This is the place to post anything that ISN’T a piece of writing you want to share. Randomness is welcome here.

(Please create a new thread for your pieces that you would like members to comment on, that is; one thread per group member. This way we can keep all our work together in one place and everyone will be able to see when you have posted something new.)

Hello friends. If you read my introduction post then you know I am quite new to writing regularly. Although i am confident in my ability spell, my grammar is another story. I was wondering if there is anyone who can point me to a good website or book that can help me brush up on the subject. I crave criticism, it is the only thing that helps me realize my mistakes. So please feel free to point out any errors I’ve made in any of my posts. Thanks in advance!

Hello sasquatch. In reply to your post I have several links (OK, a few more than that) & a few book ideas which might help you.

http://litreactor.com/columns/20-common-grammar-mistakes-that-almost-everyone-gets-wrong

http://www.stumbleupon.com/channel/fogarty

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

http://writing-program.uchicago.edu/resources/grammar.htm

http://www.grammarbook.com/

http://www.dailygrammar.com/

My Grammar and I (or should that be Me?): old-school ways to sharpen your english by Caroline Taggart and J. A. Wines is quite good.
If you are concerned about punctuation then Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss is absolutely excellent. Hope this helps!

Sasquatch, grammar and syntax come last, meaning, honesty and clarity come first. If you have something to say that the rest of us want to read and devour you will succeed. Don’t let the bed bugs bite and the imaginatively limited hold you back.
Write, the rest of the job becomes easier and less anxious when you open the gate and put yourself out there. The sound of your one hand clapping can be painful but if it is what you do the writing becomes it own reward.

After thought to Sasquatch and Rhyme 79- I don’t remember seeing this group listed before or hitting the join button. But here I is. Most of the books and hints that Rhyme 79 listed are road maps and invitations to the joy of understanding that words and their usage matter much more than our culture and day to day lives imply. Understanding the intent of the rules of grammar are little road signs along the way that make the trip more fun and easier as you go along.

God Damn these fingers always racing ahead of the thought, Sasquatch— the list of primers “from 5arahZoey” the creation of the platform from Rhyme 79. Got it, now write damn it, write.

Excellent advice Dingus! I would also add… READ, READ and READ some more!

Sasquatch try not to worry about the technical aspects of writing too much, at least not for a while until you’ve found your stride, then you can narrow in and work on what needs improvement. All the links that Sarah has posted should get you going, but remember that even the most successful writers need an editor. If we were all gramatically perfect 100% of the time there’d be a glut of unemployed editors!
Maybe try some ‘free writing’ to get your creative juices flowing and I’m going to start a topic here with a writing prompt to give people a starting point to jump from. I can almost promise you that as soon as you ‘let go’ and stop censoring yourself, you’ll find it will all just fall into place. Feel free to start a topic in this group with some of your writing. I’ll gladly have a read and let you know what I think. I expect others might do the same too. Actually that applies to anyone… share your work if you like and comment on others’ too!

Dingus, I think you automatically join the group when you post in it.

Hi Sasquatch!

Mind if I call you ‘Squatch’ for short?
I will for this post, but, if you hate it, I won’t ever again.

So far, I agree with pretty much everything posted so far. I have always found the best remedy for atrocious grammar and syntax is reading. As you read more, Squatch, you’ll find yourself developing a ‘feel’ for grammar.

Things start to feel right right when they’re right and odd when they aren’t. You can’t always tell why it feels strange, but, something inside you stands up indignantly and pokes the part of your brain that decides when you’re comfortable.

That, my dear Squatch, is the analytical part of your brain comparing the words you see now with all memories of similar situations. If you have read something before that is similar to what you are reading/writing now, you will have a feeling about it now.

Now, this doesn’t always happen. It only happens when you see something you’ve seen before. You have to have an adequate level of prior experience with that particular word, phrasing, context, etc. for your memory to be a reliable resource. The more accurate your understanding, the less comfortable you feel reading something that has been phrased incorrectly.

The next most helpful thing, in my experience, is asking for criticism. So, Squatch, good call in asking for advice!