  Short Stories
This week: Who'd've Strunk It? Edited by: Shannon  
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Though 90+ years have passed since it was privately published in 1918, "The Elements of Style" remains the definitive guide to clean, concise, crisp writing. Today we'll learn how it came to be as well as discuss one pearl of wisdom from each of its five chapters.
Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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If you're like me, your bookshelf is chock-full of writing reference after writing reference, but some are more dog-earred than others.
In 1919, E.B. White (of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little fame) sat in a classroom at Cornell University. The course was English 8, the instructor was William Strunk Jr., the required text was a pamphlet of sorts titled The Elements of Style, which was self-published by Strunk himself in 1918.
Thirty-eight years later Strunk is dead and White is asked to edit the text in order to prepare it for traditional publication and mass consumption. The rest is history.
Lovingly referred to as "the little book" by its author, The Elements of Style is a mere 94 pages in length (page count includes the glossary but not the publisher's note, contents pages, foreword, introduction, afterword, or index), is small enough to slip into your pocket, yet contains some of the most practical writing advice available (my other don't-leave-home-without-it multi-tool is Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference, but that's another newsletter). Today we'll discuss one pearl of wisdom from each of the book's five chapters.
Chapter I contains eleven "Elementary Rules of Usage," the first of which confounds and confuses even the most experienced writers: how to properly form a possessive singular noun.
Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant (Charles's friend, Burns's poems, the witch's malice). Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive of Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake.
The pronominal possessives hers, its, theirs, yours, and ours have no apostrophe. Indefinite pronouns, however, use the apostrophe to show possession (one's rights, somebody else's umbrella) (1).
Chapter II highlights eleven "Elementary Principles of Composition."
Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell (23).
Chapter III features eleven "Matters of Form."
Numerals. Do not spell out dates or other serial numbers. Write them in figures or in Roman notation, as appropriate.
August 9, 1988
Rule 3
Part XII
352d Infantry
Exception: When they occur in dialogue, most dates and numbers are spelled out: "I arrived home on August ninth." "In the year 1990, I turned twenty-one." "Read Chapter Twelve." (35).
Chapter IV focuses on one hundred and twenty-three "Words and Expressions Commonly Misused."
Effect. As a noun, means "result"; as a verb, means "to bring about," "to accomplish" (not to be confused with affect, which means "to influence").
As a noun, often loosely used in perfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts: "a South-western effect"; "effects in pale green"; "very delicate effects"; "subtle effects"; "a charming effect was produced." The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness (45).
In Chapter V, "An Approach to Style," Strunk offers up twenty-one sure-fire style pointers.
Write in a way that comes naturally. Write in a way that comes easily and naturally to you, using words and phrases that come readily to hand. But do not assume that because you have acted naturally your product is without flaw.
The use of language begins with imitation. The infant imitates the sounds made by its parents; the child imitates first the spoken languauge, then the stuff of books. The imitative life continues long after the writer is secure in the language, for it is almost impossible to avoid imitating what one admires. Never imitate consciously, but do not worry about being an imitator; take pains instead to admire what is good. Then when you write in a way that comes naturally, you will echo the halloos that bear repeating (70).
It is an old observation that the best writers sometimes disregard the rules of rhetoric. When they do so, however, the reader will usually find in the sentence some compensating merit, attained at the cost of the violaton. Unless he is certain of doing as well, he will probably do best to follow the rules." ~ William Strunk Jr.
Unless you're as prolific as Stephen King, who could probably publish his weekly shopping list, it's wise to follow the rules, and the most enduring writing rule book out there is Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. Whether you read it from cover to cover or flip to whatever particular page you need when you need it (I recommend both), "the little book" is as timeless as the compulsion to write itself and should be a staple on every writer's bookshelf.
Works Cited
Strunk Jr., William. The Elements of Style. Ed. E.B. White. 50th Anniversary Ed. NewYork: Pearson Education, Inc., 2009. |
I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. Remember to do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
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|  | The Better Half (13+)
A ghost returns to her boyfriend, but then must decide if she will stay with him.
#1430416 by Xylch  |
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The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (March 30, 2011)" :
Danger Mouse  says, "Good newsletter, Shannon. Our senses are betrayers when we wish to forget, supporters when we want to remember."
Fyn  says, "Excellent newsletter...I remember being out looking for something to wear at my wedding and going through store after store. At one 'fancy' store that sold perfumes, I found a tester of Este Lauder 'Youth Dew' perfume and sprayed it. Instantly, my mom was 'there' with me and wandering around the store at my side. What had become a frustrating search, suddenly became fun and I found some cool stuff that I got, even though nothing to wear for the big day. But, rejuvenated, I went home and decided to just wear my 'to-be' hubby's favorite outfit and all was well. Also want to say thank you for one of your choices, "Invalid Item" for it is a flat out fantastic story, one of the 'stick to your soul' sorts of stories that I shall never forget!!!"
