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Sherzahd
2 hours ago
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0 miles · Cape Town
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Quote by AutumnWriter
Anyway, here's a new one. Using the word "now" when describing a progression of action taking place in the past tense.
Eg, "He was exhausted and panting now."
The word "now" means 'at this moment in the present time.' Using it as described above is incorrect. It is, however, a commonly committed error. I just heard it in a narrative on TV last night.
What would have been wrong with "He was exhausted and began to pant."?
I agree. It is important to check for inconsistencies in tense when doing a final edit. I know that I've made those very mistakes in the past. For example, with my story "Even the Clocks Stopped", I found quite a few tense errors a day or two after posting it. My suggestion would be to have someone with "fresh eyes" read your story before trying to submit it anywhere.
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Quote by Louise
One of my pet peeves is when someone creates a character who is totally unbelievable without any flaws or someone who is too whiny. As someone who writes from a first person perspective I find character layering very important. Human beings are complex creatures and they should be portrayed in fiction as such.
It's called a one-dimensional character.
I agree. I need to feel a connection to the protagonist before truly enjoying a story. It doesn't really matter if he/she isn't likeable as a person, they need to be interesting as a character. "Layering" is the best word to describe it, every veil lifted should reveal something new and unexpected. I have to feel everything the characters feel, which is why passive voice would never work for me. I subconsciously end up writing only in first person, not sure why, but I should try something fresh soon.
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Just recently, while editing a story someone sent me, I came across a myriad of errors that I had no idea any writer would still be making outside of writing a high school essay. It made me realise how ill equiped some of us are at this whole writing game. I have attempted in a small way to help by posting this thread, but i have come to realise that what I have posted here does not even come close to being the tip of an enormous iceberg of commonly made errors.
I would like to open up this forum to anyone who has a pet sin of their own they would like to discuss here. Mostly because I am too lazy to think
of any new ones right now, also because it might be fun to hear varying viewpoints.
I would like to open up this forum to anyone who has a pet sin of their own they would like to discuss here. Mostly because I am too lazy to think
of any new ones right now, also because it might be fun to hear varying viewpoints. Administration
Quote by DirtyMartini
Oooops...yet another "not good" thingy...
When you click on the friends icon on the upper right, the list of friends is not in alphabetical order as it should be...
Not good Gav, not good at all...
Hmm... mine has never been in alphabetical order.
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The Seventh Deadly Sin of Writing: Head Hopping
Firstly, allow me to apologise for my tardiness in wrapping this up.
Point of view refers to the character or person narrating the story (in other words, whose head we are in).
As writers, we are offered the chance of allowing our readers to wander through the mind of a character. This is something that sets reading apart from watching a movie. We are throwing our readers into one character’s head, which allows them to connect with that character, grow a bond with, and even identify with his or her problems or conflicts. In order to keep that connection strong, we need to keep the point of view fixed. While switching point of view is not wrong, it does weaken the impact of the story.
Have you ever read a story written in the first person, then without warning the author reveals the thoughts of a different character? And you’re thinking, “Whoa! Did I misunderstand?”
And you scroll back up to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Well, good news is, you probably didn’t. Even better news is, you are an astute reader, so you can give yourself a congratulatory slap on the back.
Point of view breaches aren’t limited to first person tales; it is amplified when writing in third person, especially since most fiction is written in third person. Always remember that when you’re writing from one person’s point of view, he/she can only assume what another character is thinking or feeling by guessing from that character’s dialogue, actions, expression, etc. The only person whose thoughts and feelings he/she can plausibly reveal, is his/her own.
In a nutshell… always be aware of whose viewpoint you’re in and why. If you need to change viewpoints, never do it without warning.
Firstly, allow me to apologise for my tardiness in wrapping this up.
Point of view refers to the character or person narrating the story (in other words, whose head we are in).
