Commas Are Important

As Pat Holt said in his article on 10 Mistakes Writers Don't See, " Compound sentences, most modifying clauses and many phrases *require* commas."

Many writers omit commas simply because they don't know where to put them. I have always lived by one rule: If you don't know the rules you can't break them. And, if you don't know the rules about commas, it will become obvious very early in your manuscript. With all they have to read, your book will be consigned to the rejection pile of you don't know how to punctuate.

I am currently working with an author who absolutely does not know how to use commas. Because the publisher likes his story concept, I am working with him. But I dread every new draft. Even though I go through an correct the comma errors, he does not seem to have learned the lesson well. Even simple things, like nouns of address, need to be punctuated correctly:

Incorrect: "Hello Darling" he shouted above the music.
Correct: "Hello, Darling," he shouted above the music.

Such an error is an automatic flag to an editor that you have no idea what you are doing. She doesn't need to wast her valuable time on you.

Lots of writers think omitting commas gives their work a sense of urgency:

Incorrect: Fleeing the scene of the crime he stopped momentarily to catch is breath and hopefully decide on a course of action.
Correct: Fleeing the scene of the crime, he stopped momentarily to catch his breath and, hopefully, decide on a course of action.

What has happened in the first version is that the reader becomes bogged down in verbiage. Instead of conveying a sense of breathlesness by omitting the commas, the sentence becomes heavy and plods along.

Keep in mind, any time your reader has to stop, consider what you mean, and then plod on, you have lost your audience. The spell of the writing has stopped and the reader leaves the magic of your writing. Dare I even suggest your manuscript ends up in the rejection pile?

Entire books have been written about punctuation. Your high school English class should have taught it to you. There was a reason for all those boring grammar drills. If you don't know how to punctuate, use those commas, then learn. The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard in the writing world. All of "Chapter 6: Punctuation" is online for you to read and study.

Better, yet, buy a copy. It will be the best $35 you ever spend. What you don't know will be obvious.

The benefits of Journaling

This week I ran across this article and thought it would be of benefit during the stress of the holidays. We can all use a little less stress right now.

The Multiplied Benefits of Journaling

Do you keep or have you kept a journal or diary? If so, you probably already know some of the benefits of journaling because you've experienced them. You know that your journal helps you make sense of the senseless side of your life. A journal can be an emotional lifesaver when you go through a hard time. But did you know that scientists believe journaling can even keep you physically healthy?

The release of pent-up emotions you pour into your journal every day actually helps reduce the symptoms of arthritis and asthma, and strengthens your immune system. This really makes sense if you consider that much illness is exacerbated by stress, and a journal is one of the best stress reducers out there.

Journaling gives you a record of your emotional growth like no other. While it can be useful at times to be able to look back and see just when your neighbor moved in or when you started suffering from headaches, the intangible changes in you can be even more fascinating to look back over.

When you take the time to face your feelings, you can make clearer, more well-informed choices. Take the time to list what you want and don't want in a career or a mate, and the choice will be easier to make when the time comes. Don't think that journaling is just about narrative prose, either. Lists, poems, jokes, things that strike you funny, and even sketches, all have a place in a journal.

A journal can help you work out problems in relationships. How? By constructively writing your feelings instead of tearing into that other person you can see the situation more clearly. You can see where perhaps you were somewhat in the wrong so that you can honestly offer an apology. You can also clarify just what the other person did that upset you. Sometimes in the heat of an argument, it is difficult to put your finger on the specific problem.

There is no better way to know your own values than writing honestly from the heart in your journal. It is really important that your journal is private and safe, that no one else will be seeing what you write. Get a locking diary if you have people around you who might pry. When you feel safe, you can honestly look at yourself and your feelings.

Journaling can be used in any way you need for your own particular situation. As stated above, if you are looking for a mate or trying to choose a career, you can record your honest feelings about those decisions in lists and free prose. If you wish to start a business of your own, a journal is a wonderful place to dream on paper. Don't worry if you look back over old writings and your ideas looked a little juvenile or unrealistic. The goal is growth, after all. You are simply growing.

Perhaps you are in a phase of life in which you have health goals. Your journal can be your greatest asset! Keep track of healthy meals you enjoy, or of types of exercise you master. By recording your goals, you will know when you have met them and are ready to move on to new ones. Do remember to make your goals bite-sized and objective. For instance, say, "I will do my Pilates video three times a week for a month" instead of "I will exercise more this month." At the end of the month, if you have kept a written record, you will know if you did the Pilates according to your goal.

This article is just scratching the surface when it comes to the benefits of keeping a journal. For stress reduction, goal setting, and understanding yourself, there is nothing like regular journaling.

Copyright © Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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About Shery: Shery is the creator of WriteSparks!™- a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks!™ Lite for free at http://writesparks.com

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