Is bad grammar becoming the accepted norm?

I read this post today by the very successful agent, Kristen Nelson (who is on my dream list of agents) about 50 Shades of Gray and what books like it are doing to the publishing industry....basically books that are poorly written, but by some fluke are getting mega attention.

The comment made by the very first person really made me think. (I didn't go on to read many more comments, as I had a feeling I might walk away from this post feeling crabby and I really didn't want to puts myself in a bad mood!)

Anyway, if you don't want to go read it, the commenter basically said that the average reader doesn't care about style and grammar, only editors and agents do.

This really made me start to wonder. Have readers just become used to poorly written books with bad grammar and stories with shallow plot lines?

Part of me says no. I also read recently that readers have become extremely leery of the 99 cent book...they've been burned far too many times. It's only a buck, but still....once you buy 10 or 20 bad 99 cent books, it sure adds up.

As always, this industry just keeps changing and morphing. Where would I be without Twitter to constantly update me??? LOL!

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!

Those little sayings that help A LOT!

I am 33 years old and I still, quite frequently, use "Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey". I used it today. I was taking down the tree and our stand has 4 twisty screw-type of things that hold the trunk in place. I got down on my hands and knees and recited the saying before proceeding. I do it with screws, with garden hoses, with anything that turns.

I have two acquaintances, both named Jessica. One goes by Jessie, the other just Jess. The way I remember who is who...Jessie has a son. Extra letters, extra person. Jess has a son now too, but I think I got it down! :)

I know there are tons of these little sayings for grammar too. I could only think of a couple: "I before E, unless after C". But I don't think that one quite works all the time. And "Your Principal is your Pal".

Got any that you use frequently, for grammar or other things??? Please share!!!