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{{Writing Improvement}} | {{Writing Improvement}} | ||
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{{heading|Tackling Common Grammatical Errors Forever| | {{heading|Grammar and Spelling|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>Written by Captain [[Malcolm Lysander]]</big> | |||
The best way to avoid grammar and spelling errors is to use the following rule: Read your sim out loud from start to finish at least once. If you can’t read it out loud, then read it from start to finish, in your head, three times, slowly. AND, if you have a spell-checker, USE IT!! It will, at first, catch a lot of words that aren’t normal like "Bajoran". Just click the "ADD" button, and it will add those words that you know are correct to the dictionary. So, if it gets the word "StarBase" and you KNOW that’s correct, then push ADD, and next time, it won’t point that out as a problem. | |||
Good spelling and grammar are imperative to making your sims readable. When one spelling problem becomes twelve in your sim, it makes it hard to follow what you’re trying to say, thus making the whole experience of reading the sims not enjoyable. So PLEASE PLEASE read your sims back to catch these problems! | |||
Here are some common errors that people make, and how to fix them: | |||
'''it’s''' = Contraction of "It is". | |||
*"It’s cold out here!" / "It is cold out here!" | |||
'''its''' = The possesive form of "it". | |||
*"Its value cannot be measured." | |||
'''you’re''' = Contraction of "You are". | |||
*"You’re very silly." / "You are very silly." | |||
'''your''' = The possesive form of "you". | |||
*"Your dog is blue." | |||
'''their''' = The possesive form of "they". | |||
*"Their car broke down today." | |||
'''they’re''' = Contraction of "They are". | |||
*"They’re crazy, aren’t they?" / "They are crazy, aren’t they?" | |||
'''there''' = A place. | |||
*"Your book is over there." | |||
'''to''' = The first part of any infinitive. | |||
*"Let’s go to town." | |||
'''too''' = Means: besides, also, or to an excessive degree. | |||
*"I want to go too!" | |||
*"Too many dogs here!" | |||
'''than''' = Indicates a difference in manner or identity. | |||
*"He’s taller than she is." | |||
'''then''' = A function of time. | |||
*"Let’s go to the Academy, and then to the StarBase." | |||
'''e.g.''' = Latin for "for example". | |||
*"Pick up any writing utensil, e.g., a pen, then dip it in the ink." | |||
'''i.e.''' = Latin for "that is". | |||
*"Wise writers use them sparingly, i.e., primarily when documenting resources and then only parenthetically." | |||
'''a lot''' = Two words! | |||
*"We need a lot of money." | |||
{{heading|Tackling Common Grammatical Errors Forever|#FFDF75}} | |||
<big>Written by Fleet Captain [[Kali Nicholotti]]</big> | <big>Written by Fleet Captain [[Kali Nicholotti]]</big> | ||
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'''Could of/Could have''' – A lot of time, when we’re writing, we sometimes write what we’ve heard instead of what is really being said. Because of dialects and speech irregularities, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the habit of thinking a saying, statement, or commonly used phrase is one thing when it isn’t. This is one of those phrases; don’t use ‘could of’, as it doesn’t make grammatical sense. No one could of completed something, but, they could have completed it. | '''Could of/Could have''' – A lot of time, when we’re writing, we sometimes write what we’ve heard instead of what is really being said. Because of dialects and speech irregularities, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the habit of thinking a saying, statement, or commonly used phrase is one thing when it isn’t. This is one of those phrases; don’t use ‘could of’, as it doesn’t make grammatical sense. No one could of completed something, but, they could have completed it. | ||
{{heading|Looking After Grammar| | {|align=center width="85%" | ||
{{header|Maroon|Rules of Writing From the Pros }} | |||
<big>Written by Fleet Admiral [[Tristan Wolf]]</big> | |||
The following texts are provided as some simple tips that you may find useful while writing sims. | |||
{{SubHeading|Eight rules for writing fiction|Maroon}} | |||
Kurt Vonnegut ([http://www.troubling.info/vonnegut.html source]) <br> | |||
#Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. | |||
#Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. | |||
#Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. | |||
#Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action. | |||
#Start as close to the end as possible. | |||
#Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of. | |||
#Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. | |||
#Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages. | |||
{{SubHeading|George Orwell’s 6 Rules for Effective Writing|Maroon}} | |||
George Orwell ([http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit source]) | |||
#Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. | |||
#Never use a long word where a short one will do. | |||
#If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. | |||
#Never use the passive where you can use the active. | |||
#Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. | |||
#Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous. | |||
{{heading|Looking After Grammar|#FFDF75}} | |||
<big>Written by Fleet Captain Diego Herrera</big> | <big>Written by Fleet Captain Diego Herrera</big> | ||
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''Several members of the coalition decided to set a reverse course and head home; they were heavily outgunned and regrouping was the better option.'' | ''Several members of the coalition decided to set a reverse course and head home; they were heavily outgunned and regrouping was the better option.'' | ||
