Hideous Reviews I Never Gave

Knowing that your stuff needs work is the first part. Title works in progress as just that, "Story in progress, 1st draft, no spellcheck". Then we know what we're getting in to.

Having said that, however, you can finish each writing session by hitting spellcheck, can't you? Just that little bit would show you do care about your readers, even if you haven't finalized the draft yet.

About the technical aspects, such as verb tenses, start by making it a habit always to write (yes, split infinitive) in the past tense. If you do this invariably, when you go back to proof something, changes will jump out at you. It's also easier for a beginner to work in the past tense, as present tense sometimes causes viewpoint problems. You might also check out some of the grammar-checking programs. I've never found one I agree with completely, as they're only as good as the programmer who wrote them, but if you find one with a "tense-check" function at a reasonable price, it could help.

Above all, keep a good dictionary next to you. All dictionaries are not created equal. You want one that lists all forms of all verbs.

Good luck, you'll make it if you keep working.

Chris

Chriswriter

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"It is never too late to be what you might have been."George Eliot

"I like not only to be loved, but to be told that I am loved, for the realm of darkness is great beyond the grave." George Eliot

"Maturity is overrated." Garfield