First, don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of CRACKED by K. M. Walton. Go here to enter. I will announce the winner tomorrow.
On with the post (Sorry if there are mistakes, I'm super sick):
It has taken me years to face my weakness. It's not easy and I'm still embarrassed by it. I finally decided that I need to confront it. I need to in order to grow. It's actually holding me back. I'm not talking about chocolate or a super hottie.What is it? Grammar. I stink at it. It's embarrassing to admit, in fact, I'm ashamed, but I need to overcome. I must work my butt off to perfect it.
Now, I'm sure a lot of you are laughing. Fine. Maybe teasing. Whatever. Or saying to yourself, "She calls herself a writer?" I get it. But I'm sure you have a weakness too. That's why I'm pushing through, because no matter what others think of me, I know in my heart I'll get there. I will get an agent, I may be 80, but I will. I will get published, again I may be like 100, but I will. Why? Because I'm willing to work. I'm willing to learn and grow and help others.
So I asked some friends what self help books they'd recommend. Thanks to Stina Lindenblatt, Lydia Kang, and Theresa Milstein for their suggestions.
The recommendations:
IT WAS THE BEST OF SENTENCES. IT WAS THE WORST OF SENTENCES. by June Casagrande
WHEN YOU CATCH AN ADJECTIVE, KILL IT by Ben Yagoda
SIN AND SYNTAX by Constance Hale
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MISPLACED MODIFIER by Bonnie Trenga.
A DASH OF STYLE: THE ART AND MASTERY OF PUNCTUATION by Noah Lukeman
STRUNK AND WHITE. THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by by William Strunk, E. B. White and Roger Angell
Web sites that may help:
Grammar Girl-- Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Crystal Clear Proofing
Justine Dell- Check out her grammar police posts.
I'm sorry if I've forgotten any websites (remember I'm super sick). Please add your link or your favorite link in the comments and I will put it in the post.
Also, what are your favorite self help books on grammar?
Have a great day!
Now I'm drawing a blank, but I know several others who post about grammar!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be embarrassed at all--there are so many grammar rules that I'm sure we are all ignorant of at least a few of them. Great recommendations! I'll check them out.
ReplyDeleteThose are all awesome. I forgot to get back to you about the grammar books I have. Are you still holding??
ReplyDeleteHere they are: 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary. (These are little exercises in wordage, but has plenty about usage, too.)
Shrunk and White is the best, BTW.
Webster also has New Essential Writer's Companion. (All rules of grammar.)
No way! Don't be embarrassed. Writers are notoriously poor at grammar. It's weird...Maybe I made that up, but I remember reading that somewhere...I definitely need to read those myself. I'm HORRIBLE at spelling. Suck suck suck. This weekend I had to gripe with myself while loading the washing machine about words being spelled like they sound and what a-hole decided to make things spelled stupid for no apparent reason.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better!!
My grammar was worse than I knew and embarassingly enough I'm an English major. The problem is in college you don't take any grammar classes, so it doesn't really matter that I have an English degree. LOL. But all the revising, I did last year helped to improve it. I'm sure it's still not perfect, but I got a lot better. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThose are some excellent grammar books. I'm going to have to check out the S&S one. And you will achieve your dreams!!
ReplyDeleteROFL at the Ben's title. You know a book is great when it has an imaginative title like that. :)
ReplyDeleteA lot of people (including writers) struggle with bad grammar. No one's perfect. We all make mistakes.
Those are great suggestions! My grammar has improved over the years. I think there are things that still stump us all.
ReplyDelete