Writing Tips - Type Inner Speech in Italics etcetera

(Picture Credit - Computer2 by Psuca)

Early in the new year I read some articles on self-editing, on a Linkedin Writer Group forum. One piece explained how you type inner speech in italics. You live and learn.

As a Writer in English, it goes without saying that a mastery of English is most useful to the writer. Fortunately I have quite a good eye for spelling and my grasp of basic sentence-writing is okay. Using words such as okay might be a bit naughty, but at least I usually Notice when I’m being naughty. That capital ‘n’ is a tad mischievous too, but hey... The spell-checker on “Word” usually makes me toe the line, though some of their grammatical “rules” I frankly find sheer nonsense. So I believe most of my English to be sound.

Inner speech in italics please

Yet command of the English language is not the whole story. Articles on Linkedin about “Self Editing” have recently reminded me of that. Last year I would have typed some narrative as follows:

John headed down the dark alley with some trepidation. Now he saw a huge shadowy figure up ahead.

John: “Hello, is anyone there?”

The figure came closer and loomed over him.

John (thinks): “Let’s get outta here John!”

(Narrative over) Alternatively I might have used the word “thought”, but let’s not nitpick. THIS year the last two lines would be:

The figure came closer and loomed over him.

Let’s get outta here John!

(Narrative over) Frankly I find unbolded italics rather flimsy looking, but if that’s how it’s done...

To be honest I never noticed this editing convention. I guess that’s because I only started typing in relatively recent years. A feeble excuse, I know.

 

No full stop at the end of a title

Another one I admit to missing is that one about not putting a full stop at the end of a title (usually?). To be honest I thought “Suite 101” writing site were being Grammar Nazis when they told me that. But they were right. If you don’t get told... Recently I’ve had to delete LOTS of full stops... (Can I risk that on Triond I wonder with that “title fix” glitch?). You live and learn, as they say. Funny how you can miss such things.

I once put in a history essay that one country “claimed” war on another. It should have been “declared” of course. All I can say is I must have misheard this in some earlier lesson. The history teacher who pointed this out to me (a certain Terry Dennison of international swimming-coach fame) was the first person I can recall highlighting my limitations.

 

Positive Feedback

In my work as a Careers Adviser we were always told to give “Positive Feedback”: I.E. do Not say anything Negative. But I do wonder about that. Sentences such as, “The dog’s of war all chased the dogs bone” really irritate me. Apostrophes folks! Surely you have to point out errors etc. at some time.

Frankly some articles on “Triond” are gobbledygook at best and perhaps something needs saying to the individuals concerned. I will ponder on that.

For now I will carry on with my lifelong learning. Frankly I think some of the most “advanced” grammatical rules are a bit “OTT” (over the top) so I will always be a “Maverick” to some extent. Artistic licence...

I will always write with my “Inner Voice” which can always lead into some informality. I have my preferences. Old buddy Rob Stoakes critiqued one of my poems most aptly: “You can tell it’s a Butters.”

Yes, sorry but I love an exclamation mark! I like my commas too. Don’t use semi colons much (whereas my old friend Neil uses them a lot). But in my own way I’ll always try to be progressive and continuously improve.

Longer Pieces for more Views.

Another thing I read the other day was that to get more Views you need to write 1000-1100 words. Google etc. are now looking for more substantial pieces packed with quality content. For quite some time I have restricted myself to about 400 words on the assumption that most online “readers” have a low attention span. Have been deliberately keeping down to one page. Well, I am reconsidering this. Look out for longer pieces. 727 words before this elliptical sentence or fragment according to “Word”. You have been warned.

Paul Butters


More postings -      http://authspot.com/short-stories/colonisation-earth-part-three/

http://authspot.com/poetry/swirling-snow/

http://authspot.com/poetry/determined-8/

http://authspot.com/poetry/nick-2/

http://authspot.com/poetry/car-crazy/

http://authspot.com/poetry/arthur-5/

http://authspot.com/poetry/kepler/

http://www.picable.com/People/Sports/Skateboarding/Cleethorpes-Cheeky-Free-Parking.4249171

http://sportales.com/soccer/manchester-united-versus-real-madrid/