May's Feature Book: The Thread That Runs So True

            If you have been reading these literature posts, you might have noticed a trend by now. I will gladly admit I have a weakness for 19^th century British literature. This month I decided to be adventurous by reading an American classic from 1949 titled The Thread That Runs So True. This book is an autobiography by Jesse Stuart that focuses on his work in education in eastern Kentucky. Mr. Stuart was passionate about changing every child’s life through education. Through his book, he hoped to open America’s eyes to both the value of education and the struggles of the teachers trying to provide it.

            This is a book I’m glad I chose. Not only did it take me in a completely different direction in subject matter, but it also reminded me of how blessed I am. Recently, I was complaining that I wasted my time getting a degree. Mr. Stuart showed me that no education is a waste of time. With the complexities of this world, it is easy to forget how valuable some things are. Mr. Stuart's love for education comes through his writing and it’s infectious.

            Jesse Stuart never intended to make teaching his career, but life is good about throwing someone a curveball. In Mr. Stuart’s case, it was a good thing both for him and his county’s education system. He dedicated many years of his life to making sure all children had an opportunity to learn. Sometimes that meant teaching but at other times it meant going to court to fight the corruption of the county’s educational system. Kentucky wasn't always very welcoming of his help, and yet he continued to offer it. He believed that education was what would preserve their children's livelihood and freedom.

            Even though the focus of the book is Jesse Stuart’s experiences as a teacher, there are two other themes that I noticed while I read. The first is to stand up for what’s right. He wasn’t willing to just go with what was, accept people’s reasonings, or let someone else handle it. He knew what he was seeing was wrong and he did something about it. He armed himself with facts and he wouldn’t back down. Because of him, teachers and students had someone representing them and the problems they faced.

            The second theme is the benefits of hard work. Mr. Stuart worked for everything; he truly earned every success he had. His education took years to complete because he worked for it. He gave his all to every position he held. And he also passed on his work ethic to his students, even if they didn’t realize it. Impossible wasn’t a word in his vocabulary, and frankly, I find that admirable. Technology allows people to achieve things so much easier, and I’m not sure that is always a good thing.

            The Thread That Runs So True offered plenty of inspiration and thought for me, and I hope it will do the same for you. Jesse Stuart also devoted his life to writing along with education. He wrote many short stories and poems that you might also find enjoyable. What do you think of Jesse Stuart and his fight for education? Do you agree with his ideals and methods?

Use Your Punctuation: Semicolons

            At some point, you have probably been told—most likely by your mother— “Use your words!” That person knows that words are a huge part of communication. The different nuances of each word allow us to express ourselves very specifically. The same is true in writing, but words are not the whole story. You need to use your punctuation! We can do so much more if we go beyond the basic comma and period. To help you make better use of your punctuation, I would like to introduce you to my beloved punctuation mark: the semicolon.

            The semicolon is most easily described as a cross between a colon and a comma in both appearance and function. A semicolon, generally speaking, indicates a pause in a sentence that is more pronounced than a comma. Because of this, semicolons spend most of their time somewhere in the middle of a long or complex sentence. If you read classic literature, you are most likely very familiar with semicolon usage. Past authors made great use of semicolons. Some even used the punctuation mark to string clauses together so much that a single page could only fit a few sentences.

            You probably don’t want to use semicolons that much, but they can still improve your writing. There are three ways you can use semicolons in a sentence. The first is by placing a semicolon between two independent clauses. It can take the place of the comma next to the conjunction or both comma and conjunction. Semicolons tend to create a more pronounced pause than a comma which means they can stand alone without the conjunction if necessary.

Another way you can use semicolons is to reduce the confusion that comes with long lists that include many commas. If commas occur within the items of the list, semicolons can prove especially handy in separating the items instead of using commas. They also create that greater pause which can be useful when list items verge on the side of long phrases. The semicolon’s goal is to bring clarity to your writing.

A final way you can use the semicolon is in combination with adverbs to connect clauses. This is one usage I used to practice a lot until my college professors started to complain; therefore, I don’t do it as often anymore. The semicolon works when the adverb acts as a conjunction between the clauses. The structure is usually an adverb preceded by the semicolon and followed by a comma. If the adverb appears elsewhere within the clause, it only needs two commas. The exception is at the beginning of the sentence where an adverb would need one comma to follow it.

            Semicolons are an often-overlooked tool in an author’s toolbox. They can boost your writing by helping you to communicate with stronger pauses, fewer commas, and more complex sentence structure. Don’t let the idea of complexity scare you. The semicolon helps guide the reader and prevent confusion. Try using some semicolons in your writing and see how they can make you a more effective communicator.

Lessons from Self-editing a Novel

            I recently talked about completing my goal to write a novel. Now I have moved on to the editing stage. Because I am self-editing my novel, the experience has been very different from editing someone else’s writing. I’m sorry to say that I made several avoidable mistakes by not following my own advice. My mistakes have given me a new appreciation for why editors suggest certain habits.

            Every editor stresses the importance of a style guide, including me. It is difficult, if not impossible, to edit without a standard. I now understand that more than ever. I did start with a style guide when I began my project. Only, I made one serious mistake: I didn't update it. What I created at the beginning of my project, does not match what I am now trying to edit. I didn't take the time to write down changes to character names, settings, or spellings. Because I didn’t make those changes to my guide, I have to put in extra work trying to remember which is right. Authors, when an editor tells you to keep a style guide for your book, do it for your and your editor’s sanity! I deeply regret not doing so and have wasted extra time trying to correct everything.

            The second lesson I have learned while editing is to keep a timeline. I feel completely ridiculous for not doing so while I wrote. I know better after all! But here I am, trying to piece together a timeline to correct inconsistencies throughout my story. You can keep track of where your characters are, how the story is progressing, and how plausible events are by keeping a timeline. For instance, my main character goes on a trip. After I created a timeline for myself, I realized what was supposed to be a couple of days had enough scenes to fill a whole week. Something must go for the timeline to be plausible.

            A final lesson I have learned has given me more empathy for authors. Editors understand that it is hard for an author to let go of their words. Only I never realized how hard until it was my own words that needed to go. Your story may be excellent the way it is. But by being open to changing passages, you can make your work even better. As I’m learning to chop out sections that my inner editor knows don’t work, I’m discovering that it opens the window for better possibilities. Even though I’m only halfway done with the first round of edits, I already feel like I have a better story. The plot is completely altered, but it flows better. It doesn’t have as many holes in it and has more plausibility.

            I’m still very happy that I embarked on this literary adventure because not only have I grown as a writer, but now as an editor. While you are writing your story, keep in mind some of these lessons. They can make your writing better and your editor’s job easier. Keeping notes and making proper plans can save you a lot of time later in the process. It is also important to be open to new ways of telling your story because they might make it stronger.