So how do you go about guaranteeing that your book lands in
the can’t-put-it-down category? There are several potential paths to that goal,
a few of which I’ll list here.
1. You
can follow my example and spend thirty-one years as a high school English
teacher before beginning your writing career. Frankly, unless you’re at a total
loss about what to do with the next three decades of your life, I’d skip this
option.
2. Find
out where the retired English teachers in your area hang out and pay them a
visit. It wouldn’t hurt to pick up a couple boxes of donuts along the way and
put them on a table off to one side of the room. The retirees might think
they’re at yet another faculty meeting, and you could give them your manuscript
to proofread while they enjoy the free pastries.
3. Join
a writers group and identify the best writer there. Then befriend that person
(praise, pastries, whatever) and be completely open to every comment,
suggestion or criticism that individual has to offer.
4. Go
Google crazy. The problem here, of course, is that you’d have to at least know
what was wrong and then Google a solution. Plus, contrary to what you might
have heard, you really can’t trust everything you read on the Net. (True story:
The Wikipedia entry for one of my college roommates, who went on to become a
best-selling author, says he was born in 1951, which would have made Richard
twelve our freshman year. I’m pretty sure I would have noticed.)
In the end, the how
isn’t as important as the what. One
way or another, get help. Even the best writers occasionally hit a literary
speed bump, and it’s nice to have someone around to pick you up and point you
in the right direction when that happens.
A final word of
advice, something I used to tell my high school students. There’s no such thing
as good writing, just good rewriting. So good luck with your writing and,
especially, your rewriting.
About the Author
Robert Germaux has written several mysteries, one book of
humorous essays and a love story, The
Backup Husband, which includes a chapter or two explaining that whole grammar
sex thing. You can find information on both Bob and his books by going to his Amazon
Author Page.
fun essay! One of my best friends is a high school English teacher.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robert, for your excellent tips. I've reposted them on Facebook and Twitter. I frequent a Facebook group called Writers Helping Other Writers. It makes me want to scream when I read the questions that are so often posted about how to do this or that. When you respond that they should get some good reference books and read them, they don't want to hear that. Probably why you see so much dreck being self published. I would like to see English teachers start the first class every year by spending the first day of class telling the students that how well you do in this class and every English or writing class you take in the future will help determine how successful you will be in life. Because if you can write and communicate well, you will open doors that others won't be able to go through.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right that poor grammar can be the thing that pulls a reader out of a story. We can all use some help to improve our writing skills.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got older I went to college and took English classes and when I graduated from college, I became an English teacher for about twenty years. Now I belong to two writers group and find them very helpful.
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