"How To Write": Which book?

FatGuy · 05-05-2016, 12:50 PM

Hey guys, I know this question will make me come across as stupid to the Mobileread community and because of this, I've been putting off asking this question for a long time. I realised tonight that I can no longer continue to be passive and avoid getting help.

My question is about me improving my basic punctuation. I feel like I get enough practice writing, but I need help with this.

I'm in desperate need of a reliable and verified ebook written by a professional writer or someone that's a well-respected writer. Specifically, I need information so that I know exactly when to use a ";"(semi-colon) "--"(dash) and a ","(comma).

Thank you for any ebook suggestions!

shalym · 05-05-2016, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatGuy

Hey guys, I know this question will make me come across as stupid to the Mobileread community and because of this, I've been putting off asking this question for a long time. I realised tonight that I can no longer continue to be passive and avoid getting help.

My question is about me improving my basic punctuation. I feel like I get enough practice writing, but I need help with this.

I'm in desperate need of a reliable and verified ebook written by a professional writer or someone that's a well-respected writer. Specifically, I need information so that I know exactly when to use a ";"(semi-colon) "--"(dash) and a ","(comma).

Thank you for any ebook suggestions!

So you're not actually looking for a book on "how to write", you're looking for a book on grammar rules. This is one that was recommended to my son's Freshman comp class by his professor. http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Book-Gram...nglish+grammar If you don't need the paper book, you can also go to this site http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation_rules.asp which has all of the content of the book.

Hope this helps.

Shari

Dr. Drib · 05-05-2016, 09:58 PM

Moved to the Writers' Forum, where opinions and recommendations will abound!

Don
(Moderator)

kennyc · 06-10-2016, 09:08 AM

Strunk and White The Elements of Style for Grammar/Usage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style

there is an on-line version.....google it...

gmw · 06-11-2016, 09:54 AM

Suggestions like the one from Kenny are important; you need an appropriate education, or a book like that, that as a starting point. The problem is that the use of punctuation in fiction is rather fluid and dependent on the writer and style.

Generally fiction needs to be a bit more relaxed than the strict adherence to the rules would seem to allow. You have to learn what the rules are and where it is acceptable (or even expected) to bend or break them. Finding the right compromise is no easy task, and I've never found a good reference for writing fiction. (If such references did exist, I suspect that each would say different things.)

There are two good places to expand your education:

1) Read in your genre, but don't get lost in the story, pay attention to the text. Study how the sentences and paragraphs are constructed and work out why certain things are presented as they are.

2) I believe the best way way to to learn how to use punctuation with your writing is to write and then get it corrected. It can help if you have a suitable friend to aid you in the first passes before searching for a professional.

You can make a start on your own by reading the text aloud. I have found that text-to-voice software can be quite useful, letting you hear how your text is being interpreted. It won't necessarily help you get strictly correct punctuation, but it can highlight awkward sentences. Quite often awkward sentences are where we start looking for complex punctuation that wouldn't be necessary with some simple restructuring.

kennyc · 06-11-2016, 11:35 AM

And if you are looking to go beyond just a grammar/style book I've got three that are at the top of my list.....and I've bought/read tons of them...

The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante

Reading like a Writer by Francine Prose

and more traditionally
Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway
there are a number of editions of this one - I have an old 2nd edition but it's great!

all of these include complete stories, discussion, questions, exercises etc.

Kyle Connor · 08-19-2016, 06:41 AM

You must follow some writing blogs. Like I use TheWritePractice, WriteToDone and the WriteLife.

crich70 · 08-19-2016, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Strunk and White The Elements of Style for Grammar/Usage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style

there is an on-line version.....google it...

05-05-2016, 12:50 PM	#1
FatGuy Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 1804362 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: iPad Mini 3	"How To Write": Which book? Hey guys, I know this question will make me come across as stupid to the Mobileread community and because of this, I've been putting off asking this question for a long time. I realised tonight that I can no longer continue to be passive and avoid getting help. My question is about me improving my basic punctuation. I feel like I get enough practice writing, but I need help with this. I'm in desperate need of a reliable and verified ebook written by a professional writer or someone that's a well-respected writer. Specifically, I need information so that I know exactly when to use a ";"(semi-colon) "--"(dash) and a ","(comma). Thank you for any ebook suggestions!

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05-05-2016, 09:58 PM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,613 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Moved to the Writers' Forum, where opinions and recommendations will abound! Don (Moderator)

06-10-2016, 09:08 AM	#4
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Strunk and White The Elements of Style for Grammar/Usage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style there is an on-line version.....google it...

06-11-2016, 09:54 AM	#5
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Suggestions like the one from Kenny are important; you need an appropriate education, or a book like that, that as a starting point. The problem is that the use of punctuation in fiction is rather fluid and dependent on the writer and style. Generally fiction needs to be a bit more relaxed than the strict adherence to the rules would seem to allow. You have to learn what the rules are and where it is acceptable (or even expected) to bend or break them. Finding the right compromise is no easy task, and I've never found a good reference for writing fiction. (If such references did exist, I suspect that each would say different things.) There are two good places to expand your education: 1) Read in your genre, but don't get lost in the story, pay attention to the text. Study how the sentences and paragraphs are constructed and work out why certain things are presented as they are. 2) I believe the best way way to to learn how to use punctuation with your writing is to write and then get it corrected. It can help if you have a suitable friend to aid you in the first passes before searching for a professional. You can make a start on your own by reading the text aloud. I have found that text-to-voice software can be quite useful, letting you hear how your text is being interpreted. It won't necessarily help you get strictly correct punctuation, but it can highlight awkward sentences. Quite often awkward sentences are where we start looking for complex punctuation that wouldn't be necessary with some simple restructuring.

06-11-2016, 11:35 AM	#6
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	And if you are looking to go beyond just a grammar/style book I've got three that are at the top of my list.....and I've bought/read tons of them... The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante Reading like a Writer by Francine Prose and more traditionally Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway there are a number of editions of this one - I have an old 2nd edition but it's great! all of these include complete stories, discussion, questions, exercises etc.

08-19-2016, 06:41 AM	#7
Kyle Connor Member Posts: 24 Karma: 2156764 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: California Device: none	You must follow some writing blogs. Like I use TheWritePractice, WriteToDone and the WriteLife.

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