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More on 1000 Days in 2011

I have got to find a better time of the day to write. Probably—shudder—earlier that 8 to 9.

Yesterday I mentioned my hopes for the coming year: that I’d submit three pieces of work and that I’d do so every four months…or so. This echos a sentiment from a few weeks back in which I note that I’d like to start posting weekly even if I continue to write daily. I’m seeking continuity; I’m seeking cohesiveness.

I’m tired of putting my ass in this chair with not a single notion of what I’m about to write. It’s been fun, but it’s getting old and it isn’t productive for me any longer. I need to develop my length and continuation skills. I need to work on research. I need to form an arguement; then argue it. I cannot do that without changing my current 1000 Days approach.

195 words on day 612

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Unbelievably Loose Plans for Writing in 2011

I think I made an unstated goal to complete some writing and to submit it this year. If I didn’t I should have. Since there isn’t enough time left in the year for me to accomplish this now—I’m being realistic—I suppose I’ll adopt it as an official 2011 goal.

The lameness of submitting a single piece in an entire year strikes me as skimpy. I expect it strikes you this way as well, so let’s call it three submissions in 2011. Tentatively one every four months. I’ve not given thought to the scope of these three things, so, for now, I’ll commit to three somethings. Maybe a short story. Maybe a magazine article. Maybe an electronic short on Kindle or Nook—whatever their new publishing gimmick is.

135 words on day 611

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The Supercomma

I brought my copy of Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition into the office to see if I could relearn any 8th Grade Grammar; the text fell open to the first page of the chapter on semicolons.

According to Warriner I use a semicolon exactly like a cross between a comma and a period; the pause for a semicolon is longer than a comma but shorter than a period. Typesetters or punctuation mark inventors baked the instructions in to the symbol itself. Handy.

I don’t know that I’ve ever had any confusion about how to use a semicolon in the main of a sentence. I use the to join to complete sentences when I feel they pair well. I’m not arguing my instincts accurately identify appropriate pairings; I’m just saying that’s my operating procedure. I’m certain I stumble in the esoteric uses involving lists following colons and dates and other stuff. I’ll pause to consult…

Looks like I can use the semicolon to replace regular conjunctions; however, for the fancier conjunctive phrases I use it and a comma.

It also appears to function like a supercomma when comma-filled independent clauses would be normally separated by a comma to avoid confusion. I can again use it as a supercomma when series may be required to use commas. Think dates and appositives.

I think I’m good here.

233 words on day 610