Thursday, May 31, 2018

Puzzling Punctuation


Punctuation is puzzling!

 I imagine the caption below Snoopy's photo tells us what he is thinking. At least, for today, that is what he is pondering on. It's all too true--punctuation is puzzling. There are so many rules to learn and memorizing them is not much fun. 

We were suppose to master all that in grade school and be able to use punctuation correctly in Junior High and High School. Some did and others never grasped it. 

What if you're a writer and you throw a handful of commas into your story, letting them land wherever? Maybe you pose a question in a piece of dialogue and you end with a period instead of a question mark.Does it matter? It does if you want to give your readers your best work and are looking for some 4 or 5 star reviews. 

It's also best to use correct punctuation so you can be proud of what you've written and submitted for publication. Editors today don't have time to correct mechanical errors, no matter how much they like the story or essay. 

For those who are fearful of relying on their own store of knowledge, there are websites that offer tools to help you use the proper punctuation and other items grammar-related. Try grammarly. There are others, of course. Use Google, or some other search engine, to find one that suits you. 

Fourteen Punctuation Marks
  • period
  • comma
  • question mark
  • exclamation point
  • colon
  • semi-colon
  • dash
  • hyphen
  • parentheses
  • brackets
  • braces
  • apostrophes
  • quotation marks
  • ellipsis
Each one of the above have rules. I am not going to list them here as they are far too extensive. Choose three from the list and do a search for rules. There are many good sites that give detailed information on the use of each of these punctuation marks. Find the ones you like and bookmark so that you can refer to them when you are not sure about the usage of commas or quotation marks or when and how to use an ellipsis. 

With so many punctuation marks that we use in our writing on a day to day basis, we need to have a working knowledge of the main ones, if not all. Puzzling? Yes. Even so, you can master the use of all of them with a bit of effort. 






Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Writer Granny's World by Nancy Julien Kopp: Repeating Words

Writer Granny's World by Nancy Julien Kopp: Repeating Words: What we strive for in our writing Today is our first day of addressing the mechanics of writing--the how you say it  part of writing...

Repeating Words

Image result for free image of many words floating
What we strive for in our writing

Today is our first day of addressing the mechanics of writing--the how you say it part of writing a story, article or essay. 

In my online writing group, one of the things critiquers mark over and over again is repetition of words. Using the same words two, even three times in one sentence or within perhaps two sentences or paragraph is a very common error. It's one we should catch when we edit our own work but, as we read what we've written, our eyes glide right over those repeated words. 

Yes, there are times when we use words close together to make a point. Note the first sentence of the paragraph above. I said ....over and over again. It's used for emphasis. Now, take a look at the sentences below and you'll see words that should be changed. 

A.  Bill left his shoes under the bed, climbed into the bed and fell asleep immediately.
      Better:  Bill left his shoes under the bed, climbed in and fell asleep immediately. 

B.  I've left the bread on the table for you next to the peanut butter on the table
     Better:  I've left the bread on the table for you next to the peanut butter. 

C.  Susan exited the stage she had danced on only hours after she found her ballet shoes and she knew she could be in the recital.
     Better:  Susan exited the stage danced on only hours after her ballet shoes were found and the recital went on.

D.  Timothy noted the long stretch of stairs ahead, climbed the stairs, then looked down the stairs to see if anyone had followed.
       Better:  Timothy noted the long stretch of stairs ahead, climbed them and looked down to see if anyone had followed.

If you've already told the reader about the 'bed' as in Example A, there is no need to repeat 'bed.' Sentences written with repetition of words can end up being boring.

Is it possible we repeat words to make sure the reader knows exactly what happened? Is it possible we don't give our audience enough credit for figuring things out on their own?  

Do we sometimes repeat words because we find it easier than thinking up a new way to say the same thing without using them again and again? (yep, I did it again but for emphasis!)

I think we often make this error subconsciously. What we must do is be conscious of looking for the problem as we revise and edit our writing. 

Just for fun, pull out a story or essay from your files and look through it to see if you have been guilty of repeating words. The vast majority of us are going to find some, myself included. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Why Mechanics Matter In Writing



It has been three weeks since I had my hip replaced. All went well but recovery takes time. I finally feel like I can get back to blogging again. Thank you for the many get well wishes. I greatly appreciated them.

The photo today is telling us to have a dream. Don't most writer have a big dream that they will be published someday and then have it happen again and again? They dream that they'll write a bestseller someday. They dream that they will be a household name when they write works no one will forget. 

It's fine to have those dreams so we have something to shoot for. Our writing dreams can help us set goals, too. 

Recently, I started thinking about writing having two sides--what you have to say and how you say it. Whether you write novels, essays, articles, op-eds, stories for kids or poetry, how you say it is of prime importance. What you have to say ranks very high, as well. No matter how good your story is, or how meaningful your essay, if you don't use good mechanics in your writing, your dream has little chance of being realized. 

