Getting Creative with Language Conventions

            There are many, many books out there about grammar rules and what constitutes proper English. But have you ever considered where these rules came from? What we know as English today developed out of many changes over the years. The language is still changing today and the people who help create that change are those who are willing to question the conventions of language and writing. They are willing to bend the rules to make language better express what they want to say. Even if this sounds like English is doomed, stay with me. There are few rules more closely guarded than those of the English language. I’m not suggesting that one should completely disregard grammar rules like E. E. Cummings. What I am saying is that English is fluid. Words and their meanings change, sometimes daily. Why can’t we be creative with conventions to make language work better for us?

            If you are going to push the boundaries of language, moderation is key. You need to be strategic about what you change and how you do it. Basic grammar rules like subject-verb agreement and capitalization are best left alone so that readers don’t get lost. Spelling rules should also be left intact. Some things are better left alone. What I am talking about are the style choices that have room for individuality. For example, writers love commas. They are versatile and show up everywhere in text. I can appreciate a well-placed comma. I’m amongst the staunch defenders of the Oxford comma. But there is nothing like a semicolon. When I get the chance, I like replacing those commas with semicolons. It feels more definite and authoritative to me.

            These creative changes can make your writing unique and interesting. When practicing moderation, there are several things you can consider to help you plan a strategy. The first is timing. If your venture away from convention is ill-timed, it can distort the meaning of your text or frustrate readers. If you’re writing something to a client, you might want to think twice about straying from conventional type. Why risk losing a client if you don’t have to? On the other hand, a blog post might be an interesting place to insert something unconventional to keep readers’ attention and make your post memorable. If you’re writing a book, you might not want anything too wild because books have a long life span. You should think in terms of where your writing will be seen.

            The second thing you should consider when trying to moderate changes is your audience. The audience is critical for guiding your decision. Try to answer the following questions. How lenient will your audience be with the changes? Will they be able to understand what you’re doing? Think about whom you intend your work for and how your changes might be perceived. Nothing should reduce the accuracy or meaning of your writing. It also should not jolt readers out of their train of thought. If a reader gets frustrated or annoyed enough by something unconventional in your writing, they may stop reading all together.

           Have fun with your writing! It’s supposed to be creative and show your personality. As you play with the conventions of language, make sure you do it in moderation. The best way to decide what changes to make is by thinking about the timing of the change and who your audience is. When done right, your creative writing can delight readers and make you stand out from the rest.

April's Feature Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

            Victorian literature is as familiar to me as modern literature. I've been curious how early twentieth-century literature bridged the gap between then and modern works. This month I have done some exploring. I believe nearly everyone is familiar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This children's book has long been on my must-read list. I heard that there were differences between the book and the 1930s Judy Garland movie, which came as no surprise. What movie hasn't made changes to its source? For this month, I decided to experience the world of Oz firsthand.

            The book read differently than most novels because, after all, it is a children's book. I especially liked the childlike reasoning in this one. It is very black and white. Right is right and most things boil down to common sense. What an average adult might overthink, the characters shrug off as a simple fact. Where an adult might not think twice, the book raises questions that can stop a reader in their tracks. Reading became interesting because my notions of things were turned upside down by the reasoning in the story.

            Another part I adore about children's books is the lack of limits on imagination. The suspense of belief is easier for children; it makes room for so many possibilities. Unique creatures, color, and magic filled the book and brought it to life. What makes it better is the little bit of reality mixed in. It blurs the lines between real and make-believe to the point that it feels possible when you read it.

            The moral of the story is simply making do with what you have. The four friends all had exactly what they wanted the whole time. They only needed to realize that and use it. Dorothy had the means to reach Kansas the whole time in the magical silver shoes she wore. The Scarecrow was brilliant, but never realized how smart he was. The Tin Woodsman had a big compassionate heart despite thinking he had none. The Cowardly Lion had great courage but allowed his fear to make him believe otherwise. There is nothing wrong with desiring something. But it is important to realize that what we have is valuable too. As with the book’s characters, it's simply untapped potential until we discover it.

