I have good story lines and great ideas, but my grammer can be pretty horrible sometimes, will that hurt me or should i let an editor worry about that?
2006-09-20 08:53:12 · 13 answers · asked by JustJane 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
Read Uncle Remus...he had the worse grammar and the sweetest little stories.
Also, Huck Finn (although that was written in)
But with a good editor you and your stories could be famous. People like to read what they hear. It makes things seem more real. Keep your dialog for certain characters like your own (with poor grammar) and have the editor (or maybe a co-writer) help you make the rest of your story "proper".
Then, someday when you are famous...a trivia question might be about how all of your salty grammar-ed characters are based on YOU!
2006-09-20 09:07:02 · answer #1 · answered by Rackjack 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, it's grammar, not grammer. And you can't actually write well if you're horrible at grammar. Good story lines are fine, but writing is about knowing how to use the language artistically, lyrically, technically. It's not really about having "great ideas" at all--those are merely starting points. If you can't work with the language, if you don't have absolute command over it, then your writing won't be worth much, no matter how significantly an editor works it over. Moreover, I'd argue that great ideas can't even be deliacately and carefully teased out of a brain that has no ability to make fine distinctions, understand how words work together, etc. That sounds a bit harsh, and I don't want to be unkind, but the world doesn't need any more lousy writing. Read more first-rate authors and develop a better capacity to use your language, and *then* consider moving ahead with your own projects.
2006-09-20 22:34:55 · answer #2 · answered by k. 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're serious about writing or following a career path that involves writing, bad grammar will hurt you. If you have a learning disability that affects your ability to learn grammar, then don't let that stop you from getting your ideas down. If, however, you just haven't had the opportunity or interest in learning it, I'd urge you to do so. The more you know about grammar, the better able you'll be to communicate your ideas in a unique way. Learning the "rules" allows you to play within them or break them with intention and can help you bring your readers more deeply into the world you create. Also, having bad grammar will make a bad impression. People will chalk it up to laziness. That being said, don't let bad grammar keep you from writing while you're working on improving it. Grammar shouldn't be an obstacle; it should be a tool.
2006-09-20 16:59:46 · answer #3 · answered by fk 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grammar is a HUGE barrier to communication, personally, and no offense, I am absolutely annoyed at people who don't make a considerable effort to spell correctly or use the correct grammar. I know I don't use all perfect grammar and spelling, and I still use a few internet slang spellings here and there, but I try to do my best.
As far as writing anything goes, you'll want to practice it all the time, when writing small notes, when talking to friends on messengers, and when you type, say things to yourself in your head and you may be able to catch grammatical errors simply by the way it sounds. There are things like "standards" in writing that for me require more class room time, I know this because I use a ton of commas and alot of them are misused. Just find out what you're lacking in and fix the problem. Writing has melody, you just have to find a way to make it unique to your way of thinking and expressions.
Your grammar can also be used to simply improve your intelligence, I notice you seem to be worried of your grammar because it's on demand right now, seems like you don't need it until it's going to deeply affect you, learn grammar for more than just making your writing better, make yourself better too!
Tip from quote "or should i let an editor worry about that?": Don't rely on others too heavily, you'll be the judge of whether or not the final result is perfect, even if it is their job. It IS your creation after all, right?
2006-09-20 16:11:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have ideas and a natural style, then you have the best parts. Grammar can be learned! There are so many excellent books on writing out there that can teach you the basics if you are willing to take the time to learn.
Honestly, if you don't have good grammar you are probably not going to get yourself an agent and publisher. If they pick up a cover letter that isn't well written, they probably won't bother reading your stories.
My two favorites are "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser and "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk, Jr. If money is an issue, you should be able to find them at your local public library, but I'd recommend purchasing a copy of at least one so you can have it as a reference book!
Keep reading anything else that you can get your hands on, too. By reading prose you will naturally pick up some of the rules and rhythms of the text.
It will take a lot of work, but learning this stuff will make all the difference in the world!
2006-09-20 18:36:48 · answer #5 · answered by Obi_San 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is my issue too. Great ideas are possible but how can you write well if you have horrible grammer? Anyway... an editor can probably help.
2006-09-20 15:56:43 · answer #6 · answered by Su 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most authors jot down everything that comes to them & go through several copies before they have a final product.
Grammar is important & can be practised along the way using a thesaurus & dictionary. Grammar won't be a problem with practise, the imagination is most important.
2006-09-20 19:13:53 · answer #7 · answered by Ivyvine 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, from your question, your grammar doesn't seem bad at all (but your spelling, punctuation and capitalization are a bit off.)
Before you send a story off, you'd better try to get someone you know who's better at the mechanics to proofread it.
Actually, before anything else, you probably need an agent.
2006-09-20 15:58:07 · answer #8 · answered by johnslat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u can have great ideas and be horrible at grammar
but before u submit ur adeas to an editor and risk rejection(since there are lots of poeple who have great ideas AND write good),find someone trustworthy to write in ur place
(make sure he or she is trustworthy enough not to steel ur ideas or worsen ur grammar
2006-09-20 16:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by eternitystella 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
let the Editor worry about it...
If your story lines are good and everything is coherent and the publisher likes your chops don't worry about it.
2006-09-20 16:02:32 · answer #10 · answered by tincre 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