tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post5784275488482025246..comments2024-03-12T18:52:31.920-04:00Comments on Write with Fey: Chrys’ Writing Rules: Don’t Start Sentences With These Words!Chrys Feyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-74695839153937356002014-01-23T17:13:36.475-05:002014-01-23T17:13:36.475-05:00It really can be daunting. The trick is knowing wh...It really can be daunting. The trick is knowing when it's okay to break these "rules". I allow "ing" words to start sentences every now and then to change things up.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-20206332147163513582014-01-23T13:21:16.939-05:002014-01-23T13:21:16.939-05:00I once did a manuscript with all sorts of He and S...I once did a manuscript with all sorts of He and She starts because I was trying to avoid all "ing" words. There are so many parts to a good book, it can be daunting!Elizabeth Seckmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00045076826326574984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-58576530863952114042013-08-28T12:16:19.487-04:002013-08-28T12:16:19.487-04:00Thank you for your comment, J! Whenever I encounte...Thank you for your comment, J! Whenever I encounter new rules that editors, authors, and agents pass along to help others, I think "Are they serious? That's outrageous! I don't have to do that!" But once my stubbornness goes away, I take a look at my manuscripts and realize, "Oh yes, I do!" I can see why those "rules" make sense. Then when I apply them to my manuscripts my writing becomes even better! And that's the point. :)<br /><br />I also take care of all of these little tweaks after all of my major editing.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-26338620369791421922013-08-28T03:31:41.032-04:002013-08-28T03:31:41.032-04:00I keep coming back to advice like this. When I fir...I keep coming back to advice like this. When I first encountered the "soft rules" of writing I hated the idea that there was a right and wrong, so to speak. Then I re-read all my prose and saw why. <br /><br />The best way I find to get rid of repetitive sentences now is to rearrange the offenders when I catch them. "He did this" becomes "While doing this, he..." or something along those lines. I'll never get it in the first draft, and neither will most others. Once I'm done fixing plot errors and pacing though, that's when I make a push for the little tweaks which can let a piece down.J. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10281047766999249656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-43414173800945446382013-08-20T10:05:22.794-04:002013-08-20T10:05:22.794-04:00Varying words is a great tactic!
Your comment go...Varying words is a great tactic! <br /><br />Your comment got me thinking, and I came up with a trick that writers can do if they struggle with repeating certain words . . . Keep a list of words that you can look at, so if you're tempted to overuse a specific word (such as a verb) you can quickly check your list of favorite synonyms to swap it out with. This idea can even be used for alternative words/phrases to begin sentences. <br /><br />Thank you for your comment, Jessica!Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-39085813616122971892013-08-19T21:50:09.770-04:002013-08-19T21:50:09.770-04:00I don't have any hard and fast rules, except t...I don't have any hard and fast rules, except to vary the words I use. That usually keeps me from overusing any one word (and then I don't have to remember any hard and fast rules!)Jessica Vealitzekhttp://www.jessicavealitzek.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-49618628409829799022013-08-14T18:17:01.495-04:002013-08-14T18:17:01.495-04:00Hello, Gina! And thank you for your comment! I don...Hello, Gina! And thank you for your comment! I don't write in first person as much, but I do notice that when I do, I still follow my little rule for not going beyond three sentences that begin with "I". (I'll add that to my post with he/she, so thanks for mentioning it!)<br /><br />If it doesn't work out for you, then by all means keep putting "the" at the beginning of sentences. It's your (the writer's) choice in the end. :)Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-19319131764565002672013-08-14T18:03:52.880-04:002013-08-14T18:03:52.880-04:00I've noticed that when I'm writing, someti...I've noticed that when I'm writing, sometimes I tend to overuse "I." It's only lately since I've been blogging a lot more. Like Carol said, reading aloud helps me tremendously. Even after I've re-read and edited my writing several times in my head, I've noticed the repetition in my usage of certain words. Great post! I'm going to try to not use "the" at the beginning of some of my sentences and see where that takes me. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14498810090279251726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-14991799348033885392013-08-14T11:05:20.730-04:002013-08-14T11:05:20.730-04:00Thank you for your kind words, Carol! I had never ...Thank you for your kind words, Carol! I had never thought about not starting a sentence with "the" either until I heard it from another writer. Of course, I thought it was bizarre, but then I noticed how I would repeat "the" in the beginning of some of my sentences, and how it would stand out. SO I decided it would be good (for me) to keep an eye out for this. Thanks for your comment!Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-60721177323825916692013-08-13T20:53:33.136-04:002013-08-13T20:53:33.136-04:00I never thought about not starting a sentence with...I never thought about not starting a sentence with "the." Interesting. But whatever I start my sentences with, I find it quite revealing to read my own prose aloud. That's when repetitive words and structure, or rhythm problems such as excessive choppiness become glaringly obvious. Of course, I need to follow my own advice and do this more often. Love your blog - good place to come for an inspirational push!Carol Applehttp://www.carolsnotes.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-73861811603872319992013-08-13T13:09:59.773-04:002013-08-13T13:09:59.773-04:00It is hard when you're writing in third person...It is hard when you're writing in third person, which is why I say three uses of he/she in a row is my limit. After that, my writer's mind has to get a little more creative. :)Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133489888936435050.post-45949436370093657082013-08-13T12:08:56.161-04:002013-08-13T12:08:56.161-04:00I totally agree with he/she at the beginning of th...I totally agree with he/she at the beginning of the sentence (well, I guess the overuse of). It's so hard when you're writing in third person, though. But it's definitely something I need to work on. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317095707905133969noreply@blogger.com