everyday storytelling narrative.
Try reading a sentence aloud and see where you need to take a breath, that’s probably a good indication of where you need a comma.
Happy writing!
THE GRAMMAR POLICE
It’s funny how as writers, we live and breathe grammar. Well, one would think that until as an editor, you see some of the manuscripts that come across your virtual desk (or sometimes real one). Since writer’s come in all shapes and sizes, cultures and educations, from all walks of life, the mix of skills varies widely.
Even if not a writer, simply going to school and paying attention, absorbing a few English classes, pursuing other paths that require writing can infuse one with a fundamental, if not decent command of our language.
Hence, the grammar police.
I see it all the time, and for some reason, lately on Facebook. Okay…part of it is my fault. I’m just as guilty of perpetuating the trend. I’ve posted a few rants when I’ve noticed supposedly well-trained journalists who can’t tell the difference between American and the Queen’s English. Just this morning I saw a rant from a friend with a list of comparison words that people often get wrong. It happened to be keyed to political rants where the “opposing side” appears to have a fourth grade edjamacation. Tell you what—I have to agree with them. Sometimes, these people need to do a little grammar check before they do their rants so they don’t look so stupid.
Folks, just because we’re writers, doesn’t mean we’re the only ones noticing the bad grammar out there!
WHAT THIS BOILS DOWN TO
First off, writing should be a passion, a drive and not just a “hobby.” To get the best work out of you, this should be something you love and need to do, not just something you’re doing as a quirk. It will show in what you end up with.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to see if you really like it. Of course! If it works out and the spark is lit, then you’ve found your muse. If not, but you have a massive tome you still want to get published, get it overwith and move on (this is the worst circumstance because there’s no passion).
If you’ve found the muse, you need to star honing your craft. That means, you need to go to the grammar police training academy!
You as a writer, need to learn the difference between to, too and two, for instance.
You need to learn the difference between toward and towards.
You need to learn the difference between OK and okay.
How about your and you’re?
As little as these things are, they make a HUGE difference in context.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS AREN’T EVERYTHING
First impressions are surely important (and don’t call me Shirley, boy I love that line!). However, sloppy grammar instills a sense of What else? in the reader, as if they’re not just unguarded moments. You’re not only being human, it’s like you’re not necessarily that person doing the writing. Maybe you’re depending too much on someone else to do your work for you. Like you have a ghost writer doing most of the work. Ever thought of that?
An occasional typo is not what I’m talking about. Occasional typos happen. Stuff happens. I’m quite infamous for them and make no apologies. When I write my articles, even though I might read through them multiple times, there is still the forest through the trees deal going on. What I meant to say and what I sometimes say don’t always match up. I don’t catch everything. That’s not quite the same as bad grammar.
Blatant bad grammar is blatant bad grammar. When a writer has bad grammar, it shows everywere, not just in an occasional slipped up word!
If you give the impression that everything you write needs an editor, even personal correspondence, then that gives the impression that you need huge crutches just to get ANYTHING out the door.
In other words, basically, you just generate ideas and someone else is the writer!
Ever think of that?
Hmmm.
THE GRAMMAR POLICE
As annoying or obnoxious as the grammar police may seem, as a writer, you’d better not be on the dark side! I have to make a few points before I close.
#1 It’s not a good idea to correct everyone personally! There’s nothing more obnoxious than constantly correcting people’s grammar! Egad! I’m certainly not preaching that (and excuse the excessive use of exclamation marks)! If you want to say anything, make general statements on social media or drop hints with rants or essays, like I’m doing.
#2 This is for you to work on for yourself.
#3 When typing personal messages, especially on a phone or say…Facebook, sometimes those tools can have a mind of their own. They have a tendency to put in letters and words you never intended either through a keyboard with a mind of its own or through grammar or spell or letter correction. Be careful not to hit send until you’re ready!
#4 Proper grammar can sometimes be tricky. It doesn’t hurt to ask or go on line and look something up if you feel too embarrassed to ask. It’s better than putting it out there for the whole world to see.
Happy writing!
GREAT STORY NO EXCUSE FOR BAD WRITING
Time to get on a rant here. The one mantra I hear over and over again that gets under my skin is when people say that if the story is good, one can get away with “breaking the rules.” In other words, mediocre or bad writing is okay as long as you sell a million books. You know, “It’s the story that counts?”
Haven’t we all heard that before? A writer pitches their work and finds some agent that goes head-over-heels for their story. They write like crap, but the story is so great they (or the publisher’s editors) let them get away with it.
Folks, I sure get tired of seeing it in print. Like all the time!
LIVE BY EXAMPLE?
When giving advice to new writers, how many times have you heard others say to go to your favorite authors and see by example. See how they write and look at how they do things. Follow their leads.
Has anyone stopped to think that maybe they’re doing it wrong?
Has anyone stopped to think that though they may be creating those killer stories you love so much, maybe they’re making them harder for you to read than they need be?
Writing by example isn’t always the best way.
THERE ARE REASONS FOR RULES
There are reasons for rules of writing. Not only are there rules of grammar, but syntax and style. The whole point is to make the writing flow and easier for the reader. The idea is for the text to make better sense and to make reading pleasure instead of pain.
That’s the point of rules.
Rules didn’t just come out of a vacuum, but from centuries of trial and error.
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve had over five decades to read, study and come to understand what works. What I’ve found makes for a more pleasurable and easy reading experience. I’ve found the rules that work best for me. I’ve also seen that those exact same rules work for a lot of other people as well. So, in other words, it’s not just me.
I must point out here that this has nothing to do with my personal preference for third-person over first-person point of view. Great writing isn’t about which point of view you choose, it’s about how you write them. The same rules apply regardless.
POPULAR AUTHORS THAT ALWAYS GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR WRITING
I can’t begin to count how many very popular authors have best-selling novels and series that are at the top of the list for being crappy writers. They happen to hit a hot button with a market, yet they can’t write themselves out of a paper bag, to use a well-worn cliché. They plain suck at style, syntax and grammar. Yet, they’ve found that golden hot button, and keep churning out crap and get away with it. They have no integrity because they don’t need it. With all those sales, there’s nobody to tell them no, or no incentive for them to learn to write proper.
BREAKING THE RULES VERSUS RIGIDITY
Some say that strictly following the rules sucks the life out of a story. In other words, bend the rules once in a while to throw some variety into the mix and make things less rigid and boring.
How about doing all that with the story itself, and not the writing. Duh!
Leave the lazy excuses at home and make the writing tight and easy and worry about breaking any rules in the story, like mixing genres, or having your character doing something unusual. Don’t let the writing get in the way of the story!
INTEGRITY IS EVERYTHING
To me, writing is all about making the reading experience a pleasure, not a burden. While most readers will never consciously know the difference, as a writer, I will. I’ll know the difference between doing it right and doing it half-assed and lazy.
My job is to write to the best of my ability and to use the rules of writing and give the reader the cleanest copy I can possibly give them. I want them to have the easiest read, not the hardest.
The story is everything, but there’s not much sense giving them a story if the writing is crap.
Happy writing!
