I get asked an awful lot of questions.
Questions like – how can I build abs of steel like that six-pack that you have cleverly concealed beneath your size 42 waistline?
Questions like – how can I sing so I sound as good as you think you sound when you are singing in the shower and nobody is listening?
But mostly I get asked about writing.
Mind you, I would not call myself an expert by any means – but I have about 40 years of experience in the profession and I have learned a few tricks along the way.
Just the other day somebody asked me if I had any advice about word tenses? The person who asked me was having problems switching from present to past tense and found it hard to know if they were doing it right or wrong.
First off, I told them to find themselves a good editor.
No, I cannot recommend one – nor even afford one myself – but a writer – especially an indie writer – should DEFINITELY get someone else to go over their work for them.
I constantly run into this tense problem myself – partly because I am often writing a manuscript in short and varied writing sessions – and partly because I have a very free and casual kind of relationship with the English language.
That’s right.
I said it.
Me and the English language have a kind of OPEN relationship.
English understands how it is for me.
Nobody else can understand me – but English sure seems to – or at least that’s how I tell the story.
But what about if you CAN’T afford an editor and none of your friends are smart enough to do the job for you.
That’s not to say that you have dumb friends – but who in their right mind would ever want a writer for a friend anyway? The bastards never talk to you, they are always making things up behind your back and chances are they don’t have two cents to rub together.
(mind you, I’m from Canada – and we gave up our cents some time ago)
To all those writers who are broke like me – just try sitting down and reading your work aloud! Right out loud – and make it a point to LISTEN to yourself as you read. You will catch more goofs that way than through any other technique I can think of.
I absolutely LOVE this technique.
In fact my wife often tells me that I most likely invented this technique because I NEVER get tired of hearing myself talk.
yours in storytelling,
Steve Vernon