My story was rejected for Grammatical reasons

[lazyhobo]

Yes. (as I would think was obvious--especially since you pointed it out yourself.) Did you miss the creative writing class where it was pointed out that it's more than fine that dialogue be colloquial?

Is this "backbiters morning" here, or what?

Yeah, I see that. What was amusing to me was that I was trying to think of an example where you would do it during the earlier discussion on this thread--and couldn't. And then an example popped out at me in my own writing after I'd just naturally written.

Oh, I would turn off that function that's putting that line there when writing fiction. Grammar check wasn't created for fiction--and can do a lot of damage to your writing if you try to follow where it wants to lead you.

Let me count.... 1.... 2.... 3.... Three posts in a row? Must you use about one sentence per post? Cant you post Everything into one single post? If you need to quote multiple posts, use the Multi-quote option.

As far as the point goes, *shrugs* I saw it, The Topic came to mind, Made a quick joke (whilst also showing a grammatical error (unless it was used as a persons dialogue) to the others, maybe hinting at what a Grammatical error looked like) and no, the joke was not intended to be funny, more of the sarcastic kind that I myself enjoyed saying, though you could have just ignored it, as I obviously knew why you chose to have her dialogue like that.

Finally, Nope, I didn't miss my creative writing class, I just simply chose not to take one. Writing is not my profession, its simply a hobby I enjoy, and since my standard English Class story writing lessons from Primary were suitable enough for people to read and understand them, I felt it unnecessary.

"Thanks for your concern though, Brings a warm feeling to my heart" Said the Lazy hobo sarcastically.

 

[sr71plt]

Let me count.... 1.... 2.... 3.... Three posts in a row? Must you use about one sentence per post? Cant you post Everything into one single post? If you need to quote multiple posts, use the Multi-quote option.

No, I can't. If you check posting carefully, you'll see that I can come back a couple of times in the same post--fairly quickly. It's just my habit. Don't like it, tough.

But also no, because these were posted to three different issues. Again, don't like it, tough.

Feel free to use any method of your choice for your own posts.

Have a good day.

(Oh, hell. I probably should have put those in four different posts just for the effect. )

 

[elfin_odalisque]

lazyhobo, the advice on dialogue here - only one speaker per paragraph but can be combined with description, if you split paras with the same person talking then don't close the first para with punctuation marks, don't have long paras, you don't need to start a new para every time someone starts to speak - is just dialogue101.

sr, surely when you venture into the realms of the pluperfect rather than the simple past, you move from dialogue to quotation?

Ally/Miranda 'had said' is not dialogue but quotation of prior remarks, thus abnegating the conventions of the two talking together and placing the remarks as part of an historical description.

 

[HarryHill]

The 'Chicago Manual of Style' can answer all, but I've got a question concerning the em dash used as a quotation device; the manuel states page 535, 11.10: ...and em dashes used to introduce dialoge...
--I use the em dash to convey unaudible mental communication, the strange being said. ...but how do I continue after a break in that dialogue?
"I don't know," Harry replied with a puzzled look, "when you find out, let me know."
--It really does not matter; you'll forget how to get her again.
"At least I'll be somewhere."

 

[sr71plt]

The CMS doesn't really want you to use em dashes for dialogue (it just says some--mostly the French--do so), and neither does Literotica as far as I can tell.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yes. (as I would think was obvious--especially since you pointed it out yourself.) Did you miss the creative writing class where it was pointed out that it's more than fine that dialogue be colloquial?

Is this "backbiters morning" here, or what?

You tell the masses that people like me are not deserving of the title "editor". Well, SR, maybe you're not either. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure you will not hesitate to do so.

Yes. (as...)

Shouldn't the "a" be capitalized?

And I think, and maybe wrongly, surely you'll assist, but after ending the parentheses, should not the period go after the closure of the parentheses?

I'm not a world-class editor like you, and don't profess to be, but I'm a little disappointed that you don't edit your own posts.

I'm not an editor. But I do. I check what I send.

God, you piss me off! You have such talent and then you don't do a blessed thing with it except to make everyone else feel less than what they are. Yeah, we know, according to you you're a world-class editor and we're all just shit! So why the hell are you even here? Why dirty your shoes stepping in it?

Working on my third. You get under my skin and I can't help but to respond.

Heart attack, that is. Not drink. No, well beyond that now.

You frustrate me SO much! You and Obama have so much in common. You're both narcissists and ruining the country.

