Edit In Peace Gary!

[M T]

same provider same job same personality same likes/dislikes same followers same style. right you are. they're not the same guy. no.

[Chris Graham]

Yeah, you're right. We don't need Gary, nor do we need any of these other writing professionals. What's good, solid advice worth if it doesn't come with flowery greetings and happy banter? I especially hate it when said advice disagrees with the fantasies I've already concocted in my head about how the process SHOULD be.

I've been struggling as of late trying to figure out the complexities of jerund clauses.

Perhaps you can help? Oh no, that's right, this isn't a board for sound industry advice anymore...maybe I'll spend what little spare time I have each day writing stupid newletters for the enjoyment of Writers.net. I mean, who needs to learn how to write, we can all spell can't we? Isn't that the same thing?

So, what's everyone's favorite color? Favorite coffee drink? I just bought a puppy...anyone want to read 500 words of rambling crap about how I'm proceeding to potty train her?

Maybe I'll post a query letter that I never intend to send? Even better, I'll post a query letter and ask for advice, but I'll send it out first so I can really waste everyone's time.

Or, my all time favorite, I'll copy a passage from some famous writer, pass it off as my own and ask for advice. And then, when people actually try to offer what little constructive criticism they can glean from one of many books they've read I'll point out the fact that this is a passage from a great writer and ask the question, "how dare you post criticism?"

Yeah, I remember that one...boy was that funny. Of course, that's 30 minutes of my life I'll never get back...kind of like this post.

So what writing advice can you offer M T? What do you have to say that's going to help me get published?

Can you explain Jerund clauses?

Better yet, just attack me for not fitting in with the status quo and laughing at your witty posts.

How about this? I'll register a domain and set up a message board and you and all your little friends can gather around and spew your BS there, so the rest of us can use this board as it was originally intended.

I'll call it www.WastingMyTimeAndYours.com.

Blah.

Anybody know of any other sites where I can get sound advice from people who actually know what they're talking about?

I'd appreciate the info.

-Chris (or maybe I should call myself C G, so no one knows who I really am, sneaky, sneaky)

[Granny]

A gerund phrase uses a participle as a noun.
It can be used as a subject:
"Eating bread is my new guilty pleasure."
It can be used as a direct object:
"John tried dieting but found he liked fat better."
It can be used as an indirect object:
"Mary gave getting published her complete attention."
It can be used as the object of a prepostion:
"I saved time by making my dinner ahead."

You must be careful not to separate the gerund from the rest of the sentence by commas. It can be tempting since we are used to present participles used a modifiers and requiring a comma to set it off from the rest of the sentence:

Speaking sharply, John demanded to know what Mary had done.

Ask yourself what purpose the verbal is serving.

Gran

[Terri D]

WOW Chris, take an exlax!
You want to learn how to write? Take a class.
Read the authors you wish to emulate.
You don't like sniping? Why continue to do so?
Want to find a new writer's site? GOOGLE!

[Lindi]

The truth is there are a multitude of thousands of good critters out there who don't resort to personal attacks to make their point. The writing world is as professional and as civil as business allows. If you encounter an editor who feels the need to attack the writer in an insulting way, then move on and find a real professional. The writing world existed before Gary and exists still and will continue to exist in the long future. Don't let some self important wanna-be drag you down to their level because they pretend to want of "thicken your skin." I'm telling you. There's a better world out there!

[Jordie]

This is sad. Sad as in sad, and sad as in pathetic. The quality of this site has been declining for some time and I'm really sorry to hear Gary's gone. I don't normally visit this board--haven't for a while--it seems to have turned into a therapy session, for the most part, lately. I don't mean that as a personal attack on anyone here. I'm just saying that's why I don't visit Writing Craft.

Yeah, Lisa, if you haven't left yet, tell Gary I said bye too.

I don't really know Linda, Terri, toby and the others, but having posted here for over a year I can say Gary's presence will be missed. Abrasive at times, sure. But on the whole offered solid advice.

[M T]

I find several things "sad" (as in pathetic), about this whole scene. But I'm only going to mention one.

I can't even count the times that Gary has "blessed us" with his arrogance, then complained about being "attacked" for having his own special personality, at which time his flock come baahing into the fold, anxious to point out that "I have no problem with Gary's prickly personality! In fact I *thank* him for smacking me! I'm *honoured* to receive bruises in exchange for knowledge!"

Well I'm not a sheep. I don't care what anyone thinks ~ I have a big problem with Gary's lack of self control. I find it very odd that someone who claims to be an editor can't seem to edit his own posts. From my very first post here, Gary has berated me for writing a memoir, suggested that I am "expecting everyone on WN to write my WIP for me line by line", snidely commented that I "claimed to be working on a book", called me an airhead (go ahead and laugh, I can see the humour in that one lol). Now just *why* is any of this acceptable? I didn't even defend myself against some of these insults, I tried to ignore them instead, earning more insults until I complained, which brought Lisa W. and her merry band running to demand that I stop attacking poor helpless Gary for having his own special personality. If anyone else here slandered others the way that Gary does, they would be kicked off of WN.

BTW, if G.K.C.H.L does leave after all of this, he will have only himself to blame. After trampling over a couple too many "nobodies", some of us stood up for ourselves. Boo Hoo. As for the sheep, don't fret, another shepherd will come along to lead you. I'm sure you'll fall all over youselves to bare your throats to his butcher knife.

[Lindi]

Now we can have a wake! And it's Friday! But first, some writing. Later, this evening, it's a party on the patio!

[Terri]

Well put M.T!!!!

and yet Lisa W still wants to whine about it!

[Lindi]

I know, and right after she said: "I'm outta here. The place is becoming pointless."