Today is officially the start of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Hundreds of thousands of writers will be participating, and I encourage anyone who hasn't tried to give it a go.
I've been debating about whether or not to participate this year myself, because of a rather full schedule. However, I know that no matter how busy you are, the best way to improve your writing is to push yourself to do even more. In light of that, I decided to do an adapted version of NaNoWriMo. Though I won't be working toward the goal of completing a new novel, I will be striving to reach a goal of 50,000 words through working on short stories and my current novel. I hope to at least churn out some new material for submissions by doing so.
For those who are participating, I wish you the best of luck, and as always, happy writing!
The Grammar Grind: Semicolons and Colons
Semicolons and colons are great for adding variety to your sentences and establishing bonds where necessary. But they are often misused because of their fluidity. It's also easy to confuse the two. So let's take a look at each and clarify when they are appropriate.
Semicolons
Semicolons can be used to link two sentences or ideas that are closely related but function independently. The joined sentences will often have a cause/effect relationship and are considered to be of equal weight. In other words, they express a similar idea or outcome.
Example: I went to the store; we were out of laundry detergent.
In the example, using a period after "store" would also be correct. However, the second half of the sentence serves as a cause to the first half, so joining the two clauses makes sense.
A good test to use for semicolons is to replace the semicolon with so or because. If the sentence makes sense with one of those words, a semicolon is likely suitable. Of course, writing the two sentences separately with a period at the end of each is always acceptable. So, if you're not sure whether the clauses can be linked with a semicolon, use a period instead.
Semicolons can also be used to separate items in a list when the items are lengthy or when you have lists within the overall list.
Example 1: When writing a book, you should consider all the characters involved and how they interact with one another; the plot and any related subplots; and what the overall goal in telling the story is (i.e. whether the protagonist will succeed or fail in getting what they want).
Example 2: In order to bake the cake, we need to buy: red, white, and blue berries; white and chocolate cake mix; and tall, medium, and short candles.
A semicolon should never be used to join fragments or to connect two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, but, and or). A comma is the appropriate punctuation in those situations. The only except is when you have a list within a list, as illustrated in the previous example.
Lastly, semicolons are used to join two main clauses with a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore, and instead). These adverbs often show cause and effect, sequence, contrast, comparison, or other similar relationships. (See Wikipedia's entry on conjunctive adverbs.)
Colons
Colons are known as the drum roll punctuation. They are used to introduce or define something and to connect related ideas of a different weight.
Example 1: In our garden this year, we planted several things: lettuce, carrots, peas, tomatoes, and cabbage.
Example 2: You only need one thing: common sense.
A good test to for colons is to replace the colon with a comma and the word namely. If the sentence still makes sense, a colon is acceptable.
Unlike the semicolon, a colon can actually be used to join an independent clause with a fragment, usually a noun. It's important to remember though that the independent clause must precede the colon, not follow it.
Note that just as with periods, colons only require one space after them.
Capitalization after a colon is another common question. The short answer is, it depends on the content following it. If the clause following it is a fragment, you should not capitalize the first word. However, if the clause is independent, a stylistic choice must be made. My preference is to capitalize the first letter of the word following a colon, but the most important thing is to be consistent. Also, if there is a proper noun following the colon, such as a name, then the first letter of the following word must be capitalized.
Quick Overview of Semicolons and Colons
1. Semicolons are used to join two independent sentences that are closely related; for separating long items in lists or lists within lists; and to connect two main clauses using a conjunctive adverb.
2. Semicolons should never be used to join fragments.
3. Semicolons cannot replace colons.
4. Colons are used to define or introduce the content following it and can be used to join an independent clause to a fragment.
5. Only one space should be used after a colon.
6. The first word after a colon should not be capitalized if the clause is a fragment; otherwise, capitalizing the first word after a colon is optional unless a proper noun is used.
Writing a Short Story
If you’re looking for a few tips on writing a short story, you can head over to Amber Skye Forbes's blog on Wordpress. She was nice enough to post a guest blog I wrote for it.
She's also looking for some more guest bloggers, so if you're interested, contact her.
4 Key Tips for Aspiring Writers
Becoming a well-known author is a common dream for most aspiring writers. The desire to write is part of who we are, and we often strive to make a living at it. But becoming a professional author isn't easy; it difficult to get your foot in the door, and it's even harder to keep producing top-notch books on a regular basis once you're in. After all, it's extraordinarily rare to write a best-selling book that makes you millions, forcing the majority of writers to also have day jobs. So how does one achieve the status of a professional?
1. Treat writing as your career, not just a hobby. If you want to be an author full-time, you have to commit yourself to it. That means forcing yourself to sit down and write every day no matter what. You also have to push yourself and strive to make your work the best it can be.
2. Get feedback from a professional. While many of your friends and family can give you valuable input as readers, they likely won't know the ins and outs of the publishing world or much in the way of professional editing. The feedback you will receive from a good editor can give you an idea of whether your writing is publication ready. It can also help you establish the things you're good at, and what you need to work on. Attending writing workshops is also a great way to improve your skills.
3. Don't rush the publication process. While you definitely want to make an effort to get your work out there and establish a name for yourself, make sure your writing is the best it can be before you do so. The best books take planning and many, many rounds of edits.
4. Build your reputation. Run a regular writing blog and meet other writers. Create a Twitter account and other social media dedicated to your writing. Let people see your skills as a writer—but take precautions to protect your rights to your work. Basically, you need to connect with others and showcase your talent. That's probably one of the most challenging things about being a writer, because most of us aren't born salespeople. But the more you can establish a name for yourself, the more interested people will become in your writing. And don't be discouraged if it takes a while to get response; for many writers, it takes years to build up their reputation.
Being a professional author takes a lifetime of commitment and hard work, as well as self-discipline. It's a long road to travel for most of us, but one worth taking. The most successful authors are the ones who spend their whole lives writing and continue to do so simply because they have a passion for it.
For more tips on becoming a professional author, check out this awesome blog post by Larry Correia: http://bit.ly/12Lz2Po.