What are you writing about now?

1stvermont said:

Due tell us more about this needed book!

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I fear I must tread lightly, as it is entirely of a 'religious' nature... and don't want to offend anyone.

But after 35 years of groveling in the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic of Scripture, there are many hidden pearls we do not fully understand, due to the difficulties translating the languages to English.

None of our 'mainstream' translations, and very few of the 'private translations' get them correct... and very few pastors/teachers even know to speak of them. (i've discussed them with several experts including the Zondervan and Lockman translators, the Berean Standard Bible team for whom I made several passes through their New Testament as editor, and John McArthur's team for the Legacy Standard Bible once they published, and I saw they too missed many...much to my surprise).

Because we do not see what's really being said, we are not understanding a great deal of what and how we should be doing things, to the weakening of our work in our faith.

SO... the intent is to write a book revealing and teaching on many of these things.
It will either be a book developed as a "Gem A Day" thing covering 366 gems, for people to take in more slowly, (yes there are easily 366 gems to reveal) or a book with a lesser amount but a little more depth to just be read.

Of course the "Gem a day" book could be read straight through as well.

Or both books, who knows in the end. But these aren't things we can (healthily) continue to overlook.

So there it is. The future of Ent's writing for about the next 3 years...

Old Ent said:

I fear I must tread lightly, as it is entirely of a 'religious' nature... and don't want to offend anyone.

But after 35 years of groveling in the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic of Scripture, there are many hidden pearls we do not fully understand, due to the difficulties translating the languages to English.

None of our 'mainstream' translations, and very few of the 'private translations' get them correct... and very few pastors/teachers even know to speak of them. (i've discussed them with several experts including the Zondervan and Lockman translators, the Berean Standard Bible team for whom I made several passes through their New Testament as editor, and John McArthur's team for the Legacy Standard Bible once they published, and I saw they too missed many...much to my surprise).

Because we do not see what's really being said, we are not understanding a great deal of what and how we should be doing things, to the weakening of our work in our faith.

SO... the intent is to write a book revealing and teaching on many of these things.
It will either be a book developed as a "Gem A Day" thing covering 366 gems, for people to take in more slowly, (yes there are easily 366 gems to reveal) or a book with a lesser amount but a little more depth to just be read.

Of course the "Gem a day" book could be read straight through as well.

Or both books, who knows in the end. But these aren't things we can (healthily) continue to overlook.

So there it is. The future of Ent's writing for about the next 3 years...

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That sounds very much like a needed work. I know more then a few readers who would be interested in such a book. I am here to encourage and help if I can.

Not a meme, just what I'm going through right now

For Writers:
Example of how to construct a cumberson sentence.

"King Richard III had eleven siblings as a result of his parents', Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, marriage."

Huh?

When I first read it, I thought "well, I'm glad his siblings are as a result of his parents. Not sure how else they could be siblings." (Though I suppose some could have been through adoption.)

how about: instead:

"King Richard III had eleven siblings as a result of the marriage of his parents, Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York."

The above leaves us just saying "Cool. I wonder if all 12 were the parents' together, or if each brought some from previous unions."

Or even:

"The marriage of Richard of York, (3rd Duke of York), and Cecily Neville, (Duchess of York), resulted in their having 12 children, of whom King Richard III was the 11th. of the 12." (couples information from the next sentence in the writing, making the entire next sentence totally unnecessary.)

Leaves us with the same question as to whether they were all theirs, or each brought a brood... but at least it's clear.

Sometimes reading is difficult on an old Huorn.
Do a Huorn a favor and write well.

@Huorn I always appreciate your tips on clear and concise writing! If you ever post more, I'd like to see it, because I do try to self-edit as I write.

Hear, hear! I, too, often self-edit as I go along writing, and your tips are most appreciated and helpful, @Huorn! Thank you!

Maedhros_Nelyafinwë said:

If you ever post more,

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Oh, my...I could bury the Forum in good examples of bad, clarified writing - including explanations of what to look for, and how to fix them, too.

Come to think of it, I still need to locate and post my 'concise writing tips for authors' too. (After I spiff it up a 9th time. Never satisfied with my own work!)
I may have mentioned this some place back in this thread; I don't recall.

