Grammar For Fiction Writers

Mastering the rules of grammar is a long, difficult process. You know what's even more difficult than learning the rules? Learning how to break them. Breaking grammar rules in fiction writing is tricky: how do you know which rules are breakable and which are non-negotiable? Luckily, the experts at Scribendi have some information to help you learn how to use grammar in fiction to enhance your story, characters, and narrative voice.

Grammar for Fiction Writers

If there's any acceptable place to play around with grammar, it's in your characters' dialogue. This can include first-person narration and internal dialogue, where staying true to your character's voice is more important than staying true to your Strunk & White.

Many writers play with grammar in fiction by using sentence fragments. However, some authors depend too heavily on such fragments to establish their distinct writing "style." They see the freedom of fiction writing, and they get carried away! That's how some books end up with openings like this:

If you think commas are required only when one would take a breath or semicolons and colons are pretty much the same thing, then you're simply not ready to start breaking grammar rules in fiction writing.

As you can see, there's a lot to learn about breaking grammar rules in fiction. You won't master it overnight, and it's certainly not something you'll conquer without a bit of help. The key to playing with grammar in fiction is being flexible and open to others' opinions. After all, your goal isn't to be the only one who likes (or understands) your work!

Marcy Kennedy is a suspense and speculative fiction writer who believes fantasy is more real than you think. In 2007, she won the suspense/thriller category of Writer's Digest's Popular Fiction Competition, and in 2009, she won the grand prize. She's also the author of the Busy Writer's Guide series. Alongside her own writing, Marcy works as a freelance editor and teaches classes on craft and social media through WANA International. You can find her blogging about writing and about the place where real life meets science fiction, fantasy, and myth at www.marcykennedy.com.

Some of this is just sloppy or lazy writing due to hurrying to slap thoughts on the page, and I get that. I encourage writers to gush and let their prose flow in their first draft. But I expect them to then follow through by rereading at some future date and cleaning up the mess. And more importantly, knowing how to.

Thanks for all the kind words. I found that learning grammar has really helped improve my writing and freed me up to write more, better, and more creatively. I hope that proves to be true for all of you!

2014-2022Free E-BookCurrently Free at:Amazon (affiliate link) Kobo Apple Smashwords My StoreFacebookInstagramPinterestRSSTwitterWelcome! I'm K.M. Weiland, the award-winning and internationally published author of acclaimed writing guides, such as Structuring Your Novel and Creating Character Arcs. I write historical and speculative fiction and mentor authors. Read More

Creative writers sometimes mangle grammar on purpose or get creative with punctuation. At the drafting stage, we keep a dictionary and style manual at hand. When slips are unintended, we count on our copyeditors to catch them.

But at some point, most of us get advice on punctuation or grammar from a friend, relative, or strangers on social media. Sometimes friends or beta readers read our draft and point out what they believe to be errors.

Who vs. whom is my biggest bugbear. Who says "whom" any more? Certainly not the first person narrator of my stories. It would sound strange coming from her (fictional) lips. So, "whom" is one of those words that often just doesn't sound right, even when it's correct.

Check out our list of the best writing tools for fiction writers and start using them to help you create your next novel, short story, audiobook, or screenplay today!

Rytr is a writing tool that uses AI to help writers create stories. It offers a variety of features that make it easy to get your writing projects started, including a topic generator and an outline creator. Rytr also includes several resources writers can use to improve their craft, including a thesaurus and a style guide.

In addition, Rytr provides a community of writers who can offer feedback and support. Overall, Rytr is an excellent option for writers looking for online writing tools to help them create better stories.

This is where Scrivener comes in. Scrivener is a powerful book-writing software tool that helps writers get their ideas down on paper (or screen, as the case may be). It provides a clear and concise structure for writers to work within while allowing them to move around and rearrange sections as needed. In addition, Scrivener includes a wealth of features specifically designed to make writing more manageable and efficient.

For example, it has a built-in research tool that allows writers to access and organize their notes and sources. It also has a distraction-free mode that allows writers to focus on their work without being interrupted by email notifications or social media alerts. In short, Scrivener is an essential writing tool for writers looking to take their writing habits to the next level.

Google Docs is a free online word processor that offers a variety of features that can be helpful for writers. For example, you can easily collaborate with fellow writers on a project, share your work with beta readers or editors, and even publish your work directly on the web.

Scrivener is designed specifically for writers and all of their writing projects. It includes all the features you need to easily organize your ideas and manuscript and then export it into a readable format. Unlike some other tools, Scrivener makes it easy to keep track of your research and notes.

For writers, grammar is essential. It is the foundation of your work and can make or break a piece. There are many grammar checker tools, but Grammarly is one of the best. It is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help you with everything from catching typos to fixing complex grammatical errors and passive voice sentences.

Celtx is one of the best screenwriting software tools for screenwriters. It offers many features to help you plan, write, and format your screenplay, script synopsis, and script treatment.

Freedom app is one of the best productivity tools for writers because it allows you to block distractions and focus on your novel, short story, or blog posts! With Freedom, you can block specific websites and apps, set timers, and even schedule work sessions in advance. This means that you can create a distraction-free environment to get your best work done.

Great organizational tools for writers are vital to being productive and efficient. Many options are available, but one of the best is To Doist. This app allows users to create customized to-do lists and set reminders for tasks that must be completed. It also makes it easy to assign tasks, track progress and see where time is being spent.

In addition, To Doist integrates with other productivity apps such as Evernote and Slack, making it a powerful tool for every writer who wants to be organized and efficient. It also has a fantastic free version, which is likely all that most writers will need.

Marlowe Pro is one of the best organizational tools for writers. It keeps track of your ideas, notes, and characters so you can focus on writing your story. It has a sleek interface that is easy to use and will even compare your book-in-progress to already-published works!

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is one of the best laptops for writers. Its design and function are excellent, and the laptop is thin and light enough to take with you anywhere. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go also has excellent battery life, so you can keep writing even at the coffee shop. And its 12.4-inch touchscreen display is the perfect size for writing long documents or browsing the web.

MacBook Air is one of the best laptops for writers. It is portable, lightweight, and has long battery life. MacBook Air also comes with a backlit keyboard, which is perfect for writing in low-light conditions. In addition, the MacBook Air has a Retina display that makes it easy to read documents and web pages.

The Microsoft Sculpt is one of the best keyboards for writers. It uses a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard with a split design and an integrated number pad, making it more comfortable to type for long periods. The Sculpt also has a detachable palm rest, supporting the wrists while typing.

The Logitech K780 is a beautifully designed, well-made keyboard. Logitech went the extra mile on this one, from the great keycaps to the multi-device support. This is a top-of-the-line keyboard for writers, and it shows. The Logitech K780 has an excellent build quality. The keys are very sturdy, and the overall feel is excellent.

The Livescribe Symphony Smartpen Digital Pen is one of the best digital pens for writers. It captures your handwritten notes and drawings in digital format, so you can access them anytime, anywhere. The pen also records audio, so you can capture lectures, meetings, or even to-do lists along with your notes! And if you ever need to review something, simply tap on your notes, and the recording will play back.

Blue light has been shown to interfere with sleep, making it hard to focus during the day. The blue-light-blocking glasses help reduce eye strain and fatigue, making staying focused on the task easier. And for writers who work on computers, the blue light blocking glasses can also help to prevent headaches and migraines.

As a fiction writer, it is important to have a toolbox of writing tools that you can use to create your stories. These tools can help you to organize your ideas, plan your story arc, and organize your desk. In addition, they can also help you to stay on track and avoid distractions while you are writing. 041b061a72