Writers' Kryptonite

Krista wrote about writers’ weaknesses. My main weakness is procrastination. I know that’s not the kind of answer she was looking for (and I’m sorry for tangenting your topic), but it’s true; writers write, and I can scarcely call myself one most of the time.

As for weaknesses within my writing, I used to be overly fond of adverbs until Tammy beat them out of me. But I have difficulty recognizing my own failings; I never would have known I used too many adverbs unless someone had pointed it out. I can’t even think of what to put here as my biggest writing weakness, although I’ve sent out an email to Tammy so she can tell me what it is. Perhaps it’s an overuse of commas. I love commas. I think I sometimes use them too much because I try to make my writing sound like speech, with all the little pauses that go along with it. I also love dashes, but I’ve recently discovered the semi-colon, which works much better in places where I used to use dashes.

I think, in the end, my biggest writing weakness is missing a sound foundation in grammar. I know how to put sentences and paragraphs together, and when I read something, I know whether it’s written correctly or not. But I don’t know why. Grammar classes always bored me to tears in school, but now I wish I had paid closer attention. When I read something that is written poorly I can say, “Try writing it this way.” But I couldn’t tell them, grammatically, what it is that is wrong. I’d like to be able to say, “The prepositional phrase should match the subject, you fool.” Or whatever.

I actually have a couple books on it, and I can fix this problem by reading them. Which I will.

Someday.

Anyway, here’s a less important side note:

I don’t really follow pop culture all that much. I don’t read tabloids, I couldn’t care less who is dating, marrying, and/or divorcing who, and I didn’t give a single ounce of attention Michael Jackson trial. But yesterday someone referred to Michael Jackson as a “musical genius”. My response was an incredulous, “Huh?”

I cannot fathom how Jackson is still so popular today. He had one good solo album (“Thriller”) in the early 1980’s which had a handful of catchy songs (although the recent trial certainly cast “PYT” in a new light). Since then, he has released a few un-noteworthy efforts and become more of a freak with each passing year. He doesn’t even look human anymore. He embarrasses himself every time he opens his mouth or hangs a baby out a window. Yet, somehow, he remains one of the most popular icons in the world.

Why? I just don’t get it. Someone please explain it to me.

This just in: Tammy’s response to my biggest weakness:

“lack of decisiveness.

you, and your characters, are all very flexible and easy going.

Be More Definite!”

So there you go.