            I've read that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is symbolic and acts as an allegory. I'll admit, it had a little bit of an allegorical feel to it. If it is supposed to be symbolic though, I didn't catch any of the meanings. I would expect anything symbolic to be straightforward so that a child could see it. The story might very well be allegorical; but for me, it was simply a fun novel to read.

            So, I have to ask the age-old question. Do you think the book or the movie is better? What do you think of the changes the movie makes? Honestly, I like the book better because the plotline seems more straightforward and gives a more definite ending to each character’s story. At the same time, I like the contrast because I can see where the story was changed to better relate with the movie's 1930s audience. The point is the same and just as applicable no matter what year it is.

I Wrote a Novel

            The past week has been taken up by more pressing matters, so I hope you'll forgive me for not having an actual post this week. Instead of writing and editing tips, I'm including you in my celebration. If you’ve been reading some of my other posts, you know that I have been working on a novel project for the past nine months.  Ever since my 5^th-grade creative writing class, I have been developing ideas and trying to write stories. None have been successful—until now.

            This week I finally finished writing a rough draft for a novel. What started as merely a fun personal project, has turned into an exploration of writing. I know I'm not the greatest writer, but this experiment has taught me much and helped me improve. All those experts out there that say you should practice writing are correct. This project has been the best practice for me. Now I have just under 60,000 words down on paper and many lessons to apply to future writings.

            Don't think I'm going to let my project end just yet. What self-respecting editor would leave their writing unedited? I'm now looking forward to the next step of the writing process: editing. For me, the editing stage is so much more fun than writing. Writing is wide open with possibilities, a blank canvas. My mind doesn't appreciate so many options. I like having parameters to work with. Editing provides that because the words are already there. I can take what exists and shape it into something grand. 

           Writing taught me about developing characters, creating descriptions, wording dialogue, and so much more. I am certain that editing will be the same way. Even though it is a familiar territory, I never stop learning. Language evolves and so do the people who use it. There is no end to learning. Each project I take on teaches me something new about editing and how language works. In other words, be ready for some future posts about editing fiction.

Writing with Dialects and Accents in Fiction

            I have a weakness for westerns. I blame it on genetics since I have family members who enjoy westerns too. One part that I like about these novels is the language. It isn't overly grammatical or polished, but it's plain-speaking (or straight-shooting if you prefer that expression). Different elements can give writing a new personality and color. Dialects and accents in writing can bring a story to life. If done right, they can give characters an instantly recognizable identity and build a more imaginative setting. The key to doing them right is to make sure they are identifiable. A badly done accent will both be unrecognizable and bring down the quality of the writing. This week, I’ll give some tips about how to write a better accent and why including one might be beneficial to your story.

            Dialects and accents can be tricky for any author. To make them work well for your story, there are three points you need to be careful of. The first is legibility. The wording needs to be legible for the reader. Spelling and punctuation have some leeway when trying to recreate a certain accent, but it should not be sacrificed to the point that a reader cannot decipher what is being said. If it is coming out in a way that can be hard to read, you have several possibilities to consider. First, illegible words might be a sign that you’re trying too hard to create the accent. In this case, you might want to step back for a moment and rethink how you portray the language. On the other hand, dialects sometimes use words or pronunciations that are unusual and unknown to the average reader. In that case, you should consider including cues that help a reader understand what is being said.

            Another point you should be cautious of is consistency. This is a critical point. If you start with a certain dialect, you should be finishing with it. It is imperative that the dialect is consistent throughout the whole work and doesn't come in and out. The lack of consistency will detract both from your writing and your character's authenticity. Consistency also applies at a more minute level. Not only should the accent stay true throughout the work, but the qualities of it should be consistent. The same spellings and punctuations should be used every time. The easiest way to ensure this is to keep notes about the usages you have in your work. As an editor, I suggest you have a copy of those notes available to your editor. Your editor can then know what you intended and catch any variations in your writing.

            A final caution, and the most important one to take away from this, is accuracy. If you write consistently and legibly through your whole work, it will mean nothing if you portray the dialect or accent inaccurately. Do your research and make certain that you are writing the speech correctly. And I mean truly correct and not just stereotypes of accents. If you aren’t careful about accuracy, it will sound “off” to readers and potentially offend those who do speak with that dialect or accent. You wouldn’t like it if someone misrepresented you so be careful that you don’t do it to someone else.