KimChi says, "Fabulous newsletter! Appreciate the explanation of the science behind smell, and more ready than ever to add scents to my writing. Thanks so much."
Zeke says, "I think smell in a story can be a little tricky sometimes. Not everyone remembers smells the same way."
billwilcox says, "Wow, Shannon, are you inside my mind? I've been writing a story about a woman who is brutally attacked and remains comatose until she smells the scent of her assailant. It is called, 'A Scent Of Memory'. As always, a great newsletter and one that hits home with me."
NickiD89  says, "Nothing transports me to another place and time like my sense of smell, and fictional descriptions never fail to work their magic on me when I'm reading. Awesome newsletter, Shannon!"
DRSmith says, "No need to back down even if with a six-foot Italian. For here's what you could have said in response to BB Wolf's comment about: 'sometimes, the scariest thing is a woman':
Peter Peeter, repeat beater.
Had a wife he'd last mistreat her.
Fell asleep upon the couch,
woke up less his testes pouch.
Now isn't that better than a ten-foot Pole?"
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  says, "There is always a story. Trick's to make people read it."
Rixfarmgirl  says, "How wonderful your article was on sense. I can remember all my friends' homes having distinctive odors. I used to wonder why my house didn't. Then, I realized it was because I was always in that house and had grown used to it. My friends said it was vanilla-smelling. YUM! Haven't read all the stories yet, but the ones I have read were just great! Thanks for all you do."
Swati Gupta says, "Hi Shannon, I simply love the character examples you've given relating them back to a memory associated with a 'sense'. Stirring.. ;) Good Job, keep up!"
LJPC - the tortoise says, "Hi Shannon! I liked the clever title and the topic of your newsletter. Describing the experience of all the senses is essential in building scenes that are believable, realistic, and memorable. Your personal anecdote was very touching and a great example of how smell can mean so much more than just the identifying marker of the thing it represents. It can stir deep and profound memories. Thanks for your insightful newsletter.  "
Adriana Noir says, "Beautiful newsletter as always, Shannon. You never fail to leave me breathless and inspired!"
st.ifa says, "i prefer poerty(traditional)"
Beck Firing back up!  says, "What an awesome newsletter on the sense of smell... and just what I needed in my novel revisions! I have a young woman who was kidnapped as a child. She was held in an underground bomb shelter. Long story short, she winds up back there. I mentioned the smells of the place - but there would be a definite panic that would rise in her smelling these dusky, dank smells again! I think you've added the missing element!
Thank you for providing these great newsletters."
AXiLeA says, "Hello Shannon, I just wanted you to know that I appreciated reading your newsletter that reminds us of the importance of olfactive memory in literature. You also provide us with a very effective example of how powerful this tool can be. Thank you."
Lorien says, "Shannon, thanks so much for featuring my short story in your excellent newsletter on the five senses. I greatly enjoyed reading about your memory inspired by smell. It's so true: we writers often focus on only a few of the senses, while all five are valuable in prose and poetry."
The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (August 18, 2010)" : Sanchez says, "Shannon, thank you for your great tips on writing. I'm currently using Microsoft Works to type my auto bio. Works corrects my grammar and allows me the pleasure to correct my spelling. The only thing I have to do is proofread especially outloud."
Nina_C says, "I've been a member of this site since 2008. I'm still learning my way around, I'm stumbling here and there, still discovering new nooks and crannies. I enjoy the newsletter, because it is always packed with so much stuff. I'm trying to learn too how the point system works with reviewing. That may be my next stop. I love this site."
michellekeyes says, "Love this article about the senses. It's amazing to me that every time I eat banana bread or apple pie I think of my grandmother. Fried chicken or swiss steak reminds me of my mother. Then there's all the holiday classics to bring back memories. Songs do it too--there's two songs that make me think of exes every single time (even 15 years later). By the way, I read Eat Pray Love and Committed too. Elizabeth Gilbert is fantastic and managed to be vulnerable about relationships in a way I never expected when I picked up her book. The movie Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts, is pretty good too."
Thank you all for the wonderful feedback! I'm glad you found the newsletter useful, and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. And thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and friendship. YOU are what makes WDC such a wonderfful place to be, and I'm honored to be a part of it. Thank you! |
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Short Stories: April 27, 2011 Issue [#4366]
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