Question: Grammar issues, any tips?

[jinkang.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[nae-k.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask if your grammar is better when you speak and, if so, suggest you "write" your stories out loud and record them. Then later you could transpose them to your computer.

Otherwise, I agree with the other ideas: read what you've written out loud, use beta readers and critique groups, and revise, revise, revise.

[jinkang.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm not sure if my grammar is better or not. Probably not, as I do notice my self mixing up pronouns and using wrong tense of the verb now and then.

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.