{{heading|Speaking for Others: The Voices You Borrow| | {{heading|Speaking for Others: The Voices You Borrow|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>Written by Captain [[Malcolm Lysander]]</big> | <big>Written by Captain [[Malcolm Lysander]]</big> | ||
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If you’re going to involve another character in such a way that the other character may be injured, you should CO-WRITE the sim together, or at least ask the other person how far you can go with their character. Co-writing a sim means contacting the other character via Instant Messenger or e-mail to write the sim out piece by piece. (So, one person would write one thing, and send that to the other person. Then the other person writes their response, and sends that back. Then you put all that into one sim and send it out.) | If you’re going to involve another character in such a way that the other character may be injured, you should CO-WRITE the sim together, or at least ask the other person how far you can go with their character. Co-writing a sim means contacting the other character via Instant Messenger or e-mail to write the sim out piece by piece. (So, one person would write one thing, and send that to the other person. Then the other person writes their response, and sends that back. Then you put all that into one sim and send it out.) | ||
{{heading|Using NPCs: An Empire at Your Command| | {{heading|Using NPCs: An Empire at Your Command|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>Written by Captain [[Malcolm Lysander]]</big> | <big>Written by Captain [[Malcolm Lysander]]</big> | ||
| Line 199: | Line 279: | ||
{{heading|Avoiding Backsims, Regaining Missed Opportunities| | {{heading|Avoiding Backsims, Regaining Missed Opportunities|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>Written by Rear Admiral [[Rocar Drawoh]]</big> | <big>Written by Rear Admiral [[Rocar Drawoh]]</big> | ||
| Line 238: | Line 318: | ||
Try these two sims out, and you not only avoid the dissatisfaction of posting a few lines of disconnected back sims or having to pull sims you not happy with, you also end up writing a new sim off the back of your previous oversights. These new Sims will allow you depth and development to your character whilst using some nice writing techniques that provide you with a high quality sim and something a little bit different to usual. | Try these two sims out, and you not only avoid the dissatisfaction of posting a few lines of disconnected back sims or having to pull sims you not happy with, you also end up writing a new sim off the back of your previous oversights. These new Sims will allow you depth and development to your character whilst using some nice writing techniques that provide you with a high quality sim and something a little bit different to usual. | ||
{{heading|Advanced Simming Tips| | {{heading|Advanced Simming Tips|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>Written by Vice Admiral [[Hollis Calley]]</big> | <big>Written by Vice Admiral [[Hollis Calley]]</big> | ||
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#Expect consequence for IC actions. If someone phasers an innocent, expect them to be hauled up on charges. | #Expect consequence for IC actions. If someone phasers an innocent, expect them to be hauled up on charges. | ||
#Some captains hate surprises. If you are planning a sudden plot twist that will re-write the mission contact the command officer to clear the idea. | #Some captains hate surprises. If you are planning a sudden plot twist that will re-write the mission contact the command officer to clear the idea. | ||
#IC can bleed into OOC. Be careful when simming confrontations between characters. Often such sims should be | #IC can bleed into OOC. Be careful when simming confrontations between characters. Often such sims should be preceded by an OOC discussion that specifies what will happen, and how to resolve the confrontation. | ||
{{heading|Writing Q&A With Margaret Wander Bonanno (Excerpts)| | {{heading|Writing Q&A With Margaret Wander Bonanno (Excerpts)|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>2013 Writing Improvement Month Event</big> | <big>2013 Writing Improvement Month Event</big> | ||
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'''Margaret Bonanno:''' Oh, yes! I’ve had outright battles with some of my characters. Character: “You want me to put my life in danger here? I don’t think I want to do that.” Me: “It’s in the outline. Don’t be so stubborn.” Character: “Easy for you to say! You’re sitting there at your desk, and I’m the one who’s out the airlock. Nope, not doing it!” Most times you let them loose and see where they’re going. Sometimes they’re like balky children, and you have to be the Responsible Parent…<br> | '''Margaret Bonanno:''' Oh, yes! I’ve had outright battles with some of my characters. Character: “You want me to put my life in danger here? I don’t think I want to do that.” Me: “It’s in the outline. Don’t be so stubborn.” Character: “Easy for you to say! You’re sitting there at your desk, and I’m the one who’s out the airlock. Nope, not doing it!” Most times you let them loose and see where they’re going. Sometimes they’re like balky children, and you have to be the Responsible Parent…<br> | ||
Margaret Bonanno: “Listen, I’m the Omniscient Author here, right? I’ve got my finger poised over the Delete button. Don’t make me do this!”<br> | '''Margaret Bonanno:''' “Listen, I’m the Omniscient Author here, right? I’ve got my finger poised over the Delete button. Don’t make me do this!”<br> | ||
{{heading|Writing Q&A With Melinda Snodgrass (Excerpts)| | {{heading|Writing Q&A With Melinda Snodgrass (Excerpts)|#FFDF75}} | ||
<big>2014 Writing Improvement Month Event</big> | <big>2014 Writing Improvement Month Event</big> | ||