Teela has Something to Say

Yes, and that is simply:

If you want to comment, feel free. You do not have to be a member of this site to comment on this blog, because I have open comments enabled. I don’t mind comments, and I also enjoy the rule “Silence in Golden.”

But I wanted you to know, Dear Reader, if you do, per chance, have anything to say, anything in the slightest, feel free. The floor is not mine alone.

This is the last entry for tonight. I wish you happy Holidays, if I don’t get here sooner, and I hope you all are still writing away.

~ Teela Marie

– Keeper of the Blog

Book Suggestions #2

You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.

~Les Brown

This is entry 2, out of 3, Dear Reader. It has been awhile since I have had book recommendations. This entry shan’t be as long as the first, but worth reading. They will all be helpful, non-fiction this time. Don’t worry, only the entertaining kind.

Non-Fiction Book Suggestions:

Eats Shoots and Leaves, by Lynne Truss: This is an amazing, humorous, and helpful guide to punctuation. It is for those of you who truly are interesting in learning how to punctuate, and have a good time. Excellent blend of knowledge with a witty edge of humor.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by my favorite, Stephen King: Now here is an interesting combo… A funny tale of how one writer was formed. It’s not a book that is easily summarized, for it is humorous, but undeniably inspirational. I highly recommend this one too.

Well, those three will certainly take you some time to read. Let’s meet back here soon, and I will bring fiction books next time.

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Keepin it Book’d

Dialogue (How-to, and what Quotations are Friendly With!)

Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.

~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Hello, there, dear Reader. I have been gone, indeed. Been a bit busy. But here you and I are, still well in health I trust, and still writing. I am writing three entries tonight, as I have much to say.

The first is about, as the title mentioned, dialogue.

Dialogue is when one or more characters are speaking, and is often used in works of fiction. There are many kinds of dialogue, but we will stick with the basics tonight. I wrote this with a friend in mind, as he is very confused on dialogue.

I will address fiction and non-fiction dialogue.

Fiction Dialogue

There is a write way, as per usual, and a wrong. Depending on the character, dialogue is a basic literary element. It helps bring your character to life: What they say should matter, right? Absolutely! Just like the things you say matter, the things your characters speak of should matter as well.

First and foremost: Make your characters speak naturally. Your job as the writer is to make them as real as you possibly can, for if you do not, then you shall bore the reader, and that should be a sin. A work of fiction should be relatively entertaining, in some way or form, and should make the reader feel something. That is the goal of literature, otherwise, why would anyone want to read it?

Dear Reader, I feel it is self explanatory how to make dialogue, but I should’nt make the mistake of assuming you know more than you do. If you are a weary traveler, and have yet to learn the how-to’s of dialogue, then stick with me here. If you are a seasoned veteran, then by all means, scroll down.

Example of Dialogue:

“Good day, Fred. How’s the wife?” <- This is simple, practical, but it gets the point across.

^ That is the quotation mark. It is used to note that someone or something is saying something. You put it in front of what the person/thing is saying. Sometimes, writers write thoughts in italisis like this without quotation to indicate this is what the character is thinking.

Also, if the work is a play, dialogue looks like this:

Bernie: Good day, Fred. How’s the wife?

Note that this lacks quotations. In scripts, generally used for a play, dialogue is done differently. Most novels and works of fiction that AREN’T scripts use dialogue with quotations. I’ve yet to see one that doesn’t, and generally, only in the realms of “fan fiction” are script formattings used to illustrate actions while being a story and not a script.

Either one you feel works for your story, choose one, and stick to it. It is odd (and … incorrect) to switch between quotations dialogue and play dialogue for no apparent reason. That will distract the reader, and break the mood you’ve established, and that’s a no-no.

Non-Fiction Dialogue:

The only difference is that there generally aren’t “characters” in a non-fiction works like there are in fiction ones. There generally isn’t a “script format” to non-fiction works. Pick up your nearest newspaper, and you will generally only see quotes used to illustrate something someone else truly said.

Example of Non-Fiction Dialogue:

As of Thursday, November ninth, the Grammar Hotel had been closed. “It’s a mess in there! The rats’re everywhere, and there’s more ‘n more of ‘em ev’ryday!” The manager had explained. Authorities say that they don’t expect the hotel to open for another month.
Sometimes, the quotes are italicized. Sometimes, they are not. It depends on who the editor is and their preference. Notice that there isn’t much difference between fiction and non-fiction dialogue, only that the usage is different, but either way, it all serves the same purpose: To illustrate that someone or something is saying or has said something.

