On Writing

May 29, 2008

This is just a reminder to anyone who hasn't explored my website thoroughly. There is here a free 96-page booklet as a PDF, ON WRITING. It's a collection of earlier blog posts that focus on actual writing techniques, and addresses things like character development, description, point of view, etc. Y'know, all that nuts-and-bolts stuff.

Here's a sample:

James Woods directed a film a few years ago and got Melanie Griffith to act in it and in an 

interview he was asked why and he said she was good and she fit the part and "she has 

whatever that 'ooomph' it is that makes somebody a star."  

 

In writing, we all need that 'ooomph.' There's very little "good enough" in the arts. It's like 

being in school and doing "good enough" to get a B+ or even an A-, and saying that's "good 

enough." But in the world of getting your writing published and then noticed, you need to 

add that something else. You have to not just work on perfection in mechanics--spelling and 

grammar--but shine everything to a high gloss.  

 

It's a mistake to think editors and/or agents will "fix" the spelling or grammar or other 

mechanical issues if the story is good enough (whatever the hell that is). They're busy and the 

industry has shifted toward editors largely acting as "acquisition agents" and their jobs as 

"shepherding" the manuscript to publication, more than shaping the work and editing the 

content. That isn't to say they don't edit and shape, but it's not their primary job.  

 

Momma didn't teach you that "neatness counts?" It does. Get the spelling and grammar right 

and all the other mechanics of writing. Here's something I think editors and agents believe to 

be true--spelling and grammar is Writing 101. You're not going to get published until you 

graduate from Writing 401. If you're screwing up Writing 101, you're not ready.  

Cheers,

Mark Terry