Conquer the weakness

First, don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of CRACKED by K. M. Walton. Go here to enter. I will announce the winner tomorrow.

On with the post (Sorry if there are mistakes, I'm super sick):

It has taken me years to face my weakness. It's not easy and I'm still embarrassed by it. I finally decided that I need to confront it. I need to in order to grow. It's actually holding me back. I'm not talking about chocolate or a super hottie.What is it? Grammar. I stink at it. It's embarrassing to admit, in fact, I'm ashamed, but I need to overcome. I must work my butt off to perfect it.

Now, I'm sure a lot of you are laughing. Fine. Maybe teasing. Whatever. Or saying to yourself, "She calls herself a writer?" I get it. But I'm sure you have a weakness too. That's why I'm pushing through, because no matter what others think of me, I know in my heart I'll get there. I will get an agent, I may be 80, but I will. I will get published, again I may be like 100, but I will. Why? Because I'm willing to work. I'm willing to learn and grow and help others.

So I asked some friends what self help books they'd recommend. Thanks to Stina Lindenblatt, Lydia Kang, and Theresa Milstein for their suggestions.

The recommendations:

IT WAS THE BEST OF SENTENCES. IT WAS THE WORST OF SENTENCES. by June Casagrande

WHEN YOU CATCH AN ADJECTIVE, KILL IT by Ben Yagoda

SIN AND SYNTAX by Constance Hale

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MISPLACED MODIFIER by Bonnie Trenga.

A DASH OF STYLE: THE ART AND MASTERY OF PUNCTUATION by Noah Lukeman

STRUNK AND WHITE. THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by by William Strunk, E. B. White and Roger Angell

Web sites that may help:

Grammar Girl-- Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Crystal Clear Proofing

Justine Dell- Check out her grammar police posts.

I'm sorry if I've forgotten any websites (remember I'm super sick). Please add your link or your favorite link in the comments and I will put it in the post.

Also, what are your favorite self help books on grammar?

Have a great day!

Strength and weakness

Lately, Pessy (my pesimist side) and been beating up Opti (my optimist side). They have been fighting like cats and dogs. Opti was winning a few weeks ago, but Pessy must have been working out because the fight has gotten ugly. I decided to show Pessy that he can not beat me down so instead of curling into a ball and claiming I'm a horrible writer--that everything I write is crap-- I thought I should take a look at my strengths and weaknesses. A list of each may help me see not only what I need to improve on but what I may be good at.

First, I want to get a couple things out in the open.

I must realize that my journey is not like anyone else's. It is as distinct as my fingerprint and only I'm in control.

My ideas and stories are from my heart and I must follow my gut when writing them.

Now on with my list. I figure I will start with my weaknesses. These are the things I must improve on.

Making a schedule to write--I need to focus purely on writing for at least an hour a day. I need to figure out when I can fit this time in without interruption.

Frustration--I need to stop getting frustrated when I'm not able to write. This only leads to Pessy smiling.

Tenses-I don't like tenses. Currently, I'm having a hell of a time trying to spot this. I need to sit and have a classroom session on this. My CPs will be happy when I figure this one out.

Adverbs and "to be" verbs-- I think I do have "was" under control but those sneaky adverbs are still sneaking in.

Slowing down. I tend to rush things especially because my kids need something at every moment. I have been working on this but I know I still need work in this area. It usually leads to careless mistakes.

I know I'm not great at grammer. :)

With that being said, I will move onto my strengths. I'm not a big bragger so I feel funny even typing this. I decided to write down what I have been told of things I do well.

I have been told-- I can write dialogue well. I do like writing it.

I have been told --I'm great at descriptions.

I have been told--I can write a great cliffhanger.

I have been told--That I write with a pretty good voice and that in my current WiP-- people seem to like my characters. That they seem real and a reader can relate to them.

There you have it. I'm not sure how it has made me feel but I guess it was a good exercise to help me jump back into my WiP.

How have you been?

Have you ever tried to seperate your strengths and weaknesses?

Has this exercise helped you?

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I can't wait to get back into my routine. I will miss Germany but I miss my family, friends, cats, house and ---writing. I thought I would be able to write more here but there are a lot of distractions. To my CPs --sorry I've have not been critiquing as much as I thought. You can say it--I've been a bad CP. I promise to finish all my critiques when I get back. Oh and sorry if this post sounds like I just woke up--well --I did and decided to write it before the kiddos got up. :)

Have a great day!