Punctuation, smunctuation

[SnoopDog]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Punctuation, smunctuation

Woof

Snoopy, panting

 

[minsue]

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I'll show you *kiss on cheek*
Snoopy

I'm not sure that's quite what she was looking for, Snoop.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I used to be pretty bad, until someone took me in hand and gave me a good talking to.

Last week I went back and edited (well, completely re-wrote) one of the first stories I'd ever written. It was shocking! Good basic story, though. I submitted the re-write to Lit yesterday.

Lou

I give Raphy all the credit, patience of a saint. I shudder to think about re writing my first stories.

-Colly

 

[pop_54]

I used to be pretty bad, until someone took me in hand and gave me a good talking to.

Last week I went back and edited (well, completely re-wrote) one of the first stories I'd ever written. It was shocking! Good basic story, though. I submitted the re-write to Lit yesterday.

Lou

At the end of the day though, Lit won't accept stories with punctuation errors, they get rejected, so no prob with reading them here.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Punctuation, smunctuation

I'll show you *kiss on cheek*
Snoopy

Oooh, so you've thrown down the gaunlet! This will be fun!

*pinch on bum*

 

[SnoopDog]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Punctuation, smunctuation

Oooh, so you've thrown down the gaunlet! This will be fun!

*pinch on bum*

Ah now I'm sad, 'cause it's getting late here and I planned on crawling on the roof of my kennel and have a nap.
So I'll have to leave you but not without a sweet
*prod with my snub nose on yours*
Snoopy, good night

 

[minsue]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Punctuation, smunctuation

Ah now I'm sad, 'cause it's getting late here and I planned on crawling on the roof of my kennel and have a nap.
So I'll have to leave you but not without a sweet
*prod with my snub nose on yours*
Snoopy, good night

Awww

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Punctuation, smunctuation

Ah now I'm sad, 'cause it's getting late here and I planned on crawling on the roof of my kennel and have a nap.
So I'll have to leave you but not without a sweet
*prod with my snub nose on yours*
Snoopy, good night

Awww! That is so amazingly cute!

G'night sweetie, sleep well.

*peck on lips*

Lou

 

[SnoopDog]

Awww! That is so amazingly cute!

G'night sweetie, sleep well.

*peck on lips*

Lou

Ok, it's been a while, hope you are doing fine Tatelou.
I thought I just said 'Hi' again, but not without *thrust of my hip against yours*
Snoopy

 

[lucky-E-leven]

At the end of the day though, Lit won't accept stories with punctuation errors, they get rejected, so no prob with reading them here.

Pops, surely you're kidding. I've read a few stories here with run-ons containing three fully formed sentences without a single period or comma...but you did say you weren't familiar with the comma right?

Silly man, I've read your stuff and you punctuate like crazy some times and other times...um...not so much

I am no English major or grammar nut, but do admit it makes reading a story quite raggedy at times. And when I read erotica/porn, I can get to reading so fast sometimes (eager for the next lick) that when I have to stop and reread a sentence that hasn't been punctuated well, it downright pisses me off! I'd say punctuation is a must and donates to the flow and overall likability of a story.

~lucky (don't fuck with my speed-porn-reading!)

 

[rgraham666]

I'll start by quoting Voltaire, "All styles are equally good, except the boring."

Myself, I prefer punctuation. One of the most important facets of a story, for me, is rhythm. Punctuation is a big help in setting and maintaining the rhythm of any piece of writing.

Plus anal retentive that I am, bad punctuation gets up my nose.

My $0.02 worth.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

I'll start by quoting Voltaire, "All styles are equally good, except the boring."

Myself, I prefer punctuation. One of the most important facets of a story, for me, is rhythm. Punctuation is a big help in setting and maintaining the rhythm of any piece of writing.

Plus anal retentive that I am, bad punctuation gets up my nose.

My $0.02 worth.

That's it, it is the rhythm of the prose that matters, and I think especially in erotica. If that rhythm is spoilt by a jarring error in the punctuation, quite often the scene (and sometimes whole story) can be ruined, too.

Lou

Rhino - yep, that gets on my tits, but guess what? Because it's you, I don't mind.

 

[kellycummings]

At the end of the day though, Lit won't accept stories with punctuation errors, they get rejected, so no prob with reading them here.

I had a story rejected because of a few simple comma mistakes and then seen some on here that were just awful in terms of puncuation so I'll never understand how lit determines things.