As writers, we are offered the chance of allowing our readers to wander through the mind of a character. This is something that sets reading apart from watching a movie. We are throwing our readers into one character’s head, which allows them to connect with that character, grow a bond with, and even identify with his or her problems or conflicts. In order to keep that connection strong, we need to keep the point of view fixed. While switching point of view is not wrong, it does weaken the impact of the story.
Have you ever read a story written in the first person, then without warning the author reveals the thoughts of a different character? And you’re thinking, “Whoa! Did I misunderstand?”
And you scroll back up to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Well, good news is, you probably didn’t. Even better news is, you are an astute reader, so you can give yourself a congratulatory slap on the back. Point of view breaches aren’t limited to first person tales; it is amplified when writing in third person, especially since most fiction is written in third person. Always remember that when you’re writing from one person’s point of view, he/she can only assume what another character is thinking or feeling by guessing from that character’s dialogue, actions, expression, etc. The only person whose thoughts and feelings he/she can plausibly reveal, is his/her own.
In a nutshell… always be aware of whose viewpoint you’re in and why. If you need to change viewpoints, never do it without warning.
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Quote by DirtyMartini
Oh btw...just thought I'd mention...I was in the dentist office a couple of days ago, and they had a copy of Green Eggs And Ham...so, of course, I read it...
So, if anyone asks me the last book I read...
Your dentist has excellent taste. So Alan, what is the last book you read?
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Quote by DirtyMartiniQuote by Sherzahd
Sleepy
Lol...I'm actually fairly awake today...but, I know the feeling...the last few days here had been rainy and nasty...and I'm very sensitive to weather...
I have a terrible time waking up if the weather is nasty...
It's been storming here for days, flippin' cold as well, but I love this weather, it's rather comforting.
PS: Yes, I do know that this isn't one word, but he started it.....
that just feels weird.... maybe I'm coming down with something.... Administration
Quote by DirtyMartiniQuote by ladysharon
I won't dumb down anything I took the time and energy to write for someone to get mad because he/she doesn't know what a word or phrase means.
I agree with you wholeheartedly that you shouldn't "dumb down" anything...I do however, think that you should not do the opposite...try to "smarten up" a story by tossing in big words that are not commonly used, especially in dialogue...
I agree. Too many times writers try to "smarten up" (never heard that phrase before) their work and it just loses the reader. If you aren't writing something for academics to read, then who are you really impressing by using words that casual readers won't understand? I don't mean shy away from using your intelligence, neither do I mean "dumb it down", I'm just saying that reading fiction should be fun and entertaining, or you lose your reader. Anything that makes them stop reading (to google a word or grab a dictionary), makes them lose the pace that you as a writer tried so hard to create.
Just my opinion.
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Quote by DirtyMartini
Here is something that I know will thrill more than a few people on this fine site...
Lost Dr. Seuss stories to be published in September
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/lost-dr-seuss-stories-to-be-published-in-september.html
So, once again you'll be able to get your Seuss fix...
Now that's the best news I've had in a while.
(one of the books in the Maximum Ride series) by James Patterson. Administration
Been there, done that, wrote a poem about it.....
We all go through phases of drought at some stage or another, for me it's been nearly four years since I've written anything worth reading. I have been working on six different stories for the last five months, I don't see a conclusion in sight any time soon. And I have about six other ideas for new stories.
I never beat myself up about it though, I just channel all that frustration into writing poetry.
My advice would be.... don't force it, good writing is never forced. Take a break from writing seriously and just dabble around for fun, inspiration often lies in the least obvious places.
We all go through phases of drought at some stage or another, for me it's been nearly four years since I've written anything worth reading. I have been working on six different stories for the last five months, I don't see a conclusion in sight any time soon. And I have about six other ideas for new stories.
I never beat myself up about it though, I just channel all that frustration into writing poetry.
My advice would be.... don't force it, good writing is never forced. Take a break from writing seriously and just dabble around for fun, inspiration often lies in the least obvious places.
