🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan27.193617.13732@eos.arc.nasa.gov> kyrsten@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Kyrsten Swazey) writes:
>When i am critiquing an individual's story, i look for craft ("does this
>story unfold in a typical manner and, if not, are the deviations
>enhancing?" and the ilk).  However, i am also very conscious of word-
>choice, grammar, spelling and all those nasty details.  Our instructor
>has repeatedly stated that any editor (?) can clean these up
>effortlessly.  Most people use word processors and have spell, if not
>also grammar, checks.  

Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!  Any editor that sees spelling errors will toss
the manuscript.  Grammar is just as bad.  If you are seeing manuscripts
with spelling errors, you should be screaming.  Since most people do use
word processors there is no excuse for this whatsoever.

As far as grammar checkers are concerned, they have limited utility at
best.  They are good at cutting passive voice from your document (or
telling you you wrote that way) and they can find repeated words and
some tense errors, but the language is just too complex for them.

Where word choice is concerned, what is the writers job each time a new
word must be typed?  Imagine:  Refer to me as Ishmael.

>Does this reliance upon a computer or someone else hinder ones actual
>talent as a writer?  I believe it does--what else is a writer but
>someone who can express themself in the most immediate and touching way?
>Are they not supposed to be the best at what they claim to do?
>Am i looking at this in the wrong way?

I think the computer is the best thing that ever happened to writing.  A
writer can now spend more time on his craft and less time doing mundane
physical chores such as retyping manuscripts.  And, spell checking works
very well.  However, it does not change the writing process since the
writer must still choose the words.

Just suggestions!
-- 
| Charles B. Owen                            Internet: mgcbo@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu |
| Western Illinois University                            Phone: 309-837-4292 |
| 1002 E. Murray                                                             |
| Macomb, IL  61455                                                          |