Mechanics! Yep, those things we were suppose to master in grade school, middle school and high school. Key word here is 'suppose' because many of us worked on the grammar exercises the teachers gave us, listened to what they said and then went merrily on our way not worrying about mundane things like grammar, punctuation, clarity and more. 

Those who decided to pursue writing, whether for a career or hobby, suddenly had to deal with those mechanics. There are writers who take a handful of commas, toss them in the air and let them fall on their story. Some have no clue what to do with an apostrophe when writing something possessive. Others write sentences that are so long they can stretch the length of a freight train before the final period is found. How to use quote marks is a merry mess for a few.

Then, we have writers who mix up tenses, flitting from past to present and back to past like a hummingbird seeking nectar in multiple blossoms. Some writers are great fans of adverbs in dialogue to tell their readers how the speaker is talking or feeling. Why not? It''s a whole lot easier to tell the reader than it is to 'show' them. Spelling should not be a problem with today's computer aids, but it often is.

Do all writers make all these mistakes? No. Do some writers make some of them? Yes. Are there any writers who earn an A grade for mechanics? Absolutely! My point here is that all of us can use a review and work on establishing good habits in mechanics. 

The next several days, I am going to address the mechanics of writing as a help to those that need it and a review for those who do just fine already. So, do come back and see if there is a particular area that might be of help to you. 

Keep in mind that what you have to say is a way to your dream, but how you say it is what will get you there.

Monday, May 28, 2018

A Memorial Day Story





The following personal essay was published a few years ago but I think of the place where it occurred every year on Memorial Day. Give thought to the true meaning of this holiday. Our military men and women are buried here in the USA but in many other places around the world, as well. This story is about one such place.


Soldiers and Angels
By Nancy Julien Kopp

On a two week visit to France, I didn’t expect to be moved to tears and left with a memory etched on my heart forever.

 After a day and a half exploring Nice, our group of forty-two Americans boarded a motor coach to travel to a river cruiser for the next leg of the trip. Our program director announced that we’d be making a stop at the WWII Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan where 861 U.S. soldiers are buried. These soldiers were ones who died in this part of France during the August 1944 invasions.

The southern invasion of France is not so well-known as the D-Day invasion along the beaches of Normandy in northern France. The invasion from the Mediterranean Sea began in August of 1944 and holds its own important place in the history of the war and with the French people.

We were informed there would be a wreath-laying ceremony for our group of seniors, many of whom remembered those war years as either veterans or children of vets. I was a small child during those years, but I still remember many little things about our life at the time, and I have read a great deal about this period in history because it feels personal to me.

We filed silently through impressive iron gates. The brilliant blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds, and the sun warmed us. The rustle of leaves in the many stately trees that surrounded the cemetery proved to be the only sound as we gazed at the rows of white crosses and Stars of David. No one spoke as we moved between the graves on the pristine grounds, reading names until the cemetery director arrived.

He told us the soldiers’ families all had the option to have their loved one’s body repatriated or to have them buried near the place they had died in battle. How difficult, I thought, such a decision would be. Sometimes, there were no parents left at home, or a young wife had already moved on with her life and needed no reminders of an earlier marriage, and so the fallen soldier never went home, staying in France where he died.

Everyone strolled slowly along the path that led to a large stone memorial depicting an angel. It served as one outside wall of an open air chapel.

Inside the chapel, a stone altar was dwarfed by the huge mosaic picture that towered above it. The mural-like picture, done predominantly in shades of blue, featured an angel in the center. My eye was drawn to her first, and though I studied the other, smaller figures, my gaze kept returning to her. The angel was seated. She cradled the body of an American soldier. The artist managed to capture a pure love in this figure. He succeeded in drawing visitors’ eyes to this central theme. Gazing at the two figures, I felt a lump in my throat and my eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Yet, I could not stop looking.

I thought about my uncle who flew missions over Germany but came home. I thought about my friend’s uncle who spent half of the war in a prison camp. I thought about my dad’s cousin who died in a plane that exploded on a runway. I thought about the memorial plaque at my grade school that listed the names of graduates who had not come home. The angel and soldier in the mural spoke for all of them.

Our program director held a large bouquet of fresh flowers. She asked if there were veterans of any war present who could participate in the wreath laying. The red, white and blue ribbon tails on the floral piece fluttered in the soft breeze that swept into the chapel from the two open sides.

Three men stepped forward. I learned later that two were veterans of WWII, having been very young men in the final days when they were called up. The third appeared to be a bit younger, although all had gray hair. He had been a pilot in the Korean War. Their shoulders were a bit rounded, and wrinkles creased their faces. As they neared the altar, they stood side by side, the rest of us gathered behind. The trio marched forward and laid the floral tribute between the Christian cross and the Star of David.  The three men snapped to attention, standing taller than they had in years and saluted the soldier lying in the angel’s arms. For one magic moment, they were young soldiers again. Even these many years later, they shared a common bond.