For me, puncuation is important when reading because it can be distracting if it is lacking or there is too much.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

heehee.

well if it is on your tits...just massage it in.
or lick it off.

rhino

I don't think my tongue's long enough, honey, but that doesn't mean I'd turn away volunteers.

*must stop this, or else I'll get told off!*

Lou

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Keep going and I'l get off.

Lime

I'm shocked!

(And I'm not easily shocked. )

Lou

 

[OldnotDead]

Thinking about getting on Lou's mams is quite the appealing prospect. Maybe I shall go back and rewrite my stories to put back IN all the punctuation errors we edited out

Kidding aside, I would add that it is not just about putting in commas where needed. To me it's more than grammar. Lucky mentioned rhythm and I think that is where most stories need help. Pacing the words, the breaks and deciding whether one sentence or two can make a big difference in how easy it is to read.

One of my first editors pointed out that the easiest way to tell how well you've punctuated and phrased a text is to have someone else try to read it aloud to you. If they have to keep going back to phrase it correctly, it probably needs help.

Did anyone notice that simply awful reading last night of the testimonial to Gregory Peck? I believe with an audience of that magnitude a little rehearsal is called for. Nevertheless, it was obvious from his stumbling that the words were well thought out, but not well stitched together.

Punctuation is the indicator, but 'tis the words that make the tale.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Kidding aside, I would add that it is not just about putting in commas where needed. To me it's more than grammar. Lucky mentioned rhythm and I think that is where most stories need help. Pacing the words, the breaks and deciding whether one sentence or two can make a big difference in how easy it is to read.

One of my first editors pointed out that the easiest way to tell how well you've punctuated and phrased a text is to have someone else try to read it aloud to you. If they have to keep going back to phrase it correctly, it probably needs help.

Punctuation is the indicator, but 'tis the words that make the tale.

I was not as in tune to this before I posted my first story here. I was also not in tune to the way the larger paragraphs and other such things would affect its on screen appearance.

I have tried the reading aloud and on most occasions it works tremendously well for perfecting the flow. I have a friend that I can read to over the phone and they will sometimes stop me and say, "Go back. That didn't make sense." Doing this also, helps me write more effective dialogue. It's a little awkward to read to an old friend about such graphic things, but I find it makes me vividly aware of what I've written and what that person is hearing. When my pulse quickens and my heartbeat becomes loudly apparent, I get a very good feel for what my message might mean to other people. (i.e. If I'm wildly embarrassed, it's because I'm verbalizing HOT thoughts I've written and knowing that someone else is imagining them. It hits home whether or not I've been effective at describing the scene.)

The dialogue should carry a certain inflection, even when not being read aloud. I hear tone changes and voice raising in stories even when it is not pointed out to me in narrative. But I do believe most of this is achieved with proper word spacing and crafty punctuation.

~lucky

 

[Guest]

I am reading an excellent book on writing, by Ursula K. Le Guin: Steering the Craft. Here are two quotes I like.

If you aren't interested in punctuation, or are afraid of it, you're missing out on a whole kit of the most essential, beautiful, elegant tools a writer has to work with.

People who don't worry at least a little bit about semicolons aren't likely to become writers.

I also like the distinction she makes between using grammar correctly, and those who turn the correctness into a morality of grammar.

Perdita

 

[Guest]

I am reading an excellent book on writing, by Ursula K. Le Guin: Steering the Craft. Here are two quotes I like.

If you aren't interested in punctuation, or are afraid of it, you're missing out on a whole kit of the most essential, beautiful, elegant tools a writer has to work with.

People who don't worry at least a little bit about semicolons aren't likely to become writers.

I also like the distinction she makes between using grammar correctly, and those who turn the correctness into a morality of grammar.

Perdita

Thanks, Perdita. That book sounds well worth looking up.

I love the first quote - so true. And the second one is spot on.

Loulou

 

[Pure]

Lou said, But, when I see run-on sentences followed by a plethera of exclamation marks and elipses, it tends to grate somewhat.

I find the pletheras grate a bit too.

 

[Guest]

o not e

plethora, n.; plethoric, adj.; plethorically, adv.

 

[Guest]

Lou said, But, when I see run-on sentences followed by a plethera of exclamation marks and elipses, it tends to grate somewhat.

I find the pletheras grate a bit too.

Ok, ok, so I made a spelling mistake in a post. Shoot me.

I challenge you to find something similar in one of my stories.

I know you'll "get" me on that one.

Lou

P.S. Miaaoooow.