Kurcio
Rank: member
Forum Rank:
Chuunin
Posts: 444
Joined on:
October 30, 2007
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#1
This credit for this banner all goes to adrelinen!
Surprise Tag/Banner by Rage -- credit to him.
Introduction
Hello, I am a fellow writer/author just like what you are going to be now. Grammar is very important in life, so reading this, will improve it so you will develop better skills. Once, you have read this, writing will be something you will like. I created it myself.
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RYAN916 Of The Soul-Boards Community wrote:
Kurcio originally made a topic for this, as you can tell by the sticky. It's a good idea, a grammar guide and story guide, but there were many errors in his topic, too many to go through and point out individually, so I decided to make this topic. In short, this is to make a good idea better.
Grammar
Basically, grammar can be summed up as how words and their components work together. Using good grammar can make you seem intelligent, eloquent, and you'll be respected. Bad grammar will get you a lack of respect. Please heed my advice if you wish to not be a social reject.
Commas
The comma sign (,) is used to show a pause in a sentence or conversation. Used correctly, the comma makes everything flow naturally, and can also form a complete sentence.
Ex. (Correct Usage):
"Man, I'm out of breath."
"That man is quite tall, and he's smart.
Ex. (Incorrect Usage and When it Should be used):
"Man, I'm out, of breath."
"That man is quite tall. That man is smart."
Incorrect usage of the comma such as too many commas is a big no-no. It can ruin the flow of a sentence, and it just looks bad.
The comma is used for the following:
Listing items
A pause in a sentence
To combine sentences (when used in conjunction with "and".)
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Complete and incomplete sentences.
Hmm...
A complete sentence is generally a complete idea, and has a subject (usually a noun, but in this bastard's language of English there are exceptions) and a predicate (basically, a verb.)
An example of a complete sentence:
The man kicked the ball very far.
An incomplete sentence is best summed up as a sentence that succeeds in creating a subject yet has no idea.
Example:
The kid with green eyes.
There is no predicate, therefore the sentence is incomplete.
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Your and You're.
Ah, the great mistake. I've seen many people who feign intelligence yet fail to grasp this concept.
"Your" is a possesive word. It shows ownership.
"You're" is a contraction of "you are", meaning someone is something.
Example:
"Is that dog eating your homework?"
"You're pretty funny, kid."
There. Whatever you do, please do your best to not confuse these two. They are very different.
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Homophones
Words that are different, but sound the same. The reason behind the your and you're mistake. Other mistakes include hour and ours, to, two, and too, and here and hear.
Please be careful when using words such as these. Try proof-reading your sentences to catch these mistakes.
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Apostrophes
The apostrophe (') is an important symbol. It shows a contraction, and is used to replace letters when using "color language" (runnin' instead of running.) Please please PLEASE use the apostrophe when using contractions. It looks better, anf you'll be better off if you do so.
Ex:
Im = I'm
Cant = Can't
Wont = Won't
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Spelling
Correct spelling not only makes your sentences easier to read and makes you seem intelligent, but it's a good skill to have as well.
If you're ever in doubt about how to spell a word, just use google. Type in the way you're trying to spell the word and Google will fix it for you. Ta-da!
As I'm very tired, I've forgotten some things, but I'll update this thread.
Aspiring writers, check out Kurcio's stickied topic.
Thank you!
I would like to thank Ryan for his extra information about my writing lesson. Please look into it. He will update it more soon, he's just a little tired, that's all.
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Title Thinking
Thinking of a title can be difficult or easy. If your title is easy to think of, all you have to worry is making a story based on it. If you create a title and at the end, it's not based on it, don't worry, just change the title and go back to your writing.
If it is difficult to think up a title, just type in (No Title Yet) but make sure, you tell that you have written some parts of your story. Once you have written some of your story, you may think up a goal or sole purpose of your story and then publish your title.
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Always Plan
Planning is used for all, world-wide authors. If you plan, you don't have to worry about what goes next. All authors do it, so they can make the story interesting. Want to know how? You know how in the story, there's flashbacks, well, listen to this. If you plan it out, maybe there was a person behind you and that is how you remembered him. These happen in the videos we watch but it can be useful in planning.
Here is an example:
I walked happily to the school when I happen to see a rubbish bin move. It startled me. I did not know what that thing is but on the top, there was a card. A business card to be exact. It was a small man wearing glasses that looks very tiny on the card. It states "Cleaning Service Q.Q.Q." I threw about the business card and kept walking.
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Let say... three days later, but in the writing, you talk about what happened in the third days.
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When I walked to school, the man I saw in the business card was at my school. I wonder why.
And there is a perfect example. We used the card first to express mystery and the reader totally forgets about it and soon when the reader reads it again, they will go "I know him!" It is used quite often.
To sum it up, planning is great and makes your story, one point better.
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Start Story
There are many ways of starting a story. Some people start off with a description of the scene. I'm sure you have learnt this at school. It's called Setting the Scene. Another way is to start by making a speech. This will make you want to read what's next, so it was to be very convincing. Such as: "Why is that gun under your desk, Steve? This is suppose to be a school, not an army boot camp."
