The Use of Comma and Full Stop in Dialogue

Published on by marvaseatonLeave a comment

Where you put the comma or full stop is important because it can change the meaning of a sentence. It does not happen often but I have come across writings where improper punctuation is used when writing dialogue, and full stop is used where a comma should be. Below are some examples.

  1. “I will have a soda with my sandwich.” Said Jane.  If you notice the first sentence ends at sandwich. What follows is an incomplete sentence. The correct punctuation should be, “I will have a soda with my sandwich,” said Jane.
  2. “Wait, I am coming.” Natalie said, as she hurried towards me.  In this case the first sentence ends at coming, and what follows is an incomplete sentence. The correct punctuation should be, “Wait, I am coming,” Natalie said, as she hurried towards me. 

Always read through what you have written to ensure you have complete sentences. Good luck and happy writing. 

 

 

Imagery in Writing

Published on by marvaseaton2 Comments

 

It is important to write in a way that readers can visualize what you are writing about. Write about what you see, hear, smell, taste and feel. These imagery create a vivid picture that makes the reader get caught up in the story. For example if you are writing a hospital scene you could describe the smell of disinfectant in the air, doctors and nurses busily attending to patients, or rushing to a particular room as a code blue alert sounds on the intercom. Long, spotless corridors, porters transporting patients on stretchers… create that hospital scene. Keep your stories alive with the use of imagery. Good luck and happy writing.

Black History Month

Published on by marvaseatonLeave a comment

maya angelo

As we celebrate black history month let us pay tribute to Maya Angelou for her contribution to the literary world. Today I share one of her poems with you.

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

As a Writer it is Important to Read

Published on by marvaseatonLeave a comment

Woman Sitting by the Table

There is more to writing than just setting down words on paper. You have to learn the craft and writing techniques that will make your book appeal to readers. Reading is a good way of developing your writing skills.

Read books in the genre you choose to write in. Look at the techniques the writers use. Research best selling books in your genre. This will give you an insight into the type of stories readers are interested in reading.

The more you read, the more you learn about what makes a great book great. Most successful writers, are readers, themselves. Develop the habit of reading. Good luck and happy writing.

Seeking Beta Readers

Published on by marvaseatonLeave a comment
Woman Reading Book While Sitting
I am seeking Beta Readers for my WIP. It is going through the second round of edits. The story is an emotional roller coaster of a young woman’s journey, trying to find herself. Below is a blurb.
     Reeling from the rejection of her father and later the death of her mother, Amelia Carr flees home to escape a complicated relationship with her stepfather. Enticed by the glamorous life of her cousin Charlotte, Amelia finds herself drawn into a world of men and sex. Trapped in a hotel room one day, with an angry wife threatening to kill her, Amelia must face reality. She is determined to leave the past behind and embark on a different path. Amelia becomes a nurse, and she has found the love of her life, a dashing young doctor who adores her. However, Chad knows nothing about her secret past, and she is scared she will lose him if he finds out. Can Amelia find lasting happiness or will the past come back to haunt her.

The importance of Grammar in Writing

Published on by marvaseatonLeave a comment

Blank paper with pen and coffee cup on wood table

Good grammar is the foundation of any written work, whether it is a book, an essay, a newspaper article, poetry… and the list goes on. Grammar helps the reader to understand what you are trying to say. It is is important to ensure of effective communication. Improper grammar can throw the reader off.

It is important to pay attention to the sentence structure. Your subject and verb should match. Pay attention to your commas, a misplaced comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Look at these two sentences for example: “Jane, said Tommy, is smart” and “Jane said Tommy is smart.” The use of the comma determines who is smart. Good luck and happy writing.

 

Your Story is What Holds the Readers Attention

Published on by marvaseaton2 Comments

Woman Wearing Blue Denim Jeans Holding Book Sitting on Gray Concrete at Daytime

You might have a great book cover. You may have written a good blurb. But it is the story that makes the reader want to keep turning the pages. Readers love a story that is believable. They love a story they can relate. It is therefore important to write a story that will resonate with your readers. Good luck and happy writing.