 

[lazyhobo]

You tell the masses that people like me are not deserving of the title "editor". Well, SR, maybe you're not either. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure you will not hesitate to do so.

Yes. (as...)

Shouldn't the "a" be capitalized?

And I think, and maybe wrongly, surely you'll assist, but after ending the parentheses, should not the period go after the closure of the parentheses?

I'm not a world-class editor like you, and don't profess to be, but I'm a little disappointed that you don't edit your own posts.

I'm not an editor. But I do. I check what I send.

God, you piss me off! You have such talent and then you don't do a blessed thing with it except to make everyone else feel less than what they are. Yeah, we know, according to you you're a world-class editor and we're all just shit! So why the hell are you even here? Why dirty your shoes stepping in it?

Working on my third. You get under my skin and I can't help but to respond.

Heart attack, that is. Not drink. No, well beyond that now.

You frustrate me SO much! You and Obama have so much in common. You're both narcissists and ruining the country.

As far as grammatically checking and / or editing posts, if we compare them to stories, we're not really posting here for anyone's entertainment. Our posts do not kill threads by merely having spelling or grammatical errors like they might a story. As far as anyone is concerned, as long as its at a degree that people can understand what you intended to say, then its fine. Why put it extra effort into doing Editor work on all of your forum posts, when nobody could really care less, other than yourself of course.

 

[sr71plt]

No, the "a" shouldn't be capitalized. What shouldn't be is the period behind the "yes" shouldn't be there. And in this case, yes, the period should go outside the close parenthesis, because what's inside the parentheses isn't a complete sentence; it's part of the sentence opening with "Yes."

Didn't I mention silly ass backbiting in what you've quoted? Well, it fits you. If you choose to zap out on a heart attack in silly ass bitterness, that's your problem as well.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

As far as grammatically checking and / or editing posts, if we compare them to stories, we're not really posting here for anyone's entertainment. Our posts do not kill threads by merely having spelling or grammatical errors like they might a story. As far as anyone is concerned, as long as its at a degree that people can understand what you intended to say, then its fine. Why put it extra effort into doing Editor work on all of your forum posts, when nobody could really care less, other than yourself of course.

You're the guy in the street that doesn't understand why two peolpe are fighting. You are, as they say, collateral damage.

SR has been picking at my scabs for a long time. Pointing out every mistake I make, saying I'm not an editor. It has reached an epic level. It has become so bad that I won't even edit here, not qualified.. Good luck finding an editor. According to SR he is the only qualified editor here but he won't volunteer. Just makes fun of those that do.

 

[_Lynn_]

As far as grammatically checking and / or editing posts, if we compare them to stories, we're not really posting here for anyone's entertainment. Our posts do not kill threads by merely having spelling or grammatical errors like they might a story. As far as anyone is concerned, as long as its at a degree that people can understand what you intended to say, then its fine. Why put it extra effort into doing Editor work on all of your forum posts, when nobody could really care less, other than yourself of course.

Although that may be true, posts filled with errors aren't the best advertisement for anyone who edits. Also, some people do care about forum posts.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

No, the "a" shouldn't be capitalized. What shouldn't be is the period behind the "yes" shouldn't be there. And in this case, yes, the period should go outside the close parenthesis, because what's inside the parentheses isn't a complete sentence; it's part of the sentence opening with "Yes."

Didn't I mention silly ass backbiting in what you've quoted? Well, it fits you. If you choose to zap out on a heart attack in silly ass bitterness, that's your problem as well.

You're the one touting yourself as the freaking expert. But you have flaws, the same as the rest of us. God bless you're human. All I was trying to say.

So what are we if we help a writer? What label do I attach to me?

 

[sr71plt]

Pointing out every mistake I make,

That's a lie. I haven't done that. I've pretty much left you to show everyone what a silly ass you are on your own. You get drunk and fantacize and come on the forum and are a beligerent ass.

saying I'm not an editor.

I didn't do that for years here either--until you started saying it yourself and showing that you aren't qualified by the quesitons you asked about editing and the silly assertions you have made about editing. If your "clients" have liked what you've done with their work I can only surmised they didn't know any better about what should be done with their work.

As far as I can tell, you are a popular storyteller on Lit. and probably should have stuck with that. (And I've said this before too.)

 

[sr71plt]

You're the one touting yourself as the freaking expert. But you have flaws, the same as the rest of us. God bless you're human. All I was trying to say.

So what are we if we help a writer? What label do I attach to me?

