Post by Yoshimitsu on Jan 14, 2016 18:11:02 GMT -5
AND THIS IS NOT A READ
Figured it was worth starting a thread since it's been on my mind!
So basically, it's stuff about any literature that annoys you. It's like, TV Tropes but for stuff that you don't agree with. In writing. It might be best to lead by example.
SO HERE'S STUFF THAT ANNOYS ME IN WRITING:
Wrongly placed commas
And this is something that happens most prominently in sentences that use a connective word, something like "and", "but", "although" and so on. If you place the comma before the connective word, you are essentially making three independent clauses that all now have no relation to each other. Derek Landy is the biggest culprit that springs to mind, but I know the JK Rowling also does this and this is not something that should go into award-winning writing. Check your comma placement and, if you're using a subordinate clause, use it where it is needed (like I just did, tagging a subordinate clause to the main clause. And again like I just did! Man, I am a grammar nerd)
All Caps Shouting
If you use all caps shouting, you are not using your words. If you suffix your 'shouting' statement with "he shouted", I get it. He was shouting the line. I might even go back and re-read the line with a more shouting voice. To me? It's lazy. If you can't get across that the character is shouting even while using words like "shouted", "yelled", "bellowed", "roared", "screamed", and so on, then you need to revise your writing style. Even if your character is a shouty character and you need to emphasise that shit got real, you can make that shit in italics and tag on a "shouted" suffix and we will get it. The dude is pissed or angry or whatever, we get the intention behind it. Don't default to caps lock for dramatic moments.
Vocational Vs Oxford
Seriously. Check your Vocational and Oxford Commas. The basic summary is this:
Vocational, you are adding a comment to the end of a clause without it detracting from the original. Or you are stressing a particular word as independent from the rest of the clause. Example:
You win this round cheese the implication is that the cheese is round
You win this round, cheese the divide in the sentence shows that the cheese is being addresssed
However, an Oxford comma is primarily used in lists so that the reader can see a clear difference between the subject matters. See the example:
I went to the club with the hookers, Obama and Donald Trump
The indication here is that the person went to the club with hookers who look like Obama and Donald Trump. I know a lot of people would like to see Obama as a stripper, but Donald Trump? Hard pass.
I went to the club with the hookers, Obama, and Donald Trump.
There is a clear divide between the three - The Hookers. Obama. Donald Trump. All three get referenced without being dependent on each other. This way, you don't have to envision Donald Trump in go-go boots and a thong, and I'm sure you're thankful for it.
THAT'S MY THOUGHTS. Feel free to share your own.
Edit: Disclaimer - this is primarily aimed at published works by authors who are being paid for this. It's just personal distaste in highly acclaimed fiction like Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant that feels like an editor at least should have queried it.
Figured it was worth starting a thread since it's been on my mind!
So basically, it's stuff about any literature that annoys you. It's like, TV Tropes but for stuff that you don't agree with. In writing. It might be best to lead by example.
SO HERE'S STUFF THAT ANNOYS ME IN WRITING:
Wrongly placed commas
And this is something that happens most prominently in sentences that use a connective word, something like "and", "but", "although" and so on. If you place the comma before the connective word, you are essentially making three independent clauses that all now have no relation to each other. Derek Landy is the biggest culprit that springs to mind, but I know the JK Rowling also does this and this is not something that should go into award-winning writing. Check your comma placement and, if you're using a subordinate clause, use it where it is needed (like I just did, tagging a subordinate clause to the main clause. And again like I just did! Man, I am a grammar nerd)
All Caps Shouting
If you use all caps shouting, you are not using your words. If you suffix your 'shouting' statement with "he shouted", I get it. He was shouting the line. I might even go back and re-read the line with a more shouting voice. To me? It's lazy. If you can't get across that the character is shouting even while using words like "shouted", "yelled", "bellowed", "roared", "screamed", and so on, then you need to revise your writing style. Even if your character is a shouty character and you need to emphasise that shit got real, you can make that shit in italics and tag on a "shouted" suffix and we will get it. The dude is pissed or angry or whatever, we get the intention behind it. Don't default to caps lock for dramatic moments.
Vocational Vs Oxford
Seriously. Check your Vocational and Oxford Commas. The basic summary is this:
Vocational, you are adding a comment to the end of a clause without it detracting from the original. Or you are stressing a particular word as independent from the rest of the clause. Example:
You win this round cheese the implication is that the cheese is round
You win this round, cheese the divide in the sentence shows that the cheese is being addresssed
However, an Oxford comma is primarily used in lists so that the reader can see a clear difference between the subject matters. See the example:
I went to the club with the hookers, Obama and Donald Trump
The indication here is that the person went to the club with hookers who look like Obama and Donald Trump. I know a lot of people would like to see Obama as a stripper, but Donald Trump? Hard pass.
I went to the club with the hookers, Obama, and Donald Trump.
There is a clear divide between the three - The Hookers. Obama. Donald Trump. All three get referenced without being dependent on each other. This way, you don't have to envision Donald Trump in go-go boots and a thong, and I'm sure you're thankful for it.
THAT'S MY THOUGHTS. Feel free to share your own.
Edit: Disclaimer - this is primarily aimed at published works by authors who are being paid for this. It's just personal distaste in highly acclaimed fiction like Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant that feels like an editor at least should have queried it.