Next, I shall discuss how to use quotations, and where to put them in the dialogue sentences. These are rules I often forget myself, so perhaps this will help you too, dear reader.

How to Use Quotation Marks, and Placement of Punctuation:

Works of Art: Underline, Italicize, or Quote?!

• Songs- “A Song Title is Put in Quotations”
• Television Shows- “THE SUPER GRAMMAR SHOW!”
• Short Stories- “The Girl Who Didn’t Quote Her Short Story Title”
• Lecture titles- “Why Writers Should Use Good Quotation:
• Chapters in a Book- “The Super Quotation Finds his Dialogue”
• Magazine Article- “Teela’s Awesome Dialogue Article!”

And on A Side Note-

• Book Titles- The Big Book of Quotations!
• Poems- The Awesome Poem of Dialogue!
• Works of Art/ Miscellaneous (I.E: Sculptures, ships, space and aicrafts): These things are italicized
• Microsoft Word/ Apple FireFox

Religious and legal works , such as the Bible or the Magna Carta, are left as they appear now.

Placement of Punctuation-

• Always place Periods and Commas inside quotation Marks

Example:

“Teela never… The adventure ceased to continue,” The robed figured explained. “When Ninja-Z was paralyzed. Of course, it didn’t exactly ease, only became something else entirely.”

• Place an exclamation point or a question mark inside quotes when it punctuates the quotation, and outside when it punctuates the sentence.

Example:

“Are… you… okay?” The girl asked, frightened.

His reply was almost inaudible, but he answered, “Are you”?

• Put semicolons or colons outside quotes.

Example:

I wrote about Stephen Kings’ “1408″; I liked “Everything’s Eventual” more, however.

Of course, I think this covers a vast majority of things. There are always things to debate over with punctuation, but I’m sure this will help you greatly, Dear Reader. I hope it does. On with the next entry!

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Keepin it Punctuated

How to Proofread and Some Tips on Editing

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.”

~C. J. Cherryh

Hello, everyone. I trust you had a good Thanksgiving? Started Christmas shopping already? Well, whatever the case may be, welcome back to my little blog page here.

Today I’m going to give you some tips on proofreading and editing. Let’s get started then, shall we?

First: Editing.
You should drill it into your brain –not literally, please– that a work should always, always, always be edited, and never just once. NEVER. Twice? No. Three times? Yes. A good work must be combed through and all the bugs smoothed. Of course, no one is going to get everything through the first time; your Word program isn’t perfect, because if you type an and meant “AND”, it’s not going to know that. Or… This one is funny… Shut? The ‘T’ is write next to another letter which could really change the meaning. I’ve made that error before. Too bad I didn’t catch it myself. Hehe…

You really should edit your work, once, twice, and then three times. You should have someone you trust look at it, too.

Not that we all trust people with our own writings. If you’re sitting there and thinking “I don’t trust anyone,” don’t worry, all hope is not lost. I have been in your shoes. If there is no one else, no other set of eyes you’d dare let touch your story for whatever reason(s), then there is a solution…

Read it out loud. Slowly, and backwards. Well, you don’t have to read it backwards, but I’d advise it, because for some reason the brain just tends to speed up when it already knows what’s coming next, or at least that’s the way it works for most people. Their brains therefore then skip over easily noticed mistakes, but if the work is read backwards, sentences that don’t sound write or sound “wonky” ( Adj: Strange; messed up) will be more easily noticed.

Here’s a list of things you can do to help you edit your paper/story:

Read it Backwards

Read it outloud

Let someone else Read it

Tape Record It and Listen

Wait Several weeks, a month even, come back and re-read

Whatever you do, just please, make sure you edit it at least three times. It will help. I promise.

Second: Proofreading

It’s the same thing as editing. Just another pretty word for it. Figure I’d teach you something obvious too, because believe it or not, I’m sure someone out there didn’t know that, and now they do.

Third: Re-Write?