I'm not sure everyone would be interested in seeing much more than maybe the 'concise writing tips' though. The rest can quickly get tedious (and overdone and boring).

Maybe just a few decent examples including 'explanations' could be useful from time to time.

I daresay some few examples from Tolkien's own work(s) could be picked for some of them, so we stay in line with the objective of "The Tolkien Forum" being about Tolkien's stuff.

(No gasps from anyone please... yes, Tolkien has 'dingers and zingers' in his work, but they're tolerable because of the quality and value of the whole.)

I'm always open to someone sending me a PM with some of their own writing too, if they'd like me to breeze it through and make a few comments/suggestions. I just might need a little time to get to it once in awhile, depending on how long the item sent is.

Here's one tip. Please review my post above for the horrendous word "that".
if you find one, let me know.
When we can both speak and write without use of this annoying and useless 'place holder', we begin to do well.
A good example would be for me to rewrite the above showing how many writers would likely handle it.
(I trust you have good teeth. We can grind them to the bone with little effort, and using "that" is a great way to do so.)

I trust that you don't mind that I say that I really don't like use of that word "that" much. It's just that it really, really sucks.

rewritten: I trust you don't mind if I say I really don't like using "that" much. It really really sucks.

It's like... the people who like... can't say like a full sentence without like using the word like like way too much.

Many years ago, I had been taught how the word “that” was unnecessary in many cases of writing, like you are saying here, and I never forgot it. I do often try to pay attention to my writings and determine if the presence of “that” is helpful or not in each of its uses. Same with the “likes.” I never was one to overuse that word, as many do, but it’s still good to keep it in check.

Huorn said:

I'm always open to someone sending me a PM with some of their own writing too, if they'd like me to breeze it through and make a few comments/suggestions.

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After my trip, I might take you up on that and send you my prologue and/or first chapter. I realize the crucial importance of the beginning of a book because a reader is deciding whether or not they'll continue reading. That's a very kind offer!

I'll add this comment then be done with the word 'that' (except as it may be found in works coming my way for review.)

This is also one of my primary editing tips.

The book i'm currently editing started with 1,142 uses of the word "that".
My first trip through the book was to review every use of "that" to see if it was valid or needed fixing.
Of the 1,142 uses, 908 were removed, the remaining 214 being valid uses of the word.

One result: Having already touched the book, read the surrounding context, and made corrections in nearly a thousand places, I had a sufficient feel for the entire content to proceed with a Round 1 "real editing" pass without further ado. (I had also fixed a few other spots not related to 'that' as well as I reviewed context to handle it right.)

Yes, 'that' does have it's proper place. It can, in fact, simplify certain things when it is used approprately.
We just don't understand the word and its use well enough so we abuse it horrendously.

Fingon_Findekano said:

I never was one to overuse that word

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So you see? Here is a 'proper' use of 'that'.

it has a 'target'. It's target is "word". Which word? "that word". Is that the blue car you're talking about? yes, that's the car.

In Fingon's case, 'that' has a double target... as the 'word' it points to also points backward to the word 'likes'. It's a nice connector.

When 'that' has a proper target, it has a proper use. When there is no target, as in a consistent 80% or more of the time, it is wasted space and jarring to the mind and thought.

(Note: as an editor, I would still 'recommend' replacing the word. More powerful and better flowing is: "I never was one to overuse the word....")

Maedhros_Nelyafinwë said:

I might take you up on that and send you my prologue and/or first chapter

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I would be blessed and honored to look at anything you'd like to send along.

Huorn said:

I would be blessed and honored to look at anything you'd like to send along.

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Likewise, I'd be blessed and honored to have you critique anything I write!

The only difficulty with "being" an editor, is knowing whether one is working with an author tending to have a 'thin skin' or not.

Some are very...well...sensitive about their thoughts regarding the quality of their work.

The author I reference above, for example, is more than 'thick skinned'. He relies on his editors, and he knows it. He's the 'idea guy' and I am the 'mechanical works' of the product. In his case, he sends me his whole script and says 'have at it'. So far, he has rejected no changes I've made. (That said, there are some few things we discuss so I know where he's trying to come from, where he's trying to go, and the like. I also double check the accuracy of his statements, references, etc. as needed to be sure he's not gone amiss on his road.)

