Thread: Can I do this without the basic skills????

Hello,

Can I make it as a writer with just passion for the subjects I research? I have this passion to write about the negative affects employees have when they have a bad boss. I have been writing and researching for years now, I am really focused on this subject. However, I really suck at the writing part. My vocabulary is average, I am always questiong my grammer and punctuation because I honestly dont know the proper way to word all these thoughts in my brain.
Is there any real chance for me to ever have something published? I feel like I put so much work into all the research that my work will never get out because I cant overcome my lack of knowledge to write properly.

I am trying to get better and learn as much as I can, but I feel I have a huge disadvantage. I just want to know if anyone out there has these same problems and how they overcame them? Are there any success stories any one can pass my way?

Thanks
WRI

Very few writers start with a great command of the English language. Writing is one of those disciplines which rewards practice. I can tell you, without shame, that my writing skills were mediocre when I first started. The ideas were all there but the execution left a lot to be desired. It's only with years of practice and reading that I've improved my writing enough for it to be of publishing standard.

This may sound patronising, but the way you learn to write well is by continually practising and honing your skills. Experiment with sentences. Change them around and learn how to say the same thing with a different spin, in less words, or in active voice. And read. A lot. There is no better gauge for how to write well than reading. When you read good writing it does more than just entertain you. It shows you the proper way to write.

Stick at it. It will come good.

Hmm... I guess the answer is no. Writing requires the basic skills of writing, plain and simple, in my opinion.

But then again, passion for the subject in writing is required, too. The two aspects must go hand-in-hand to create a manuscript.

Just my two cents.

You're going to need some basic writing skills or people will assume that you don't know what you're talking about. There is a big difference between a well-considered well-presented persuasive argument and a rant.

One of the guys who won a Nobel in literature, maybe Eugene O'Neil, was a terrible speller. He used to say "Anyone who spells a word the same way every time is displaying an incredible lack of imagination." If he could win a Nobel, anyone can write. It comes easier to some people than to others, but writing is a skill that anyone can learn. Spell checking tools and editors can fix a lot of problems. For the rest, it's just practice, practice, practice. To increase your vocabulary - read, a lot. Reading is also the best way to pick up style, voice, tricks on character development, etc. All writers imitate other writers. Write as much as you can, especially in your day job even if it is just a business memo. Seek out feedback. Pay attention to how people react to your writing. Ask them questions to see if they actually got the point that you were trying to make. Read other people's writing, especially in your field, to see how they express ideas similar to your own. It won't happen overnight. It will take years, but you can get there. C.M.

I have to agree with TheFuhrer02 and Foxee. Before you begin seriously getting in deep, take a class or two to improve your grammar and spelling. Then wade in!

Hi wri,

I'll tackle the part of the question you didn't ask. It sounds like you've done everything you need to get your book written. As others have pointed out, the writing can be a HUGE stumbling block. Rather than spending the years (perhaps) that will be required to hone your craft to a publishable standard, maybe you can look into a partnership. Not necessarily ghostwriting, but a byline that reads "by WRI, with (writer's name). You both get credit but it sort of lets the world know who did what part of the book.

Another thought that popped immediately into my mind was Dilbert. Can you draw? A collection of cartoons might be the bridge you're looking for. Anime is all the rage these days....

Best of luck!

I agree with KarlR web comics have a massive following, even if you cannot draw then you can always find someone who can and partner up with them.

I understand your difficulties though, thankfully these days I have a reasonably good grasp of the English language, however like most (if not all) of the writers on this board, this ability was not inherent to me, it was something that took a great deal of work and an even greater amount of time.

Do not be discouraged though, the ability to form sentences and use the English language is something that is within us all, it is no different than learning the rules to a (admittedly complex) board game. Once you know the rules you can write away.

One thing I should point out though is that there are a lot of editors in the world, if you truly feel that what you have to say is worth saying then may I suggest that you write it all down anyway. Even if it turns out to be an unstructured stream of consciousness I'm sure there is an editor out there who can reshape it into something worth reading. Hell you may find that once you have written it, that it was not nearly as bad as you thought.

Most things that I write (even forum posts) often go through a few drafts as I am often unhappy with the quality of something I have written, although I must admit, I didn't really check this one through so forgive me if I sound like I am rambling

The basic skills in spelling and grammar can be acquired fairly quickly. There are a few short guides out there, which I have personally found invaluable, such as 'Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary' by Vivian Cook, and 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' by Lynne Truss. (Note that the words 'accommodating', 'broccoli' and 'cemetery' are deliberately misspelt in the title.)

Other than that, keep reading, writing and getting feedback. It takes a bit of time and effort, but it will happen.

A partnership with a writer is a great idea. I'm currently reading such a book about a man who escaped from Communist controlled Czechoslovakia. I had the chance to meet him the day I bought his book. His English is not horrible but limited, but his story is great! If he hadn't partnered with a writer, no one would know his amazing tale.

btw, his name is George Stastny --> RiskForFreedom.com - Home Page

Average vocabulary will work for the average reader. However, upon writing the first draft, you could work to alter this if you believe it is necessary. Often the most direct word/language is best to get a point across to the reader.

As far as grammar concerns, no manuscript submitted is going to be perfect. But study and paying attention (even while reading novels from the bookshelf/library) can assist in improving this potential weakness.

It (finding a publisher) is very competitive, so you want to always put your best foot forward.

Good luck.

If you’re going to write a book, write it and write it to the best of your ability.

If it’s going to get published the publisher is going to have somebody proofread it and edit it. You don’t want a zillion errors but I’m sure a few errors are to be expected. Just do your best. If you study and practice writing then you’ll turn in a better manuscript.

Improved writing comes with practise, and that's really one of the only ways you're going to get better. It takes a long time to build confidence in yourself and your voice, and even then you'll still find yourself second-guessing yourself at times. You can, however, write anything you want and whenever you want. You can always save that extra polish for later on in the process. If, however, you want to stand a chance at being professionally published, you'll need to make sure you're incredibly polished before submitting. You'll either have to practise and keep at it, or look at hiring at editor to tidy your words up for you.

Cant really add anything to the suggestions already posted - learn the basics of grammar, punctuation, spelling etc, and practice, practice, practice. Or, if thats not agreeable to you, take an alternative route like visual storytelling or collaboration etc.

On a side note though -

Originally Posted by Sam W

Very few writers start with a great command of the English language. Writing is one of those disciplines which rewards practice. I can tell you, without shame, that my writing skills were mediocre when I first started. The ideas were all there but the execution left a lot to be desired. It's only with years of practice and reading that I've improved my writing enough for it to be of publishing standard.

Speak for your self. And while you're doing that in the rest of the quoted paragraph, the bolded sentence is a bit of an assumption, don't you think? Just because that may have been your experience of writing, it doesn't mean it applies to everyone else. Generalisations like this and others I've seen you make are pretty arrogant and narrowminded.

It would be like me going around saying most writers will take at least a year to get their first story published because thats the way it happened for me. But just because it took me so long doesn't mean it will take everyone else the same length of time and it would be presumptuous and arrogant of me to claim so.