Grammar V. Style

Recently, I read a forum thread titled "Advice to New Authors" or something like that.  In reality, it read more like a bitch session from aggravated readers.  Still, some good points were raised.  One of which being that readers don't want to pay for work that contains poor grammar, misspellings, and typos.

I can dig it.  I've seen some work out there that's pretty rough.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect.  Everyone makes mistakes, and I'm sure that I haven't spotted the last one in my work.

Thing is, I take this writing bit seriously.  After I decided to put my whole heart into this, I knew that I would need to sharpen my skills in the mechanics of writings.  At the time I didn't realize how frustrating this could actually be.  Sure, there are easy lessons.  Spell stuff right, know your punctuation, etc.  But, there are some gray areas out there, too.

For example:  Most sources will tell you that when it comes to dialog attribution, just stick to the classic, "he said" and "she said."  This would be great advice, if I haven't read so many examples from contemporary fiction where this rule is ignored consistently.  Then there are authors like Cormac McCarthy, who don't even bother to use quotation marks.  Why didn't they get called into the editor's office for a stern lecture?

The short answer is, when these authors bend or break the rules, it's called "Style," but, when other writers do the same, it's called, "Terrible."  In the thread I mentioned, and in others like it, I've heard many writers play that card.  So, the question I asked to the contributors was this, "What do you define as the line between Style and Bad Grammar?"  Responses varied, but, there is a common thread I noticed.  In the subtext of what every person said would constitute plain old bad grammar was this message:  Don't pull me out of the story.

Which is what it really comes down to.  What they told me is that if I write something in such a way that it makes the reader stop and think about the writing rather than the story, then it's not working.  Call it bad grammar, or a failed attempt at style, either way, something will need to change.  There is, as always, a degree of subjectivity.  Some readers enjoy modern styles of writing where the authors play around with the rules of grammar.  Other's can't stand it.

This goes back to the whole, gray area... thing.  It seems to me that some authors can pull of unique styles because they understand the rules of grammar, and know how to break them in such a way that it won't distract their readers, or break the continuity of the story.  Writing is art.  In any art form, knowing the basics will help you communicate your ideas more effectively.  Painters learn brushstrokes, it seems only natural that writers would have to learn the rules that we call Grammar.  Once the rules are known, it's up the artist how they tell that story.

Someone will probably still bitch, though.  I read somewhere, "Pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off sure is easy."

Writing is like Skyrim. Seriously.

Last night I finished the first draft of my second novel. Typing the word "End" has only felt that good once before. Writing a novel can be arduous, even when you enjoy doing it. The best comparison I can give to my experience with it would be like playing a video game that you're really in to.

Sometimes, the game gets really difficult. When you're stuck it makes you want to throw the controller against the nearest hard surface and place a voodoo blood curse on the sadistic game developers.

Other times, you really kick some ass. You charge in, dual wielding with enchanted weapons, and just lay waste to everything in your way. All the pieces fall in place, and it feels like you couldn't have planned it better if you tried. These moments may not come easily, but that's okay, because they shouldn't be easy. Accomplishing a difficult task is the whole point.

Then, late at night, as you near the end of some journey, you stay awake way too late just to see the game beaten. Every few minutes your eyes go back to the nearest clock, and an empty promise is made to stop at the next save point. Next thing you know, it's four am. You know you'll be a wreck in the morning, but you still grin like a moron because you did it.

You're actually done.

For those of us masochists who choose to write because we love it, despite the overwhelming demands of work, life, and family, it's one of the sweetest moments there is.

I'm going to let this draft sit for a bit, then start editing. Then, I'll work my ass off to get this one in print. We'll see how it goes.

Back Again

My last blog post was...  Wow.  Over two years ago.  Well, I didn't exactly abandon a rabid fan-base thirsty for more of my wisdom, so I'm thinking it's a "no harm - no foul" situation.

Why has it been so long?  So glad you asked.  Okay, no one did, but that's aside from the point.

As a writer, I don't feel as though I'm anywhere near a point in my career where I can dole out advice to others on those common writer topics like how to write a captivating query, or story creation, craft, etc.  It felt very disingenuous, and I had an issue with pursuing a blog from that angle.

I recently published my first novel, which I had written over three years ago now.  I didn't get picked up by a major publishing house, or a big shot agent as I had hoped I would.  I've actually got a pretty impressive stack of rejection letters from agents.  Most are form letters, some are simple "thanks but no thanks" scrawled on the top of my original query to them.

But some weren't rejections.  I lived for those moments, man.  When I got a letter or an email (I really like it when an agent uses email - I think it's better for everyone involved) and that letter said something like, "Hey, you've got me interested.  Send me some chapters."  Now, that's the cat's pajamas.

Unfortunately, none of those chapters convinced the agents that they could carry my novel.  I did get a couple of notes back, which I valued highly.  Because as anyone who's been through this process knows, personal feedback is rarer than gold.  At any rate, they said that while they liked my work, they wouldn't be able to sell it.

I get that.  I'm not saying I like it, but I get it.  We have to keep an eye on what's going to earn our next meal, right?  Hey, I don't go to work every day because I'm in love with my job.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for it and I appreciate it.  But, if I won the lottery today, I wouldn't be showing up tomorrow, you dig?

You know what I would still do even after winning all that money?  I'm sure it's obvious.  I'd write.  I'd tell stories.  Because, that's what I love doing.

Which brings me back to the blog - I'm okay with posting again.  I want to come at it from a different angle, though.  I'm going to post about trying to sell books.  About bullshit writing contests and trying to get your name out there.  About fretting over query letters and secretly hating anyone who gets published because they wrote ANOTHER GODDAMN VAMPIRE STORY.

I guess the best way to say it, is that I'm going to post about the journey instead of trying to pretend I've made it to the destination.  You're welcome to read, and I welcome your comments.

Except from trolls.  Trolls can go fuck themselves.  You know who you are.  Y'all should be ashamed.