That way is very much used. Or maybe a little over-used once you know about it. There is another way, by talking in first person of a character in the story. This is of course like a Prologue. Starting this way off is of course, like Setting the Scene but in the character's point of view. Have you heard in a play, you must always act as character until you are off the stage? This is the same case except you must talk as the character till the end of the Prologue or once he or she is finished. To make the reader want to find out more. You shouldn't tell who is actually talking. Usually, once the reader has joined with the story, they will find out.
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The Big Problem
In every story, there should be a problem. One that stacks up to another and another. That is why Naruto for example is exciting. Every great story needs one. A problem can be series of small ones, or one big problem. Going back to planning, you should have already created one. If not, you could ask fellow writers for some help. This is known as a Writers' Block. Just chill, do something else, and soon, you shall find the solution. Make sure, once you created a problem, there must be a way to solve it. There must or the story will never end.
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Endings -- So Beautiful
All stories have to come to an end. Everyone thinks making an ending is really easy. But it's more than it meets the eye. If you just create an easy ending, it is known as a Cheap Ending. Many of your readers will ask questions like: What happened to the boy? Did the building get destroyed? Was the ending good? Why did you stop?
If you don't explain your ending thoroughly, people will ask why you quit, when you actually finished. This is why you need to actually, think of an ending. It may be beautiful, maybe cruel, either way you have to think of one. This doesn't have to be part of your planning. The reason for this, because this is like the title. You can change it anytime.
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Reviewing/Rewriting
In order to create a great story, you must ask people to review your work, just in case for typos. If they do see one, change it as soon as possible. Before you even do this step, you should reread your work and change some if necessary. Some people are just bored people, just trying to raise their post count so, they write anything. Make sure of this. Rereading and changing is obviously Proofreading.
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Grammar Issues
Using the best grammar is the best, of course. This is when a dictionary or thesaurus comes in handy. For example, instead of the words stomped the bug, it can be more grammar-y and descriptive like without any thought, he squashed the small, cute bug to the ground, it was the last of their species.
Grammars are one of the most important parts of reading and make sure; you have a dictionary or thesaurus.
Recommended Virtual Dictionary
Recommended Virtual Thesaurus
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Sentence Structure
The usage of one sentence. Sometimes may be difficult. This is where. You may need some help. Making a sentence too short. Can disturb the reader's attention. To something else. Some sentences that are short. Is good but must have a purpose. You can't just make short sentences. All the time. Such as: I'm a boy. I have hair. I have blue hair. To be exact.
This is really bad. Because, you all know this is for small kids. Writing small sentences. Some short sentences are good. Like these ones: If I could sum up my hair in just one word this is what it would be. None.
Very useful and interest the reader if you use it properly like I have shown you above.
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Long sentences are great but making them too long will bore out the reader, you can't just make long sentences just to prove that you are a great writer and can make everything in just one sentence, no this is terrible; here is an example: I am a boy with blue hair, blue nose, blue eyes, blue skin, not that I love blue or anything, anyway, the next day, I went to the school to play with my friends and then all had a good time so...
This is very bad for a readers' mouth sometimes because some of them actually read with their mouth and they will have to continuously breathe more and more times which is bad, sometimes, long sentences are good (yet still not too long) like this one: Around the corner, I saw something, a small furry animal, it was not a kitten nor any other furry animal, it was half beaver, half dog, how weird was that!
This is useful too, to make the reader read more and more to see what will happen. Having too much of these are bad too.
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Microsoft Word Checker
Microsoft Word is used to write and save words. They have their very own Spell Checker. This is very useful too for your writing because sometimes, you may have got some reviews and changing, yet some are by people, not by the very computer itself. This is why Microsoft Word comes in. Just copy and paste your writing and then if you have some green, blue or red lines beneath them right click and see the problem. Sometimes, the computer may be wrong so you have to reread the sentence. Don't take it for granted and just click what is the first recommendation. Look it over and you will see if they are right.
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Overuse Of Commas
The overuse of commas is bad. I thank the Moderator, Narikku for mentioning it to me. If you overuse commas like these ones ---> " " , , it will make your writing bad. This is because, everything you do it, it makes your readers stop reading. Inverted Commas are bad too, because it will make your writing like " " " " " " " " " ". This is not good, anyhow.
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Full Stop Routine
Some writers put too much full stops. There is a simple way to stop this. Make longer sentences just like explained in Sentence Structure. Some full stops like these, I am lonely...
Those ones are good, but putting a lot of full stops is bad. Most of all, don't forget your full stops. To do this, all you have to do is read long sentences and then realize if you've made out too long. This is a good method if you are just trying to put in full stops. Also, if they are short sentences, read them to and instead of putting full stops, put commas. Again, don't put too much.
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Picture Surprise
This is something that I just created or thought up. What if you created some kind of banner/cover to your story? This could bring attention to a viewer (not a reader) so they could read it. To do this, you could either ask someone to draw it, if it isn't a character from Naruto or get a Gfxer to help you create it. If it isn't a character from Naruto and no one is giving you a hand, just try drawing it.
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Conclusion
Hopefully this writing lesson, I have given you has improved your writing skills and made you a better writer. To sum up your writing life, here is what I will say...
Happy Writing To All.
Small Tag made by Rage.
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Topic: Curse's Story Writing Lesson / Narutoria Library
Posted on January 4, 2010 03:20
