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jinkang.livejournal.com) wrote in
writers_loft2009-03-12 03:40 pm
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Question: Grammar issues, any tips?
I usually try to be careful but it seems there is something fundamentally wrong in my brain. I suppose verbal and online messages put less emphasis on correct grammar, for better or worse, so I don't notice them on daily basis. At least, I haven't been chased by a grammar nazis on the street, as of yet.
Writing, obviously, is a different medium. I have taken grammar courses at school, after school, and even at home. I even read several grammar books for pleasure. Perhaps, pleasure is a bit far fetched.
Last year, I took a course at a continuing education program and got 90%. (This was a summer session, by the way. 40+ hours long) The mark doesn't mean much but the instructor thought I was doing alright. So I rekindled a tiny hope.
Alas, why is it that I can't seem to communicate with my readers? How bad is my grammar? Let's say it's bad enough to confuses readers and make them want to stop reading after page 2. That's on a short story with probably only few more pages to go.
If anyone had a serious issues with grammar, and overcame it, I'd like to know how you did it. Thanks.
Writing, obviously, is a different medium. I have taken grammar courses at school, after school, and even at home. I even read several grammar books for pleasure. Perhaps, pleasure is a bit far fetched.
Last year, I took a course at a continuing education program and got 90%. (This was a summer session, by the way. 40+ hours long) The mark doesn't mean much but the instructor thought I was doing alright. So I rekindled a tiny hope.
Alas, why is it that I can't seem to communicate with my readers? How bad is my grammar? Let's say it's bad enough to confuses readers and make them want to stop reading after page 2. That's on a short story with probably only few more pages to go.
If anyone had a serious issues with grammar, and overcame it, I'd like to know how you did it. Thanks.
no subject
It's as if my brain and my hands have a conspiracy to butcher what my heart wants to say.
And because my sixth or seventh draft is worse off than other writer's first draft, I can understand why all my beta readers run away.
So I am hoping to learn something if anyone went through this. Because editors won't care what's my native language, if the written piece in English is a #$@#.
no subject
One of the big rules of writing that I've come to accept is just "revise, revise, revise". Some have more revisions than others.
no subject
I've never tried them but I believe I'll give it a go. Better than giving up anyway. I wonder if my critique group wouldn't mind reading a revised piece.
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Otherwise, I agree with the other ideas: read what you've written out loud, use beta readers and critique groups, and revise, revise, revise.
no subject
Difficulty is reducing the mistakes I do notice...specially in writing.
I think this discussion is helping me in realizing that written works, unlike spoken words, give me another chance to revise before I send them out.