If you feel you should. Sometimes, there have been so many corrections to a paper… It MUST be re-written in order for the full message to be understood, because its drowning in red ink and there is just no other choice.

I didn’t promise this, but I think it would be a good point to address regardless. What happens when you re-write because you don’t like a story? I’ve been through this a plethora (Adj; abundant) of times. I advise you that you shouldn’t re-write immediately once you get the impulse. Stick with the story for a bit, and don’t be judgmental. If you think you can get to the ending without getting hung up on your cultivating hatred for the story, go for it. If you honest-to-whatever-high-force-if-any-you-believe-in can’t, then re-write. But re-writing should never be the first thing you do just because you feel you don’t like a story. Perhaps you should be easier on yourself, and on the poor story you’re bashing.

Hm, well, that’s all I’ve to say for today. I hope you’re all doing extremely well, and still have left-over turkey. Keep up with the writing, and let’s meet back here soon.

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Teachin people to Edit?

Transitions!

“Remember: When people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what’s wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”

~Neil Gaiman

Transitions are like bridges in writing. They help to cross from one paragraph to the next, and often are greatly used to clarify things. I’ve compiled a nice list here for everyone of transitions that I think will be quite helpful.

Often Used to Start A Paragraph–

admittedly
assuredly
certainly
granted
no doubt
nobody denies
obviously
of course
to be sure
true
undoubtedly
unquestionably
generally speaking
in general
generally
at this level
in this situation

To Add On To a Sentence-

consequently
clearly, then
furthermore
additionally
and
in addition
moreover
because
besides that
in the same way
following this further
also
pursuing this further
in the light of the… it is easy to see that

To Contrast (Showing Difference)–

however
on the other hand
but
yet
nevertheless
on the contrary

To Emphasize on a Point-

in other words
specifically

To Show Time Passage–

first
second
third
after
afterwards
as soon as
at first
at last
before
before long
finally
in the first place
in the meantime
later
meanwhile
next
soon
then

Comparison Transitions–

additionally
just in the same way
similarly
as well

To Say the End is Coming–

therefore
hence
in final analysis
in conclusion
in final consideration

To Show Finality (Ending Transitions)–

finally
lastly

There are many transitions out there. These are some of them. I used to have a page or two with all of the transitions. I don’t believe this is all of them, but if I manage to find that sheet, I will make a “Transitions! Two” entry. Until then, these are plenty for you to familiarize yourselves with, hm? Indeed.

I trust you are doing well, Dear Reader/Writer. I hope you are writing, and your creations are doing well. I hope this is helping some of you.

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Roundin up some Transitions!

A Vs. An — NO WEAPONS ALLOWED!

The act of writing is an act of optimism. You would not take the trouble to do it if you felt it didn’t matter.

~Edward Albee

Hello there, Dear Reader. It’s grammar time! Yes, I know, I’m ” ‘Keepin it creative’ ” way too early, but what can you do? Heh.

JustOrdinary (whom has sent me much traffic, and for that I thank her) has suggested to me that I do an entry on “a Vs. An.” NO! PUT THE SWORD AND GUNS DOWN… it is not a brawl. It’s a simple decision; when to use “a” and when to use “an.”

First off, it’s all about sound. It does NOT matter if the word does or does not start with a vowel; what matters is what the word sounds like when you say it.

Many people are always getting this confused. I must set you all straight, because English is a jungle, and it seems that I’m one of the few with the sharpest machete… (Machete: N, a sword-like object often used to cut vines in a jungle).

This is one of the only rules I’ve seen that goes by sound. It’s actually perfectly legal to use your ear without a risk! Amazing! Well, if you use your ear correctly…

You use ‘A’ when the word does NOT sound like it starts with a vowel.

For Example:

Good:

I am going to use a vacuum cleaner to rearrange your face.

Bad:

I’m going to use a apple to clean the toilet.

Say them aloud. You can hear that it simply sounds… messed up.

Obviously, that leaves the vowel sounds for “an”. If the word SOUNDS like it has a vowel, then it gets an “an.” Did you see the an in front of an? Doesn’t that make you happy? Don’t comment on that, please. *Winks at you*

Good:

I would like an “an” with all my sentences, and make the order prompt in my writing.

Bad:

Teela often goes a little too far with saying a “an” goes with having an good time.

^ That sentence is a terrible. But I must show you an awful example too!

