Thursday, February 28, 2008

Just Some Roaring Around...

Jen awarded me this and let me tell you I really was surprised to get this, mostly because:
The rules for being A Roar For Powerful Words recipient are that you share 3 writing tips and pass the award on to 5 more bloggers worthy of recognition and esteem.

So now I must confess. I don't know a whole heck of a lot about writing. One of my stellar, sarcastic, sadistic high school teachers who liked to make kids squirm once managed to convince me that I was screwed on the upcoming AP test because I didn't know anything about writing yet. I still to this day don't know why I believed him. Maybe I had one too many zits that day, but I thought for years afterwards that I couldn't write and didn't like to write. Eventually, some 7 years later, I realized I would have to take English 115 if I was going to graduate, and guess what? I got an A and it turned out to be really fun! That was the extent of my writing education though, because I took English 315 while I was engaged, finishing my final translation project, being out sick for a week and getting married the next week. Suffice it to say, I don't remember anything at all about that class except that the teacher was a nice lady who basically excused me from normal life, gave us "100 sonetos de amor" by Pablo Neruda for a wedding gift, and gave me a passing grade.

So, 3 tips....
Disclaimer: I only follow these tips when I dang feel like it because I'm a free spirit, not a "real" writer.
Back to the 3 tips....
I don't think I should preach about run-on sentences. Ha! There we have it.

Tip #1. Don't avoid run on sentences if you want to sound like a housewife gone mad whose life is really out of control and the only way to convey the crazy, convoluted mess of your life and how it is making you feel, is to go on and on in a tangled and confusing web of mass occurrences, thoughts, and feelings. (Yes, that was on purpose.) In other words, only do it on purpose. Try to punctuate a little bit even if you don't end the sentence. Don't do it too often or your readers will get dizzy and throw up.
OK, so tip #1 is probably illegal in the writing world. Deal with it.

Tip #2. I'm thinking that if you write something while you are distraught, giddy in love, sleep deprived, on truth serum or otherwise drugged, off your meds, drunken or impaired, you might want to hold it somewhere safe till that passes and re-read it before you let anyone see it. You will probably just want to burn most of those offerings and start over. Every once in a while, something brilliant might come out of it, so read it first.

Tip #3. Be yourself and have a point. Otherwise, what's the point? Duh! I told you I only had English 115, and I don't remember the details there, either! This may take a lot of a) thinking-don't hurt yourself. b) Editing. Don't worry about cutting yourself.

There it is. A real live published writer could probably give you some real advice, but ya asked me! I'm going to spare you (and me- still recovering from the 20 awards I gave away) the stress of having to be awarded here, but if you have some better advice, please for the love of all who read this blog, lay it on me, and I will give you a picture of a lion for your trouble. If I don't get any advice, I will pounce this award on someone when you least suspect it.

8 comments:

Maria said...

Those are great tips. Isn't that amazing how you never forget those bad experiences? I had one when I was student teaching that still haunts me today.

Theresa said...

Those are great tips. I really enjoy reading your blog. I think you are a great writer. And funny too! Theresa

Pam said...

Thanks for the good tips. You are a good writer-- and funny!

Anonymous said...

Lol...number 2 is my fave of the three. Definitely worth a look at later before posting.

Karen said...

Great tips! I love the run-on sentence one. I never thought of it making me sound like a desperate and crazed housewife, but you're right. haha And DEFINITELY re-read things. Yikes.

You're so inspired. You should write how-to-write books.

Don Mills Diva said...

Those are great tips - thanks for sharing!

caramama said...

From someone with a writing background (in undergrad, grad school and my career), let me just say that I love your writing tips! They are excellent!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Thank you your tips gave me smiles and giggles!