Bri's Tips to Writing

[BBMG]

Well, some people in this group have a LOAD
of potential, but they just don't show it and they
don't force themselves to write. So I just thought I'd share a few tips on my writing
and how I make it ''good.'' Sorry no spoilers, my computer won't let
me use them. So take FIVE-TEN minutes out of your life to skim down.
I will also sometimes soon do some basic languages like other people have done,
because I have to know some polish and stuff and would like to share stuff with you guys.


Grammar;;


What makes a chapter better and look nicer? Grammar. I try to have good
grammar, and it mostly works. So I thought giving some tips on grammar because
some people have an issue with that. I'll talk about just random stuff, like using a or an,
how to use quotation marks, where to put your question marks or periods. Just so people don't
make their sentences look like crud. (:


1) When using dialouge, someone talking, make sure you use the quotation marks
correctly. For example, if you want Susie to say something, don't make her say something
like, '' Why did you just say that ''? She asked. The proper way for that is, ''Why did you just
say that?'' She asked with confusion. You ALWAYS put your question mark, exclamation
mark, periods, etc. inside the quotation marks, no spaces involved.
-------------------------
2) Sometimes people need to add a or an to their sentences. Like, Jim had an apple. Always
put an before a word that starts with a vowel (such as a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y.) When using
a, such as Lindsey had a book. Always put a before a word that starts with a constant (such as b,
or g.) Never do Bob has an luggage cart, or Lilly had a apple. It doesn't sound as correct with
the proper way of the grammar.
-------------------------------
3) For proper grammar using numbers, never do this; I had 9 books. Make it, I had nine books.
In grammar, you should spell out every single-digit number out, not with numerals. It is okay
to use with 10+, but it always looks better to me when people spell out the number instead of doing
54858675896754. Always spell out simple fractions, such as one and a half. A mixed fraction
can be expressed in figures (5 1/2) unless it is in the beginning of a sentence (Five and three-fifths
was eaten by Yuk.) Always write decimals in figures, and put a 0 in front of it unless it is using
with money, like Susie has $5.89. When you say a decade, you may spell it out in lowercase. But
if you want to use figures, put an ' before it. Such as '70s. When you use o'clock, always spell out
the time. For example, do not do 6:00 o'clock, use six o'clock. Use noon and midnight other than 12:00
P.M. or A.M.
---------------------------------
4) Always capitalize in the beginning of a sentence. Sometimes I see people doing, ''she got
out of the car.'' That isn't right, and it looks really bad too. Capitalize the first letter in a sentence,
''She got out of the car.'' Also, don't capitalize every first letter in a word. Sometimes people do, ''She Got
Out Of The Car.'' You shouldn't capitalize every first letter, and what's the point of hitting the caps
lock every single time. Also, always capitalize I. Sometimes I'll see i, but it doesn't matter if it's
in the middle of a sentence or at the beginning. It's special and is always capitalized.
------------------------------------


How to make a longer chapter;


Almost everyone on here makes short chapters in their stories-about five through seven
paragraphs, which is only about a page on word document. You want your chapters long,
even if people won't read the because. But how can I make it LONGER but still GOOD? I'll
give you some of my top ten tips of how I make my chapters longer.


1) What was your character doing a few days ago? Include that if it
has to do with something going on during the story.
2) Describe what is happening more descriptively. Instead of saying a white
shirt, describe what's on it or the design.
3) What do they see, hear, touch, feel, smell? This is stuff that we would
like to know and helps us picture what is going on better
4) What are they thinking about at the moment? If they are at the grocery store,
are they wondering how much the bread will cost?
5) What did they do before what is happening now? What are they going to do later,
maybe go to a carnival with a friend or walk the dog.
6) How do they feel at the moment? Are they sad because their grandmother
died, or happy because they made honor roll?
7) What are their thoughts on what happened a while ago?
8) Add in something random, like seeing a zhu zhu pet on the floor. This can
add in something that could turn into a whole new side of the story.
9) Are they waiting for someone? If so, mention who and why they are waiting
for them.
10) MOST IMPORTANTLY! What are they doing NOW?


REMINDER: NEVER EVER WRITE A CHAPTER
WHEN YOU ARE GRUMPY/SAD/UPSET OR NOT FEELING
GOOD. THIS MOST LIKELY TURNS INTO A BAD CHAPTER
AND WON'T REACH YOUR FULL ABILITY OF WRITING. WRITE
WHEN YOU ARE IN A GOOD MOOD AND WANT TO WRITE! DON'T
BE FORCED.



Commonly confused;


Sometimes people mix-up words, and it doesn't make sense in the sentence. I will list some
confused words with their definitions so you will know where to use them and don't use them
wrongly, making me lose my mind and just want to hit your edit button if I could.

accept; to agree
except; with the exception
ad; advertisement
add; addition
ades; fruit drink
aides; people who help
aids; assist
adverse; unfortunate
averse; having repugnance
advice; to recommend
advise; giving a recommendation
ail; to be ill
ale; a beverage
air; what living things breath
err; make a mistake
heir; to inherit something
aisle; passageway
i'll; contraction of I will
isle; small island
all; entire
awl; tool
allot; parcel out
a lot; meaning many
allowed; to give permission to do
aloud; said out loud
all ready; everyone/all are/is ready
already; entirely
altar; pedestal
alter; modify
allude; refer indirectly
elude; avoid capture
illude; mislead
allusion; indirect mention
illusion; false perception
ambiguous; have more than one meaning
ambivalent; to have mixed feelings
amicable; friendly (to things)
amiable; friendly (to people)
among; involves three or more
between; involves just two
amount; used for things not countable
number; used for things that can be counted
ant; a small bug
aunt; the sister of a parent
ante; a bet placed before playing
auntie; affectionate term of a parent's sister
anxious; to have anxiety or worry
eager; excited
any more; something additional
anymore; any longer
appraise; put a value on something
apprise; to notify
arc; arch, crescent, or half moon
ark; a vessel or a refuge
ascent; movement of upward
assent; enthusiastic agreement
consent; agreement
assistance; help
assistants; people who help
assumption; an idea not based on evidence
presumption; an idea based on evidence
assure; to promise
ensure; to make sure something will/won't happen
insure; to issue
ate; past tense of eat
eight; number after seven
aural; having to do with hearing
oral; having to do with the mouth
awed; statement of amazement
odd; unusual; or an uneven number
aye; yes
eye; body part to help see
i; pronoun