Friday, April 8, 2011

A-Z Blogging Challenge Day 7: G is for Grammar


Yeah...fun topic.

When I first started writing seriously with the intent on finishing an entire novel, I knew nothing. I just wrote. It was kind of freeing then. No rules, no thoughts of agents or publishers, or sales or reviews.

But then I finished it and wanted to get it out there for people to read. I went through and corrected the errors I found and then I sent it out. I later realized just how awful my grammar was. I am a great speller, so that was fine, and I know the proper usage for there, their, and they're. But tenses and POV and adverbs and dialogue tags.....I could go on and on......

It had been many years since I had last taken a grammar class. Like freshman year of high school, if not before that. I couldn't remember all the rules. I had to buy myself a little grammar handbook and basically relearn it all. And it didn't sick. I had to keep referring back to that little book repeatedly. Even now, after going through the editing process three times with a professional editor, and learning a TON, I still don't remember it all.

But thank God for my editor!! She is fantastic and just keeps helping me!! My only hope is that each time it at least gets a little better!!!

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop by the fabulous Sondrae Bennett's Blog! She interviewed me about my newest release, Paradise Cove!

7 comments:

  1. My mom was an English teacher, so we learned grammar early on.

    That said, I spent my entire senior year in high school, at the top of my class, with the word GRAMMER written on the spine of my grammar book.

    So ain't nobody perfect. ;)

    - Eric

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  2. I remember taking a course on Grammar during my college days. It laid down a solid foundation for me now that I'm trying to write here and there. Great post! I'll run over to read your interview now. Thanks for visiting me today.

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  3. LOL Eric!!! That is too funny!!!!!!

    A foundation is good Septembermom. Me, I hadn't taken any grammar classes since elementary school...so relearning it in my 30's was so tough!!

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  4. I despise bad grammar... we are all guilty from time to time... but repeat offenders AHHHHHHH

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  5. Every time I get a good critique, my grammar gets a little better.

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  6. I'm an English major, so for the most part, grammar comes naturally - but not always. I'm so glad the Internet exists so I can look stuff up! :)

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  7. I hated learning grammar in school. Thankfully a lot of it stuck. At least now though, I'm willing to learn.

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