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Writers Wall
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The Write Advice
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Here you will find editorials, how-to columns, and featured articles on topics important to writers. Columns will change
regularly and will feature current information on market trends, do's and don'ts, and tips on writing styles, how to submit
a manuscript, plus we'll showcase pieces on the various elements of writing like characterization, plot developement, how
to set the scene, and how to show vs tell a scene.
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Is There A Mechanic In
The House?
by: Bea Ware
Editor-In-Chief
Okay, over the past two years I've covered a wide spectrum of writing topics from why do
we write to creating a believable heroine to the publishing avenues available to all writers looking to see their work
on sale. This month's editorial is all about mechanics.
When a writer sits down to write a chapter, an outline, a short story, or even an anecdote, it's important that
she get the mechanics correct.
What are mechanics? Do I really need one?
Writing mechanics are different from automobile mechanics, but just as important. Without a mechanic with the proper knowledge of how to seek out problems with your vehicle, he couldn't
possibly fix it properly. Right? I
mean you wouldn't take a vintage Corvette to a dog groomer to be repaired. Would
you? The same thing can be said for your writing pieces. The mechanics of writing, just like the mechanics of Corvettes, need to be learned, honed, and used in
order for a short story, newspaper article, magazine piece, or novel to hum like a finely tuned engine.
Nothing can ruin your work of art quicker than comma splices, run-on sentences, improperly executed dialogue,
poor sentence structure, and grade-school spelling errors. It is the writer's
job to present the most finely polished finished project they possibly can and the best way to do that is to arm yourself
with the best equipment and tools you can find.
Let's start with what I like to call the Writer's Bible: The Elements of Style
(the Old Testament) and The Elements of Grammar (the New Testament).
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and
White, is a must have for all serious writers. Inside the hallowed
covers one will find The Elementary Rules of Usage. Did you
know the proper way to separate a series of three or more terms followed with a single conjunction is with a comma after each
term except the last? Example: Pompey,
Leslie, Cliquot, and Gordon went to
the ball. And yet, nearly all writers--experienced and novice--would omit the
comma between Cliquot and Gordon.
Also in The Elements of Style, you'll find The
Elementary Rules of Composition. It's loaded with such topics as writing
in the active (not passive) voice, using concrete language, omitting useless words, and avoiding a succession of loose sentences. You'll find commonly misused words and phrases, approaches to style, and tips on how
not to inject the writer's opinion over the opinion of your character.
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The Elements of Grammar, by Margaret
Shertzer, is a second must have reference tool for writers. Ms. Shertzer
covers such hot beds as how to recognize good grammar, points of grammar, grammatical terms, proper spelling usage, how to
express numbers, capitalization, and using signs and symbols. For instance, did
you know that blonde and brunette refer to women with those hair colors?
As in: The blonde and the brunette are good friends. But when referring to brown or fair hair--regardless of sex--it's proper to use brunet and blond.
The point is: if you didn't know that, then you should. As a writer,
no one expects you to know everything, but you are expected to know the basic mechanics and the best way to learn them is
to start by purchasing and using books like the two mentioned above. When you
submit your work to an editor, agent, or publisher, you want it to represent you as a professional writer, not an amateur
unworthy of their time. When you post your work on the Wall,
no one expects you to have a work-in-progress polished, but it is expected that you proofread your work and--to the best of
your ability--display the best possible version. Make use of your word processor's
grammar and spell checking programs. Refer to reference books. Then be receptive to editing comments from your peers and make the corrections that are necessary. Use the information from the first post to fix the errors in the consecutive posts
and before you know it, the edits will become second nature--knowledge learned and retained--and your peers can concentrate
on other aspects of your writing.
Once it's learned and retained, you can offer someone else on the Wall your knowledge and expertise. It's about giving back what you receive. That's
life, folks. More importantly, that's the writing life.
Until next time...Happy Writing!
(c) April 2003 BeaWare
All
rights reserved
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Writing resources available:
The Elements of Style
By: William Strunk, Jr.
and E.B. White
The Elements of Grammar
BY: Margaret Shertzer
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