            With that being said, I hope I didn’t completely scare you off from trying to write a dialect or accent because it does have benefits. One such benefit is the local color an accent can bring to your writing. It is, like I said earlier, instant identity. It is a creative way to carry one’s reader quickly to a certain time and place. It can also create a connection for the reader with the story. For those familiar with the accent, it can give them a sense of investment because it is something they know. I like reading books that include a Southern accent because it reminds me of my childhood. My favorite teacher was from West Virginia and I loved hearing her talk. That brings up a third benefit. Even if a dialect isn't personally known to the reader, it can be intriguing. There is something about a foreign accent or dialect that piques others' curiosity. Either way, it can grab readers’ attention and create a more vivid picture for them.

            The next time you decide to write, why not try adding a dialect or accent to your story? It can give your work a unique flare that draws in readers and creates a setting through speech. Just be careful that as you write you keep an eye on legibility, consistency, and accuracy. These three keys will help guide you as you try your hand at writing dialects and accents.

A Business Analyst's Guide to Editing

            Not all businesses hire editors to check their documents. Sometimes the editing gets pushed off onto a random employee. For that employee, the task of editing all those documents is no joke. In my non-traditional route to editing, I started with a business degree and worked as a contractor in a government agency. Over time, my tasks as a business analyst became more like those of an editor. I was completing research, developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading for the entire project team by the time my contract ended. If you happen to be that employee trying to act as the editor, the following tips are meant for you. I'll be sharing some editing lessons I learned as a BA and some things that I wish I had known back then.

            There is a difference between knowing something and explaining it. Sometimes an author can struggle to write down the ideas they have in mind. Or, the author may battle with wording that makes sense to the readers. In a government agency, documentation and transparency are of utmost importance. Project documents are vital to track the work being done and to explain it to others. Clarity, style, and grammar become key. Clarity should be a goal for every business. I found that documentation explained the processes, but still had problems. The trouble was that they would sometimes become too technical or assume too much about the audience. One needs to consider who might read the documentation and what they might use it for. These documents are not another objective to cross off one's list. They serve an actual purpose. When editing, think about who the audience is and try to approach the document from their point of view. If there is ambiguity, consider changing it. Vague meanings do no one any good.

            Style, when applied appropriately, works together with clarity. A style guide creates consistency. Before you get too deep into editing your company's documentation, find out if your company has a house style. If your company has a standard for writing, you don't want any documentation to stray from it. Variations ruin the voice and image your company is trying to create. Because I was a BA still figuring out the editing business, I didn’t know I needed to find a house style. I edited based on grammar rules I learned in school. I do not recommend this if you can avoid it. From a legal standpoint, the wording and punctuation placement could have created serious problems for the agency if I made a mistake. 

           If you have a house style, get a copy and edit according to that guide. If not, I suggest you either create your own with the approval of your manager or choose an existing style guide to follow. Industries often have a guide that they favor. Whether or not you create a guide, watch for trends in the documentation and keep a record to make sure everything stays consistent in grammar choices, spellings, and word usage. For instance, I worked on a public transit project. The buses were called coaches. I learned that there were several categories of coaches that each had a specific name. It is important to note these things because they have a meaning that is only known to a certain group that differs from the meaning that an average reader might attribute to it. These terms should either be used for the group they come from or have a proper explanation.

The third part to watch for when editing is grammar. I noticed that grammar was not a high priority for the IT employees who authored the documentation. There is nothing wrong with that, but the editor does need to be aware to catch the mistakes. The documents of a company are vital because they explain the processes of the company. They need to be accurate and part of that includes grammar. Tables and lists are common in project documents and mistakes congregate in them. Check them carefully for capitalization, parallelism, spelling, and labeling.

            Editing as a BA was a fun experience for me and probably the highlight of my career so far. Other folks may not be so quick to share my enthusiasm for editing. It doesn't have to be overwhelming though. Start with finding a style guide and build from there. It can make the process far less tedious when you know what to look for and how to correct it. As you edit, keep clarity and consistency in mind. It is your job to make sure that the documentation can effectively communicate to its audience without errors creating a barrier.