English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary

[Courtenay]

Well, as I said (or laughed, or grinned), Enid got away with it all the time...

[Julie2owlsdene]

Enid was a successful, writer, Courtenay, using a few publishers, these days, it's a different kettle of fish hoping to publish, which is why so many self publish.

[Rob Houghton]

I would say 'to thine own self be true' - do what feels right to YOU - it's your writing, and if it flows well, that's all that really matters. If the ideas are good and the publisher/agent enjoys what you've written, it won't matter how you attribute speech, as long as it makes sense - and from what I've seen of your writing, it does, and it flows well.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Sound advice from a fellow writer, thanks, Rob. I'll take your advice

[Courtenay]

I meant, you could always have used that argument when Keith tried to "correct" your use of those words — that Enid did that all the time and you were deliberately imitating her style.

[Rob Houghton]

Mind you, I've been rejected many times by publishers in the past - but it's nearly always because they are looking for specific things, not due to grammatical errors - unless of course they are glaring. For example, I had a short story published in 'The People's Friend' but the next two I sent were rejected. I think perseverance is the key, as well as just hitting the right reader/agent at the right moment! Good luck!

[Julie2owlsdene]

At least you can say you are published, Rob. These days a publisher won't accept unsolicited scripts, where as an agent will at least read the first three chapters, before they pop it into the 'slush' bin!

[Courtenay]

Tony will accept unsolicited scripts for the Journal, won't he, though? Just about all of us here in this conversation have been published there. Even I have!

[Rob Houghton]

These days a publisher won't accept unsolicited scripts, where as an agent will at least read the first three chapters, before they pop it into the 'slush' bin!

That's bad news. Last time I sent chapters to a publisher was maybe six years ago, and many publishers still accepted unsolicited manuscripts then. As you say, at least an agent will read what they are sent - although I guess that might be harder to get into than with a publisher. I'll have to try a few of mine again sometime soon!

[Julie2owlsdene]

Much of it is done on line too, Rob. You have to check out an agent, go on their website, and send only what they require, plus a bit about yourself.

[Katharine]

Normally I'm a stickler for 'correct' grammar etc., but in this case I make an exception. Like Nigel I feel that it sounds much more relaxed to say "It's Berta," giggled Anne, rather than "It's Berta," said Anne with a giggle.

Stick a few expletives in and some snogging and I'm it will be a hit, regardless of the grammar.

Seriously, good luck with getting your stories published Julie.

[Moonraker]

Don't forget, Julie, that Keith's books haven't been accepted by a publisher. He has gone down the self-publishing route. You write under your own style as Rob says.

[Courtenay]

Normally I'm a stickler for 'correct' grammar etc., but in this case I make an exception. Like Nigel I feel that it sounds much more relaxed to say "It's Berta," giggled Anne, rather than "It's Berta," said Anne with a giggle.

Stick a few expletives in and some snogging and I'm it will be a hit, regardless of the grammar.

Expletives? Snogging?? We can't have THAT in Enid Blyton.

[Moonraker]

Expletives? Snogging?? We can't have THAT in Enid Blyton.

Give it time, Cortina, Give it time.

[Fiona1986]

Split from 'What Enid Blyton book have you recently bought?'

Afforded is right, Ice Maiden but it has nothing to do with plurals. It's right because you were talking in the past tense.

I can't afford this/these.

I couldn't have afforded that/those.

Thanks Fiona . Now you've put it like that it looks right but when I wrote it it didn't seem to look or sound right, like when you come across something with 'gotten' or even worse, 'gotted' in it! I have seen a few 'I have gotted such and such' online

Well, gotten can be used sometimes. Ill-gotten gains springs to mind. Just as long as you don't start using jamp or should of, then we're all good