The gentle breeze of only moments earlier turned stronger, and the now-frantic rustling of the leaves surrounded us on both sides of the open-air chapel as we were invited to sing our national anthem. One or two people began slowly, and soon others joined in.

I tried to sing, but the emotion of the moment rose up and blocked my throat so thoroughly, I could not have sung had my life depended on it. Instead, I listened to the strong words of the song that is the pride of our nation.

As we retraced our steps through the cemetery, passing row upon row of graves, I thought of what so many Americans had sacrificed during the war fought on foreign shores during my childhood years. Lives were lost and families grieved, but others lived freely because of it.

I thought of a well-known quote that seemed to fit this small cemetery. All gave some, some gave all.





Monday, May 7, 2018

A Medical Leave For A Short Time

Image result for free clipart dr in operating room

What does this cartoon have to do with writing? Not much unless it is a daily journal kept by a patient. 

The patient this time is me! I've been putting off having a total hip replacement for too long, so tomorrow is the big day. I've spent the past month getting ready for the surgery--exercises and buying, also borrowing, this and that to have on hand. 

Yesterday, Ken and I went grocery shopping for things to put in the freezer, ones he can fix easily. He can cook but doesn't do much more than grilling anymore. He's going to be in charge of several tasks while I recover. I think I might get him to do everything but dusting. 

Hoping the recovery is not too long. I am having the surgery done 'the newer way' which, the doctor says, should make for a faster recovery. Exactly what that means is anybody's guess. 

I will return with the Monday to Friday posts as soon as possible. Meanwhile, keep writing and do check the Chicken Soup for the Soul page to see the 9 books for which they need stories. Read the guidelines carefully before submitting. Yes, that number is 9! 

The more I think about it, the better I like the idea of keeping a patient journal. Going to start one today.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Simplicity in Writing



Several years ago some creative mind came up with the KISS theory--Keep It Simple Stupid. The photo above offers the same message but in a more gentile way. KISS has no golden flower or breathtaking butterfly, nor does it use soft and kind words. Even so, both convey a message we should heed. 

Some writers tend to overdo everything. If one adjective is good, they think two or three are better. If they make a point once, two times will truly get the point across to the reader. Others sprinkle unnecessary words throughout a good story which often takes away from a good read. 

What about word count? Some writers go on and on and on. Then they wonder what is wrong when they can't find a market that will accept the huge number of words they have in the submission. If we learn to write with simplicity, we can shorten our essays, stories and even poems. 

Consider the overdone story, essay or poem. Compare to a woman who overdoes it when dressing for a special occasion. If she adorns herself with too many frills, frou-fous, jewelry, ribbons and lace she is lost in a sea of fashion that merely detracts from the person herself. Take away all those extras and let the woman shine instead. 

Less is more applies here. Simplify your writing and your words can become more powerful. Does that mean to toss our sensory details, descriptive adjectives and emotions? Of course not. Use all those tools we have learned but use them wisely and sparingly. Too much of anything detracts from the main idea.

A writer who writes a short story cannot use a large number of characters as a novelist would. The short story writer has to be more concise, use fewer characters, have a plot but not a lot of subplots and keep to fewer words. He/she lightens the journey by simplifying. 

So, whether you adhere to the KISS principle or the softer Simplify--lighten your journey, you can make your life easier and create more powerful writing along the way. 

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Writers Are Responsible For Choices




This poster offers good advice for all people but let's look at how it pertains to our writing journey. 

The last line and word following it, is one we should read on a regular basis. Deep down, we know it but sometimes we find it easier to blame anything and everything for the problems in our writing life. Look at the powerful words:

You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make. Period.

How have the decisions you've made affected your publishing history, your satisfaction with what you have produced and your growth as a writer? 

  • Did you submit your work to as many editors as it took before one accepted? 
  • Did you choose to leave a rejected piece sit and gather dust?
  • Did you read books on your craft to learn more?
  • Did you attend any conferences to help you grow as a writer?
  • Did you allot enough time to write?
  • Did you do a fast proofread and then submit your work?
  • Did you do more than one edit before submitting?
  • Did you join a writing group of some kind to continue growing as a writer?
  • Did you do a rewrite on pieces that didn't really satisfy you?
  • Did you ever turn down a social invitation so that you could write?
  • Did you ever take a short break from writing to find inspiration again?
  • Did you ever take the advice of an editor and resubmit?
  • Did you learn that patience and perseverance are keywords in the writing world? 
There are others, to be sure, but each of the points above depended on you being responsible for a choice. 

I include myself here, as well. Some readers might think that I am the writer who does it all perfectly. Rest assured that I have to learn, too. Part of the reason I continue this blog is to remind myself of many parts of the writing journey that I am on. We're all in this together. Some of us are farther along than others. 

