Status Updates From Sin and Syntax: How to Craf...

I, for one, love the music of voice in fiction. Reading across genres, like listening to different types of music broadens our world. I so agree with the sentiments in this chapter which sums up with: "...we urgently long for writing that is original, passionate and personal. We search for writers whose voices are distinct and recognizable. We celebrate prose that is musical..." Well said. On to Voice...

I like the turn of phrase. "When you want to bolt the clauses together without the softening influence of a conjunction, use a bracing piece of punctuation..."

"If sentences are streams of thought, phrases and clauses are the creeks and underground springs that feed them." Thus, begins the discussion on phrases and clauses. Some good pointers and refreshers. Some amusing examples. On to Sentence Variety next.

Complicated. Purple prose doesn't just exist in sex scenes. Who knew? It really does pay to get out and read large and wide. :-) Next up Phrases and Clauses...

Subject and predicate and agreement. Simplification. "Every sentence is a mini-narrative." Diagramming makes me shudder. In the end, agreement and simplification. And thus on to simple sentences next.

On sentences. "Sentences should be as varied as our objects of desire--sometimes we want them brawny, sometimes we want them brainy, sometimes silken, sometimes brutal. We don't want them to stay the same, day after day." And. "Tame savage sentences, combing through them until every hair is in place. Then muss them up and see how you like the look." Works for me. :)

Well, geez, what more is there to say about interjections... On to sentences...

Think conjunction junction. "Keep command of your tone," is something to consider, but in fictional dialogue to convey character I might want to create a more stilted professorial tone, or intentionally interject bad grammar. Thus, taking the "sins" of these parts of speech and using them in dialogue is something to consider. Food for thought anyway. On to Interjections...

Some clarification on prepositions provided in a colorful way. "Anytime you can replace a cluster of words with one elegant one, do it." Guilty, and I'll do my set of Hail Mary's or maybe an Act of Contrition, and hope to sin no more on this front. Dream on... "Scour your writing for prepositional barnacles worthy only of being scraped away, and replace them with simpler words." See? Colorful. Good examples...

I have sinned. Misplacing adverbs. I'm guilty. I love words as well as story. But understanding the structure and purpose of each word is important. "Don't be kind of bold. Be bold." Some very good pointers in this chapter. I like the way the author conveys her ideas. In the end, confidence comes through understanding. Whatever it takes to make that happen. Marching forward into the realm of prepositions next...

Love the opening sentence to this chapter on adjectives. "Adjectives are consorts, never attending a party alone, preferring to hook themselves on the arm of a sturdy noun." Many good reminders, presented a little differently. Might even stick with me. Good reminders on descriptives to avoid. I made note... Try harder, I advise my Muse... "Alchemy of adjectives." I like that.

Verbs. Revisit. "The pros make strong nouns and dynamic verbs the heart of their style; verbs make their prose quiver..." Active voice, dynamic verbs. "...active voice is strong, direct, muscular..." Verbs descending from nouns. I just rewrote that. "...because a verb descends from a legitimate noun does not give it a proper pedigree." Hmm. "...flat-footed ideas, not fleet-footed actions..." On to adverbs.

Interesting and informative!! Just plain fun to read.

Pronouns. Yikes. I, we, me, myself, etc., etc. I find it never hurts to revisit what I think I know and at the very least refresh. If I come away with better clarity on one rule, that makes me happy. I'll be revisiting this chapter. Next, on to verbs...

Just finished up the section regarding seven deadly committed with nouns: sloth, gluttony, fog/smog, pretense, gobbledygook, jargon, euphemism... I have sinned and sinned well. Thought-provoking. Meditation, reflection, one Act of Contrition, and 10 Hail Mary's to follow before moving on to pronouns...

Reading on the subject of nouns. "Choosing the right noun means exploring the layers of a word." So true. "Your noun must be rich, its connotations conjuring a real of emotion or sensation." Indeed. "Sometimes nouns pinwheel around a subject, giving it a multicolored vitality." Definitely.

Just starting this. Markers in hand. Love this..."Sin and Syntax holds that the flesh of prose gets its shape and strength from the bones of grammar, and that sinfully good writing depends on understanding both the arcana of syntax and the artistry of music..." Yes, yes, yes.