SO... when you send me something, do let me koow if you'd like a cursory overview, some minor suggestiosn on alteration as needed, or even some more major restructuring thoughts if fitting.

One thing your'e right about of course... the book needs to start with a 'bang'... though often times, those 'bangs' are relatively low-key. In the end, it's the 'pull' they exert dragging a reader in, making the difference.

I have four writing projects going, 3 books and a screenplay. I switch between them when I get stuck on one and need to let ideas simmer for a bit.

A three-book series on The Secret History of the House of Finrod, all translated from newly available historical documents and sources.

Book 1: Cold War in Arthedain, covers the time period from circa 1300 3A to 2160 3A. A collection of diary entries, correspondence, interviews, and tales collected and edited by two different historians, one human and one elven, a thousand years apart. Circa 600 pages so far, some written so long ago I only have paper copies because the word processors don't exist anymore. Lots of work needed to knock this one into shape!

Book 2: The House of Finrod in the War of the Ring, covers events in Lórien for a year's span of time surrounding the War of the Ring (3018-3019 3A). Compiled from the Annals of Lórien and interviews with eyewitnesses by an elven bard who also took part in some of the events. 400 pages. Writing is complete, but I will wordsmith it until published. Currently working on cover designs and interior illustrations. Initial edition will have enameled covers on copper and hand-printed illustrations tipped in.

Book 3: A Long Expected Meeting, covers events long after the War of the Ring. It wraps up the House of Finrod's activities in mortal lands. From the Annals of House Finrod and additional material. 60 pages so far. Have a solid start to it and a timeline of key events between book 2 and this one.

Attached are a couple of enameled test pieces for the heraldic badges that will be on the cover of book 2. Some sample paper choices and the fonts I've chosen, and designs on paper for the back and front cover of book 2.

The fourth writing project is a screen play, a suspense thriller, set in modern times. Nothing to do with Tolkien other than the main character is a Tolkien nerd.

I found these books VERY helpful both for my books and screenplay. I really started to make progress after reading them. And my writing improved.

David Trottier, The Screenwriter's Bible.
Emmanuel Oberg, Screenwriting Unchained and also The Screenwriter's Troubleshooter.

Very neat. You've enough to keep you going for a while..!
You'll find encouragements to 'keep at it' popping up from time to time here..
Feel free to share your own 'tips and tricks' as well. We're all ears. (Or holes in the bark, as the case may be.)

And thank you for the sample of your writing above.

I've found the free program Grammarly (ONLY the download that hooks into MS Word!!!) to be quite helpful in catching a number of simple mistakes.

It is, however, geared towards "Modern Standard Business English", so some of its suggestions are just plain terrible for fantasy writing.

david_wendelken said:

I've found the free program Grammarly

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Yes, grammerly has its uses. Its best feature is it makes one stop and think.

As long as one remembers such things are based on 'the rules' (which change over time) and writing itself is often made less colorful, powerful and flowing by 'rules', it's a good thing.

I suppose there are other similar products out there useful as well. Personally, I don't use any of them any more, though I looked at Grammarly long enough to be happy eliminating it.

But by all means, I recommend it for almost all writers as a thinking apparatus if they want to help both themselves, and clear away some of the trees for their editors. (As long as the trees aren't my friends.)

The writer is, very generally, a whole different animal from the editor. I do not recommend a writer try to be editor as well, other than in the most cursory, surface editing kinds of things. They just get too close to their work.

I would employ a useful Scripture verse here...
"“Enter through the narrow gate.
...For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction,.and there are many who enter through it.
...The gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life (i.e. success in writing here), and there are few who find it.

Many are the authors who think 'ah... but I can do it.'
Sadly.

And yet the tendency more and more in the 'profession' is to do away with editors, thinking the author can stand on his/her own.

I invite all to look at the results being published in every paper, book, magazine, and other writing corner today, and see what they think of the thought for themselves.

(Then again, many's the editor can be seen, so fitting to Master Po's question as well... "Who among us is without flaw?" (King Fu)

In general, I agree with you. A good editor is a wonderful gift for an author. Not just for grammar, but for helping an author realize they are unclear or just plain got off track with their story.

But basic grammar rules and spelling should be followed or, at the very least, be ignored on purpose. Be kind to your editor and don't make them do so much scut work!