Reluctant Readers
A writer calls this “a part of voice”. A reader calls this “loving a character”.
Some writers get finicky and judgy over their use. Some readers do this also. Regardless of how they are termed or judged, grammar rules are there for a reason. They’re to be ignored for a reason too.
A line of story and the rhythm it’s presented will always continue the melody a reader plays in their head—whether the notes go flat, fall sour, or soar with crescendo. Some notes are played in the major, some in the minor.
If you know how to read music then you can enjoy a song just by reading the score. You don’t need someone to play it. Sure, it’s nice to have it played though.
It’s the same with a book. If you know how to read full stops, pauses, trailing thoughts, and afterthoughts then you hear the music that writer worked so hard to put in there. You don’t have to have it played for you across a screen or read aloud.
Some writers have so much trouble finding a rhythm to their work. They write in fear of these grammar rules. To break one would mean they might appear to be lacking intelligence. I’ve read blog posts where, because of their fear, writers have seriously lashed out against the “rule breakers”.
I think my favorite “hate on” is the use of ellipses. I’ve heard it said that any writer who uses these is an amateur. I mock you daily with my ellipses. ;-) And if this makes me an amateur then I pray I never become a professional. I feel that any writer who can successfully insert these into the melody of their songs is far from amateurish.
Likewise, the use of a good sentence fragment is far from wrong when it comes to a writer’s creative license. Commas are meant to be pauses, though sometimes we need to leave that pause out. An em dash cuts off a line of dialogue or thought, indicating that our musically inclined heads should prepare for something different.
Oh how I love a good em dash. :-)
Right, so I’m rambling about this mostly because I wonder if those that can’t find joy in reading would feel differently if they could hear the music. Hmm…
Thoughts? Comments? Complaints?
:-D