Oh, also! Remember the vowels:

A, E, I, O, U… AND SOMETIMES Y! (When it can fit… )

 

I think you can now figure out when to use an “a” and when an “an.” Please, don’t ever pull your swords and guns out again! No need to fight about it.

 

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Tryin to keep Grammar alive!

I’d like to share…

Your stuff starts out being just for you… but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right - as right as you can, anyway - it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it.

~Stephen King

Good Present Tense, Dear Readers. Yes, that is my way of saying hello. I’ve found a new element to add to the blog! Or rather, the blog roll.

*Points to a large, red tool box*

It’s a lot bigger inside that it looks, trust me. I have some more presents for you. What I am about to share are many tools that you, yes you Dear Reader, may find very helpful. They are things I will add to the blog roll, but not without explaining.

First off, “Serendipity.” Some of you may have already heard of this. This is a  site that full of amazing, helpful generators. From name, to plot, to character descriptions, this site is the place to go if you need quick things generated. What’s even more impressive are the vast categories it has to choose from for the things you need. I would definitely be remiss had I not stumbled upon this site.

Next, “Warehouse 23 Basement.” This one is a bit harder to explain. If you need an item for a story, or something to spruce up your settings, this is another generator that can help you out with that. Give it a shot.

And finally, “Grammar Girl”!! This has been one of the most helpful to me. I must share it with all the other writers, regardless if they write fiction or non-fiction. This girl knows her grammar, and really goes the mile to help you understand the rules of English too. If you don’t read into the other two, that’s fine, but if you don’t check into this one, then… well, it wouldn’t be very proper for me to threaten you, but you won’t be any better off. In short, you MUST see this one. ^_^

All of those links are in the blogroll. Check them, use them, tell others about them, whatever you feel you should do. I’ve shown you these tools, so ….. Write! Let yourself free, and enjoy life.

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Sharin and ‘Carin for Writer and Writing

For you… :)

Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing.

~Melinda Haynes

Just a short entry today: I’ve brought some nice, gift-wrapped prompts for you. Enjoy!

Quote Prompts:

 ”That is the biggest bird I’ve ever seen…”

“I’m here to answer the ad in the paper.”

Situations Prompts:

 You run into an old friend from high school who tells you an outrageous rumor about a former classmate.

 

A deadly virus is released into a heavy populated city, not by terrorists, but by the U.S. military. 

Well, put those to good use now, dear reader. I do hope you’re doing well. I’ll see you next update, right here.

~ Teela Marie

–’Keepin it Creative, ‘Cookin up some Grammar Soup, and ‘bringin digestible books

Speaking in the same voice, voice, voice, voice, voice, and redundancy.

It is a bit distracting to have a conversation with friends when they change their accents, or even their tone so that it’s noticeable. When you’re speaking to someone, you don’t want them to speak in a jumble of English and slurred accents, do you? Or Spanish and English at once without realizing it? No, of course not.

Writing is much the same, especially with “Writing in the same voice.”Although, in writing, that is: Keep to the same tense. You don’t want to switch constantly, and irregularly, between tenses. For example:

Bad:

Joe goes to the bakery. He is paying the check and is pleased to be going home. Today was his day off., and he is going to the bakery to get bread, and he paid the check. Then he went home.

Good

Joe went to the bakery. He paid the check, and was pleased to be going home. Today was his today off and he was pleased to be going to the bakery to get bread, and he paid the check. Then he went home.

Did you notice anything else “wonky” (strange, or unusual; messed up) about those sentences? They’re very redundant. You don’t want to beat us, the readers, over the head with the same point. Please put on a helmet, momentarily, dear reader… I’m about to beat you over the head to show you what NOT to do. The examples will be grossly exaggerated, but you will get the point easily.

EX: (You’re wearing your helmet, right? Good.)

Use the same voice. Don’t use past then present in a confusing manner. Use the same voice so we can understand weather the actions were done or are being done. Use the same voice, so we can comprehend the meaning of the work. Use the same voice.

Don’t be repetitive. Don’t repeat yourself. Don’t say the same things over and over again. The work gets repetitive, and annoying. Don’t keep drilling in on the same point over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. Don’t speak the same words as you already have. Don’t speak the same words as you already have. You make us feel ignorant when you do that in your writing.

