learning grammar

Before I sit down with my daunting task of editing I decided to type a quick blog on some thoughts in my head. (It's always the thoughts in my head that I blog about.) I want to speak to all those out there who want to write and want to get published....

Learn grammar!

I was not a great English student in high school. I was better at math and science. English, not so much. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, conjugation, vocabulary, etc.... Everything was difficult. My advice to those who aspire to be authors, learn while you can! Learn in high school! Learning AFTER you graduate is so much harder. I really should take a class but I am too lazy. Also I lack the time. Another point to consider for those who are younger than me and considering a career in writing--when you graduate from HS, it is difficult to MAKE time to learn the skills of writing. When you are in a class (and yes, you can take a class in college if you have the time and money around a work schedule.) you are forced to learn what the teacher is teaching. Classes have structure. Classes have someone to TELL you what you are doing wrong. AND/OR explain what it is you are doing correct that could stand improvement.

I am learning on the fly. Not easy! I go by the Chicago Manual of Style. 16th edition. Dreamspinner recommends the CMS because they follow that so I thought to get on board with the same "rule book" but it is hard to learn new tricks. For one, I don't always understand what the book is talking about. They have examples, but sometimes my sentence is different and I can't find where the "rule" IS, and therefore I have no idea if I am doing it correctly. THIS is why editing takes so long. WLINE was rejected over grammatical (and plot-wise) errors. I had a hard time fixing things because as we have all heard, I am not so good with the grammar! I am very determined to have a clean MS (or as close as I can get) for this next submission.

As I go, I find lots of errors. I THOUGHT it was done, but find I am so wrong. What I am doing now is making and outline (of sorts) by chapter and writing down details of events in each chapter. AND highlighting where I need to check a "rule" in the CMS so I can see if the sentence needs fixing. In this, I can see where I have redundancies in the plot, and where references occur, and if I need to add any tidbits to tie in an event that happens somewhere else in the book. No one likes surprises that scream WHAT?!? Hints are always best, even if very subtle.

Just yesterday I found inconsistencies! Not good! This is a sequel after all. I noticed that in WLINE I named a few characters in the fire department. Well, Matt hangs out there and yet I had different names in this one. So I fixed that. Plus, I totally forgot what Jason's last name was! (duh!) Jason is Matt's friend and I can't have his character inconsistent.

Taking notes is the way to go.

A short while back, before DSP picked up WLINE for publication, I hired a professional editor. She was working with me on another novel I wrote. As we sat down to discuss how she could help me, she pulled out some notes she had taken to talk about where my troubles lie. Then she asked about some specifics in the novel and I pulled out my notebook. (Complete with charts, character outlines, scene references, ages, dates, etc.) When she looked at the extent of what I had before her she said--and this is BEFORE I was published--she said, "You are not a writer. You are an author!" I will never forget that. Her point was that I don't simply "write" a story, I am IN the story. I have detailed the characters and shaped them so much so that items are documented for future reference. I have created something complex and not so easily sketched if I don't have my ducks in a row and refer back to the dates and details. (does that make sense?)

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am the BEST author in the world. I have a long way to go to learn the rules of grammar and how to shape a story without inconsistencies and errors. I KNOW I need improvement. But what was encouraging to me was that editor's distinction between simply "writing" and being an author. I think authors feel it in their bones. The characters become real. The characters are alive in my mind and on my heart. To me they are almost tangible.

>Side note: the other "novel" I wrote is on the back-burner. I know some of you would be asking me what is it about? Are you going to publish it? etc... It is a complicated plot and needs major edits to become publishable. (hence the "back-burner") What I DID learn from that one was my tendency toward passive voice. One of my struggles!

so, with that all said, be patient with me. I am learning. I WISH I had learned the first time around when I was in school and had the time. Being an adult is over-rated. Having to WORK to pay for a car, and insurance, and food, and a place to live, tends to get in the way of all the things in life you WANT to do. I WANT to write full-time! Yeah, that is not happening yet! fingers crossed I'll get there :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Wade
xoxx

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