Someone once asked if there is any end to this journey we started long ago? I plan to keep walking the path until I lose my mental capability or pass on. My personal journey will be over but I hope that what I've written over the years will still be read, or remembered, by others. That's one of the glorious parts of being a writer. 




Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Writers Should Pay Attention To Little Things

Book, Font, Old Book, Still Life, Flowering Twig


This photo has nothing to do with today's topic. I used it because I liked it and I could not find one that was appropriate for today's post. So enjoy the image above and read on. 

Many of you know that I belong to an online writing group. We submit our writing and critique the writing of other members. When reading another writer's work, the little errors jump out. If we are editing our own writing, we tend to skip right over small mechanical things. 

One of the problems I note in so many of the pieces I critique is the repetition of words. A big deal? No. It's a small matter but fixing the problem will make the piece read more smoothly and will subconsciously please the reader. If a writer repeats words too often, the reader can become annoyed. Sounds ridiculous but I find myself irritated by reading the same words over again, especially if they are in the same sentence or same paragraph. My mind clicks into You already used that word,; find another. 

Writers don't set out to see how often they can use a word in a 1200 word essay. Most aren't even aware they've done it until a critiquer points it out. Yes, we who critique are probably more conscious of it. I'd like to see all writers make themselves aware and search for repetition of words in their own writing. 

Example:  
Problem: Jerry liked some fruits but not all of them. He liked some vegetables. He liked some meat but not every one. 

Better:Jerry liked some fruits but not all of them. He enjoyed a few vegetables. He savored several meats but not every one.

One of the reasons we write using repetitive words is laziness. We need to think a little harder to come up with alternatives. We also consider words like the two samples not important to the point we are trying to make, so we gloss over them. 

What can you do to find and correct this type of mechanical error? 
  1. Read your work out loud.  Some writers think this is rather stupid. Trust me, it is not. If you read your work out loud on a regular basis, the mistakes that pop out will surprise you. 
  2. Train yourself to look for repeated words. The more you look for the problem, the easier it will be to note when it occurs. Because I've critiqued other writers' work for a long time, seeing this error comes more easily to me now than it did years ago.
  3. Let your work sit before you edit. If you try to read and find errors soon after you finish the story or essay, you slide right by many little problems. Let your work simmer a few days at least, then read it. Most writers will be surprised by what they find then.
  4. Try to cut the use of filler words. If you add words like usually, actually, really, just to your work, it tends to become a habit and those words fill too many spots in your writing. Some writers use them to make a point or to emphasize. It's alright to utilize these words but do so sparingly. Don't rely on them time and again.
  5. When using a name, alternate with pronouns. When writing about a person, say Mr. Ames, you don't want to constantly repeat his name. Use it once, then use he or his. A paragraph or two later, use his name again merely as a reminder to the reader who this is that you're talking about. 
  6. Make use of your thesaurus: If it's difficult to come up with an alternative for an over-used word, pull out your trusty friend, the thesaurus.
  7. Be careful when using very long sentences. When we write lengthy sentences, we tend to repeat words. There is another reason not to use extremely long sentences. They easily become rife with mechanical errors.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Musing On May Day

 
May Day "Baskets"
May Day Basket


It's May Day! What do the photos above trigger in your memory bank?   When I turned the page on my calendars today, I remembered what fun my children had making May baskets, filling with flowers and/or candies and delivering to the neighbors. The idea, of course, was to tippy-toe to the door, attach the basket, cone, or whatever container they had, ring the doorbell and run away. The giver's identity was to be kept a secret. 

When I was teaching 3rd and 4th graders, I had the children make a paper cone as a May Basket. They loved putting something on their cone that made it different from the others. Creativity came into use here. I always hoped they would get the flowers from their own gardens, not snitch some on the way home from school! I did provide candies for them to add to the May Day gift. 


Maypole DIY - Oh Happy Day!  Who remembers doing this in school. I don't think they do this anymore.
A Traditional May Pole




We didn't have a May Pole when I was a child but something close to it. Our playground had High Flyers which was a tall, straight pole in the middle with several chained pieces hanging from it. There were wooden bars toward the bottom, two on each one, and this is what kids held onto as they ran round and round making the chained pieces move out enough so their feet would leave the ground as they spun around the pole. I do remember one year that someone had decorated the High Flyer with ribbons for May Day. 

When our children were growing up, I would greet them on May 1st with "Happy May Day" and their dad, who had a law degree, always countered with "Happy Law Day." Personally, I like May Day much better and I am pretty sure our kids did, too. 

May offers opportunities to write memories for your Family Stories book. We celebrate May Day, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day this month. Ponder on the memories of each of these special days. Inspiration to write often results from these musings about days of long ago. 


Writers Who Do, Not Just Think

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