There are “good” methods to use repetition: In a novel, or an extremely long work, it can be good to remind a reader of something that happened earlier, but again, NOT to bash it in their face brutally. Repetition can be good in poetry as well, as it can stress a certain fact, but remember, if you’re going to use repetition, make sure you do so to where it doesn’t trip the reader and knock their teeth out.

Also keep in mind to used the same tense and remembered that you will remembered how bad this sentence is write. You MUST speak in the same tense as you start with.

There are exceptions, of course. One that I can think of off hand, that I’ve used recently. Sometimes you want the reader to notice something. In a novel, or a short story especially. When a character is recalling something, a writer often switches tenses to emphasize that.

For example:

Carly sat on the bed, wishing she hadn’t gone into the cave. Had she not gone, she might not have broken her leg. The girl sighed, recalling the terror that had happened only three weeks before:

She walks past the staggering edges that lead into the dark abyss. Carly thinks that she will never see the light of day again, and she then holds her breath, trying not to stagger. Her cell phone hangs on the cliff, only inches away. How does a cliff get inside a cave like this? She wonders.

Carly hesitantly makes her way to the edge, but like she fears, she slips and thinks the world is falling behind her. She lands hard on her stomach and stares face to face with the piece of plastic that she is risking her life for. She reaches out for it, and hears a sharp cracking noise. The ledge is giving way… She asks herself again if any of this is real.

In the beginning it is past tense, no? And then is switches to present tense. If used correctly, tense changes can be made into a good thing, but used wrongly, it makes the writer look like a man in a pig costume wearing a thong. It makes you look stupid, in short. Use tenses correctly, please.

And remember… don’t repeat repeat repeat repeat yourself over and over. Once, perhaps twice, but don’t knock our teeth out with the same things over and over and over and over… Hehehe, like I’m doing now.

You can take off your helmet now. That’s all I’ve got to say.

Keep writing, everybody! Keep smiling. Keep up life.

~ Teela Marie

– ‘Cookin up some English Soup

Book Suggestions

 Learn as much by writing as by reading.

                                                             ~ Lord Acton

Ahh, good morning everyone. Well, it is morning in my location; I’m not sure about yours. Isn’t this “Internet” almost like telepathy?

Oh, well, that’s aside from the point. It’s nearing Halloween! Heheh, I’ll do something here to celebrate. It’ll be a surprise. Again, aside from the point, hm?

To get to the point, take a quick glance back at this entry’s title. Today, I’m going to give you some good book suggestions. They will fall into two categories: Helpful with Writing, and, Just Some of my Favorites.

Without further adue:

Books Helpful With Writing:

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White. This books is excellent at helping with all things grammatical, and as the majority of people who like it say, “It’s a small, powerful, and correct book.” If you get this book, or have it, it’s one of the most helpful. It’s on my list of favorites. A must-have.

Your First Novel , by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb. This is a book that will help, and inspire, anyone who is wanting to get published. I highly recommend it, either for reading or sincerely because you’re looking into getting published. This work has a light, friendly tone that is helpful and kind. It’s not a book that will lecture you.

100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses & Misuses, by the editors of The American Heritage dictionaries. This book is simply a side-kick that would be useful to any writer. Simply a necessity.

Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus, by Webster. This is a must-have as well. It is a 2-in-one package, and one of the most useful books I’ve come across.

 Some of My Favorites (Fiction):

The Thief Lord,  by Cornelia Funke. This book is for a younger audience, but Funke’s writing taught me a lot about details.

Odd Thomas, by Dean Koontz. This is book one in a trilogy of what is currently 3, with a 4th on the way. I highly recommend if you’re into sci-fi or ghost related things.

The Gunslinger, by Stephen King. This is one of his books that isn’t a thriller, but rather a sci-fi western, really. Some like it, some hate it. I happen to like it.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. This is the first in a series of funny, light-hearted book that I found I really enjoyed.

So,  there you have it. Take your time with reading any of those, as they’re all helpful in their own ways, as well as enjoyable.

That’s all I’ve got to say for now! I hope all is well with you and your writing, and remember, don’t give up! On anything you do! Just keep telling yourself you’re too good to give up.

~ Teela Marie

–’Cookin up some good tips and trick