Book Review: When Good People Write Bad Sentences
The First Step Is Admitting You Have A Problem
As I previously mentioned, I just recently submitted my article for the newest issue of Apples ‘N Oats magazine. After each submission, Carol Eilers the editor/publisher sends me a note saying that she added a few more commas or a semicolon. (Note: This last time she didn’t comment on my punctuation. But I think that has more to do with her just going ahead and making the necessary changes, as opposed to my writing abilities.) Now I don’t think it is her job to proof read everything I write to make sure it is grammatically correct. (Oh, wait … maybe it is?) But as a responsible artist/writer I have decided to seek help and improve my writing skills.
Oddly enough, we had this book, When Good People Write Bad Sentences; 12 steps to Better Writing Habits, by Robert W. Harris, in one of our bookshelves. (View the Table of Contents
It is written in a tongue-in-cheek style of a addiction intervention. By offering a 12 step program for self improvement by breaking “The Habit” of bad writing. At first I found this a clever way to make the mind numbing subject of diction, grammar, and style, actually a little entertaining. About half way through though, the amusement factor got a little stale.
Denial
It appears that I resemble one of his examples of a bad writing addict, by thinking that adhering too closely to the standard rules of writing, were going to interfere with my creativity, self expression and ability to communicate in my own voice.
Idealistically, I have always thought, as an artist that I am a visual person. I shouldn’t have to write about my work, because my work should speak for itself. This my friends is denial. Truth is, not only is it important to write clearly for my Apples ‘N Oats articles and this blog. But also for all of the artistic submissions and business dealings that I do every day. Often I think, “eh, artists are supposed to be quirky. I can get away with it.” I have finally decided that I need to improve my writing skills, if I really want to compete with the big dogs. (Sometimes, it’s hard being a grown-up.)
The Judgment
The most beneficial idea I got from this book was more applicable to marketing than writing. It deals with the importance of promoting benefits over features. The book explained that while listing features is good, it is the benefits that people respond to.
For example:
A feature might be inexpensive
while a benefit might be affordable
A feature, answers the question “what is it?” A benefit answers the question “What does it mean to me?” This seems to me to be a powerful tidbit of information that will be useful in my marketing efforts.
The book was an easy read. Though, I feel that far to much time and wordage was spent on the addiction angle. While I still don’t have a good grasp of dangling participles or splitting infinitives. In the end, I got the information on the areas I most needed help in. How to use of commas, semicolons, and dashes properly. That is, I think I now have a grasp on how to use them properly. I wrote most of this post before finishing the book. We’ll have to see just how much has soaked in and gets utilized in my future writings.
It was worth the read. I learned some important things. Other things didn’t really stick. Maybe I should read it again. Or maybe, I really do need to crack open a grade school grammar book that spells it all out for me, in a simple to understand format, as if I am a slow-witted child. “Hmm … Nah! I am an artist I can get away with it.” (As they say: D’nile, ain’t just a river.)