Blank, Blank or Blank and Blank what more can be Blank?

[Colleen Thomas]

Wok,

I too love to converse with other writers and see what they do in the process of building a story. I have issues with passive voice too, so much so that I hve to tell my word spell checker to ignore it

Gramatically my worst problems come with very odd constructions. I think of myself as a storyteller as much as a writer and tend to type stories as if I was telling them. It routinely has me typing things that sound fine when spoken, but read about as smoothly as ten miles of Mississippi back road. It hasn't hurt me on lit, but I imagine it will be a serious roadblock to ever getting work as a writer.

-Colly

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Re: Re: I never...

Here's a good example... should I have used:

For the record... I do not usually use quotations on internal monologue.

I think it sounded too passive the first time around.

I also have an issue of writing in the passive voice.

~WOK

Phil- I don't think anyone thought u were judging anything. I personally ejoy a discussion about idividual writing styles. Its great to see what other real life writers are doing rather than just reading about

First, thank you so much! Silly thing but I never want to be noted as being "The smart Monkey". I only share and I will admit I can be wrong and often.

: Colon

1 Introduces a clause or phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what has gone before.
2 Directs attention to an appositive.
3Introduces a series.
4 Itroduces lengthy quoted material set off from the rest of a text by indentation but not by quotation marks.
5 separates elements in page references, in bibliographical and biblical citations, and in set formulas used to express ratios and time.
6 Separates titles and subtitles.
7Follows the salutation in formal correspondence.
7Punctuates headingsin memorandums and formal corresponence.

; Semicolon

1 Links independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
2 Links clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb
3 Often occures before expressions that introduce expansions or series.

No I am not typing out the example sentances also!

I would have chosen to make it less passive? I think. Hard question cause on a thread I want to appear passive.
````````````````````````````````````````````````
For the record: I usually, do not use quotations on internal monologue.

or

For the record; I usually do not use quotations on internal monologue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

; yup that is what I would have done the second one with the Semicolon. Agressive introduction then passive. I would not have wanted to just simply amplify for the record. I am introduceing also.

For the record... I do not usually use quotations on internal monologue.

I do not talk like that so it would not be my choice even if it may be more proper.

Wok, Which one is the correct way? Anyone?

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Should this thread move over to the "Editor's Forum" it would get a lot more response. You decide, I am a passive person?

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

Ohhhh...good one Phil...

I cannot tell you my struggles with those nasty semi/colons. Oi vey! They are the worst as far as clear placement. All I know is that every time I use one... I always pick the wrong one unless I am giving a laundry list!

eg-
She had several items in her hands: a toothbrush, a hairbrush and a can of hair spray.


Colly- Passive voice (in my experience) is something that will almost universally get you rejected from almost any major publisher. BUT.. thats not to say it can't be done. Hell... good writers break the conventions all the time.

However, having been "in the trenches" for a while now, I have come to realize that I am just a shy above mediocre...so I really have to work on bending my style in the direction of what sells. I don't have the balls or the tallent to expect others to bend to my style. Ahhh...if I could, I certainly would.

If you think you got it (or will have it)... I say to stick to your passive voice, girl. I love writers with flair when its done right!

~WOK

Ahhh yes....monkies... I prefer the flying variety.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

LOL,

I had better hope I have it!

The first mail's I got on my first story told me in no uncertain terms that the POV I use went out of style about 100 years ago. From several people I was advised to change to a first person or limited POV. I never did.

I also got nailed for a litany of other Writer no-no's. Passive voice, use of quotes, stereotyping my characters, happy endings and I could go on and on. Despite my many failings as a writer, my stories continued to do well and most of the feeedback was positive. Over time even my harshest critic, a print published writer, grudgeingly told me not to change things she had once harped on. I try to write stories that involve the reader and allow him or her to enjoy the reading experience. If passive voice best fits the flow I use it. As is ofen the case it does for my style.

A publisher would probably shudder and try to hold up a crucifix to ward off one of my stories if I submitted it

I try always to improve my craft, branching out, testing other genre's and new ideas, but at the core I don't change what I do. It is the ideas and characters that drive my stories and often I have to work hard to let them be free within the story, to tell it themselves, in their own way. It probably destroys any chance I have of becoming a successful writer in the sense of making money from writing, but it seems to strike a chord with readers, at least here at Lit.

I understand the bussiness of writing is the hardest to break into and fear my chances are slim even by that bussiness's high failure rate. If it requires me to relinqish the joy of creating a tale to succeed I am doomed to fail because writing is my greatest joy and I don't ever want it to become something I dread rather than embrace.

-Colly

P.s. Grats on making a go at it!

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

I have to admit, Colly...

That I write for $$. I wish I could say that I have higher intentions, but I don't. Still beats the hell out of working at McDonalds.

I came to this board hoping to recover some of my writer-ly instincts. I have become a little too polished at writing zine articles for my own taste.

I admire that you are sticking to your guns. It is a rather disillusioning experience when you first try to sell your stuff. But over time I have learned to see it as a business like any other. God knows the editors and publishers do...lol.

But there have always been those great writers who step out of the box and strike a cord in their readers and who sell out the store shelves. Hell... look at Bridget Jones and all the knock offs. There was a day not too long ago that it would have never seen the light of day.

Keep up the good work!

~WOK

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Wok,

I admire anyone who can make a go of it writing. Lord knows I could use the income, but not at the expense of making writing a chore.

I don't know if my works are that good. I tend to believe people like the characters and stories and are therefore willing to forgive my lack of real skill as a writer. Time will tell I suppose, but I will stick to my guns in the style in which I tell them. For me, the best thing about writing is that for a brief amount of time I can leave the world around me and enter a realm where my imagination is the only boundary. Thats heady stuff

As to being too polished, I don't think you can be, but there is an instinctive compnent to writing that I think you can loose if you let yourself become pidgon holed into what you write. I sincerely hope conversing with us scribblers helps you find whatver it is you feel that you have lost.

Best of luck!

-Colly