December 14, 2007
My almost-absolute failure
Lately it’s been very convenient having an award-winning writer for a friend, for upon the completion of my novel two weeks back, Rebecca was kind enough to read it. And indeed she has offered wonderful encouragement, good advice and insight. (Which I will apply to my manuscript over my Christmas Holiday! How fortunate to have the time when I most need it). The most fascinating of all her feedback though is a note of my almost-absolute failure to use subordinate conjunctions. And and and and and, which I suppose is to be expected from anyone who talks too much (and I’ve been accused of this since I learned to speak). What about the “buts” and “thens” though? Reading through another story this evening I realize my “problem” (which it isn’t, entirely) is completely out of control. Causality where art thou? Fascinating. I will explore this further throughout my revisions, then I will use this awareness to strengthen my work, but I will not cease my ands completely for ands are what I do (so it seems). There.
Good luck working on the novel over the holidays!!!
Can’t wait to read it and get you autograph~
HITCHEL
You talk exactly enough, in my opinion. Oh, and I’ll see you not in three weeks but in one (at the Vic gathering) so I’m less sad than before!
Kerry, I look forward to reading your novel. And for what it’s worth, I’m quite fond of “and” myself. But the best readers can hear what they see on the page, so here’s to variety./Rona
“But I go to Hollywood but I go to hospital, but you are first but you are last, but he is tall but she is small, but you stay up but you go down, but we are rich but we are poor, but they find peace but they find …”
— Martin Amis, Yellow Dog
See? It’s not just you.
Too many “ands”? I can deal with that! Best of luck. Judy Gilbert
Thank you for so much support. And it’s nice to know I’m not alone (though I’m not convinced I so want Martin Amis for company)