Each month, I pick up a local free magazine at my local library. It sometimes has articles that interest me. This month, there was an article on a topic I wanted to know more about.
I started to read the article.
Then, something happened that had never happened before.
I looked again at the first paragraph. "Too long", I thought to myself. "Why did she use that word to describe that person?" I asked myself.
My reaction to the next paragraph surprised me even more. "That's one long paragraph!" I started to count the sentences. I got to 30 sentences and then I stopped. The paragraph was continuing, stretching out into the distance like one of those rolling written descriptions at the beginning of certain movies.
What was I doing? Wasn't I supposed to be reading this article for pleasure? Why was I trying to edit it?
That 30 plus sentence paragraph totally distracted me. Only with a burst of willpower was I able to return to the article and finish it.
This is not a literary magazine I am blogging about. This magazine contains articles written by certain business owners in a certain category of business, hoping they will attract business by describing their services.
I have arrived somewhere new. Where I am, I don't know. There was this Author Blog Challenge I participated in last month. There was so much to read, and I haven't been able to catch up. But on a subconscious level, I must have absorbed something.
And now I know just enough to be dangerous.
I don't have enough knowledge for this new place. I've forgotten some of the parts of speech. I can't remember what a participle is. Last month, my sister in law had to explain to me what a gerund is. (I've since forgotten and now will have to look it up.) I wonder if I am putting my periods in all the wrong places. I tap dance around "lay" vs. "lie".. I dread the day when the Grammar Police visit my blog, and close it down.
So what am I doing mentally editing someone else's article?
Is this how it begins? Will I lose my love of reading as I become aware of every flaw in someone's writing? Will I have to take the next step of (gulp) having someone criticize and edit my work?
Do I want this?
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
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"I have arrived somewhere new. Where I am, I don't know. There was this Author Blog Challenge I participated in last month. There was so much to read, and I haven't been able to catch up. But on a subconscious level, I must have absorbed something.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I know just enough to be dangerous."
Speaking of which, my spouse suggested that I seek the advice of the awesome gardener. Gene showed me the day lillies in the front garden. Providing I build a flower garden enclosure in the front yard, would you consider sharing some of those beautiful flowers?
We just might. Would you like some hostas, too?
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