Dear Writer,
Is it just me, or do you experience cold sweats while deciding whether or not you should use a comma? Sometimes using a comma is a simple matter, but more often than not, and most especially with complex sentences, commas are quite confusing. I do believe I need a comma refresher. I'm not even sure if my commas in this post are correct. I think I may have a case of the vapors over commas. I suppose this is a silly thing to ponder over. I wonder if Jane pondered over commas. Perhaps she did, but I imagine the rules have changed since then. I think I should read The Elements of Style with an eye towards commas. Those little squiggles can change meaning, you know. Yes, I do believe I need a refresher. Would anyone care to post a comment or two on commas? I would be much obliged.
Yours Truly,
Duchess of Dreams
Showing posts with label Dearest Writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dearest Writer. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Dearest Writer - Pesky Beginnings
Dearest Writer,
Do you write false starts? I do believe I am a bit of an authority on abandoning pesky beginnings. It just so happens that I have written dozens of chapter threes. You should know that I refused to succumb to a fate of many beginnings and no endings. In my determination to get to the end, I challenged myself to sit down each morning and write until I finished. Unfortunately, I once again found myself on chapter three with nowhere to go. Chapter three is such a bother.
How did I overcome this horrid habit of stopping after I had barely begun? I turned to a notebook with a cast of characters. Once I had the idea of creating a cast, somewhat like a play, and developing the characters until I was ready to write. After another failed try, I decided to choose one of the characters from my cast and begin his story.
I made it to the end. Lord William Prescott came to life. Readers will come to know him in the very near future.
I will give you a bit of advice: First, I suggest you try developing your character before you begin your story. Second, I highly recommend setting your clock fifteen minutes early each morning. Wake up and write, and after a few mornings of establishing this routine, set your clock to thirty minutes early. In time, you will arise an hour or more early, and before you know it, you will write THE END.
Yours Truly,
Duchess of Dreams
Do you write false starts? I do believe I am a bit of an authority on abandoning pesky beginnings. It just so happens that I have written dozens of chapter threes. You should know that I refused to succumb to a fate of many beginnings and no endings. In my determination to get to the end, I challenged myself to sit down each morning and write until I finished. Unfortunately, I once again found myself on chapter three with nowhere to go. Chapter three is such a bother.
How did I overcome this horrid habit of stopping after I had barely begun? I turned to a notebook with a cast of characters. Once I had the idea of creating a cast, somewhat like a play, and developing the characters until I was ready to write. After another failed try, I decided to choose one of the characters from my cast and begin his story.
I made it to the end. Lord William Prescott came to life. Readers will come to know him in the very near future.
I will give you a bit of advice: First, I suggest you try developing your character before you begin your story. Second, I highly recommend setting your clock fifteen minutes early each morning. Wake up and write, and after a few mornings of establishing this routine, set your clock to thirty minutes early. In time, you will arise an hour or more early, and before you know it, you will write THE END.
Yours Truly,
Duchess of Dreams
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