Writing thought

[valarltd]

Redacted to remove trans*phobia

13. Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They represent absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college. – Kurt Vonnegut

Comments

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Well Kurt Vonnegut was quite brilliant and had a lot to say; however, concerning semi-colons he's completely wrong.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Semicolons are mostly useless. Complex lists, not often found in fiction, are their sole necessity. Otherwise, a period or comma does just fine. No need to stack one atop the other. They're much like interrobangs that way.

The D-Man Checks In

[(Anonymous)]

Interesting; especially since I learned about and got into using semicolens in high school English class, long before I got into college. Just because they are not common nor perhaps popular does not mean they are useless or meaningless.

As for them representing nothing... Webster's dictionary--arguably a greater authority on such matters than Kurk Vonnegut--says otherwise.

Re: The D-Man Checks In

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Kurt. One of the great American short story writers.

As I said above, other than complex lists, they are useless in fiction writing. Use a comma or a period, don't use both at once.

[redheadforever.livejournal.com]

I like interrobangs -- never met anyone else who did, though.

No, I don't use them because no one else seems to know what they ARE, lol. For me, though, they'd be a useful tool.