Advice from Stephen King

Even though I am technically a part of the “texting generation”, and I indeed do text, there is no way I could ever allow myself to purposely write like a teenager with no regard for basic skills in English. Unless, of course, it was a joke. With that being said, I consider myself to be serious about writing and speaking well and using proper grammar even in a friendly conversation or text message. I may not always remember or want to use proper grammar, but I try my best because I know how much I hate it when others do not.

As a result of this I can appreciate Stephen King’s advice to put proper grammar and vocabulary at the top of your writing “toolbox.” He says, “Bad grammar produces bad sentences.” I agree that writing properly is crucial to make sure that you do not confuse your readers and, in turn risk losing them. Even though King admits to deciding not to write much about the basics and importance of grammar, he still offers valuable information in the few examples he provides. He emphasizes the significance of proper use of sentence structure, complete sentences, verbs and nouns. While this all may seem overwhelming to most people, he also offers his advice on using simple sentences in moderation to start off. 

With this in mind, for my memoir I intend to first write what comes to me and go back to analyze the basic mistakes King says every writer is bound to make. I also want to make certain that my sentences and paragraphs are structured properly to avoid any confusion with the reader. I will focus on keeping my nouns and verbs where they belong throughout the memoir, and take a shot at using some simple sentences to see if they will help at all. 

Ideas for my memoir

-A Night With Rush
In 2008 I was lucky enough to get my hands on two tickets for Rush's Snakes and Arrows concert. The show began at 8 pm in the Joe Louis Arena on June 10th. From the moment I stepped on the People Mover and saw the other concert-goers dressed in their vintage Rush memorabilia, I felt like it was the 1980s again. Even though the members of Rush are well into their 50's, they still put on an amazing show. My friend and I were trying to sneak down to better seats for a good portion of the show, and that turned out to be an adventure in itself. Naturally, after the concert my ears were ringing and I couldn't hear properly for about three days. Before leaving the venue I tried to make my way backstage to meet the band, with very little success. Instead, I met a crazed fan who was on the verge of fainting because he managed to steal Neil Peart's drum sticks. It was almost midnight and I was escorted off the premesis by a nice security guard who claimed he "met the guys a while back", but I wasn't too convinced. I made it back to the Joe Louis station just time for the last ride, I hoped over the turnstile and boarded the People Mover. The doors closed, and the night was over.

-My first experience with surgery.
In August of 2009 I had my first gallbladder attack. There is no other way to describe what I felt other than to say it was unbearable, and I thought I was dying. After five hours of waiting in the emergency room and countless tests, I was told I had gallstones due to excessive stress. The only solution was get rid of my gallbladder. Although the doctors assured me it would be a very simple procedure, I was still mildly terrified because I had no family around for support. Later that day the nurse came to prep me for surgery. I called my mom, cried and was rolled down to the OR. I remember waking up hours later in the recovery room with a terrible pain in my throat from the breathing tube. I was offered some ice cream and pain medicine which helped a lot. The next day I went home to begin the recovery process and learn to relax.

My Thoughts on William Strunk Jr.'s Elements of Style.

Strunk's rules seem much like the ones I have been told to use since I first began writing. Many of his suggestions are obvious and very familiar to me. For the most part, I agree with and do try to follow most of these rules when writing. They simply make sense for basic, concise and especially academic writing. Having this list handy for every school essay probably would not hurt.

On the other hand, I can't help but to forget these rules, at times on purpose. When writing outside of school I like to think I can neglect the standard and do as I please. There are moments when I feel that worrying about rules results in a loss of creativity in writing for me. Therefore, when it's personal I prefer to have no restrictions.

I won't deny that these rules can be very helpful, but it matters on what you're applying them to. In my opinion, if everyone always wrote while following these guidelines they would become bored in no time, but we also wouldn't have any trouble reading it. In the end, it all depends.

Reflection on Annie Dillards' Write 'Till You Drop

For someone who considers them self an admirer of both art and literature, I appreciate Annie Dillards' essay. As a student I believe it's essential to preserve creativity especially when writing in the midst of being told what and how to write. Dillards' encouragement to write more often about topics that interest the individual is in fact very refreshing.

Many times I wanted to record certain experiences that were a part of my life even if they didn't seem interesting. I later stopped myself many times as well because I was convinced they were unworthy thoughts. A combination of this, and becoming accustomed to academic writing has left me with little time and interest for leisure writing.

However, I am also a person easily inspired by a few good words. With that being said, it is no surprise that I found myself so intently soaking up every bit of writing advice Dillard had to offer. I welcome the challenge to throw myself into even the smallest piece of material, and to not always save the best for last. So, after reading this essay I'm confident that I'm not alone when I say thank you, Annie Dillard. Thank you for effortlessly restoring my optimism for the idea of imaginative, nonjudgemental writing.