“I often wonder in quiet despair if the pundits will ever, ever get it right”

PART 1: WHAT IT'S ABOUT

First of all— why? That is, why am I joining the bandwagon of people who think they are qualified to tell others how to write?

Well, I've decided to do so because, while many internet sites do offer useful advice, some of it makes me cringe. I love the English language (the best and most expressive in the world, I believe) and I want to stand up for it.

What you will find here are my opinions. Some of them may seem a bit old-fashioned— I learnt to read and write long before most of you who will be reading this (in the days when English was taught properly! I refer here to the UK— I don't think it ever plumbed quite such depths in America as it did over here. I'm glad to say the tide is now turning, though I often wonder in quiet despair if the pundits will ever, ever get it right.)

My qualifications are that I am a trained teacher, majoring in English literature and language, and my career included the teaching of basic English. I have written fiction (fantasy) books, which many people like, and are now being commercially published. I have always had a real love for words and the ways they can be put together.

You don't have to do what I say. These are my personal opinions, and they won't always follow the mainstream. If you're looking to make a quick buck by writing something to the kind of formula that will make a publisher's eyes glisten, don't bother reading this guide. But, if you really want to write as well as you possibly can, then take a look at what I have to say. It will probably help you; it will certainly give you food for thought.

I end this introduction with three quotes:

From Don Marquis (I don't know who he is, but he obviously has a good grasp of publishing)

“If you want to get rich from writing, write the sort of thing that is read by persons who move their lips when reading to themselves.”

(Note: there are of course some exceptions to this rule— like the two authors quoted below!)

From David Eddings (massively popular fantasy author)

“English is the richest language in human history... My years of exposure to college English gave me an extended vocabulary... and when it's appropriate, I'll use it. I [choose] not to rephrase... to make it more accessible to the linguistically challenged.

Maybe that's our purpose in life. We're here to teach whole generations how to read.”

From J R R Tolkien (often panned by critics for every aspect of his writing— yet "The Lord of the Rings" was voted most popular book of the 20th century)

“Some who have read the book… have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kind of writing that they evidently prefer.”

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