Sure I need an editor, just like anyone else. I've consistently posted that. That doesn't make me any less a trained editor (or you any less of an ass).

 

[_Lynn_]

You're the one touting yourself as the freaking expert. But you have flaws, the same as the rest of us. God bless you're human. All I was trying to say.

So what are we if we help a writer? What label do I attach to me?

Good night, AS. It's time to go home now.

 

[sr71plt]

Although that may be true, posts filled with errors aren't the best advertisement for anyone who edits. Also, some people do care about forum posts.

I agree. I get dinged for fiddling with my messages after I post them. That's usually because it hit me later that I rendered something incorrectly and I don't let it just ride; I go back and correct it. But there will be mistakes I never get corrected.

Once again, being an editor doesn't innoculate anyone from making mistakes. Everyone can use an editor.

And, *gasp*, there will be mistakes left uncorrected in a client's copy too after the editor is finished with it. There's no such thing as perfect copy.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

That's a lie. I haven't done that. I've pretty much left you to show everyone what a silly ass you are on your own. You get drunk and fantacize and come on the forum and are a beligerent ass.



I didn't do that for years here either--until you started saying it yourself and showing that you aren't qualified by the quesitons you asked about editing and the silly assertions you have made about editing. If your "clients" have liked what you've done with their work I can only surmised they didn't know any better about what should be done with their work.

As far as I can tell, you are a popular storyteller on Lit. and probably should have stuck with that. (And I've said this before too.)

I will admit you have been very supportive of my writing, saying I should pursue this.

We were friends once and I'm not sure where things went wring.

But I was editing and, okay, asked questons so I got it right. I was just trying to do my best.

Okay. Guilty. Trying to do my best.

 

[sr71plt]

And, like this, you've been just like a yoyo, going from one extreme to another. Just don't bother. Goodnight, AS.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Although that may be true, posts filled with errors aren't the best advertisement for anyone who edits. Also, some people do care about forum posts.

No worries since SR doesn't edit!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

And, like this, you've been just like a yoyo, going from one extreme to another. Just don't bother. Goodnight, AS.

No, I won't go away.

You can if you choose, if you're weak.

We have to resolve this tonight.

I'm tired of this fight. Tonight is it.

Or you can be a bitch.

 

[sr71plt]

No worries since SR doesn't edit!

Another lie I keep pointing out. A, I'm a professional editor, which some here can verify, and B. I do edit for some here. I don't ambulance chase, though. Maybe that's why you can't see it. (Or maybe it's just because you are dumb as a lamp post.)

 

[sr71plt]

No, I won't go away.

You can if you choose, if you're weak.

We have to resolve this tonight.

I'm tired of this fight. Tonight is it.

Or you can be a bitch.

I said "goodnight" before, not "good-bye." On this, though, you can go fish.

Think you're going to have to try to get overself, AS--because I got over you months ago.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

The CMS doesn't really want you to use em dashes for dialogue (it just says some--mostly the French--do so), and neither does Literotica as far as I can tell.

Sad ignorance.

 

[PennLady]

Sad ignorance.

Why is that? Because the general standard in the US is to use double quotes? Because that's the way it's been done for years?

 

[sr71plt]

Sad ignorance.

I'm game. There are a couple of hundred thousand stories posted to Literotica. Cite twenty that use em dashes for dialogue markers.

(Did you in any of your six posted works posted more than six years ago?)

Still looking for one (let alone twenty) of them thar Lit. stories that uses em dashes rather than quotes for dialogue, Elfin?

 

[Dennis_St_John]

Writing in General

Over the years of my writing, the one hard lesson I had to learn, apart for learning to spell (lol) was what is called the mechanics of writing. More great stories are rejected because of this than anything else. Having a draw full of rejection letter, I can attest about how stringent main stream publishers are about this, the format you might say. They demand certain point to be observed at all time, such a 1" margins, double spacing, indent on first words, all dialog on a separate line with opening and closing "..." quotes for speech and '...' for thoughts and so on. Depending on the publisher, they might even have additional things like 'New Times Roman' and nothing else or no tags on dialog. So the first thing I had to learn were these mechanic, or habits so that now I can hardly write without following them. Some appear outrageous and petty, but they are the publishers, and their word rules. For the beginning writer it's a daunting, time consuming task, especially when you are in the 'zone' and writing as fast as you can think. However, it has to be done, or spend endless hour re-editing the story until you are sick of looking at it. (Thank goodness for editors who have the 'eye' for all those nit picking little things that get in the way of writing).