By Tracy Schruder
The way we speak is important, but the way we write must lean heavily on perfection. I grew up thinking I knew how to communicate “properly,” only to realize later that my everyday speech was a patchwork of English slang.
English is one of the most complex languages on the planet. It’s extremely difficult to teach a foreign learner the full gamut of words, especially when the same word can have different meanings. Spelling, grammar, punctuation – noun, pronoun, verb – all add layers. It’s hard to explain that a “verb sandwich” isn’t something we eat, but a sandwich is something we eat.
My own linguistic skills have improved as my writing career has expanded. As a kid I was taught to speak in English slang: “git” instead of “get,” “sopping” instead of “soaking,” “pretty” for “really” (e.g., “pretty scared”). I’d say “pernt‑near” instead of “almost” – “I pernt‑near tripled over that log.”
My early school work (grades 2‑4) was atrocious. My language was called “hick” because other kids didn’t talk like me. Friends asked if I had an accent or spoke a different language. “More sophisticated” people said my speaking skills were “less than polished.” I had no idea what that meant. Polished is something we do to silver or fancy cars – make them shiny. My mind was closed; I couldn’t see how to polish my speech.
That changed when I started writing. I quickly realized my writing reflected my talking. We write our stories from our perspective, in the language we know – correct or not. I churned out a few less‑than‑polished works with little success. Rereading them, I couldn’t see the problem until I started to read for real.
I fell in love with reading. I don’t read everything – only what catches my interest. If a book doesn’t serve a purpose or stir something emotionally, I let it go. I don’t waste time feeding my brain alphabet soup just to say I “read that.”
These days I’m hooked on spiritual and self‑improvement books. I’m always amazed at how many different writers find themselves and share their stories. I’ve tried many of their techniques and haven’t found one that didn’t somehow benefit my life.
I deeply enjoy reading. I love to write. I’m swept away by its allure. I haven’t picked a niche yet – I’m still a curious, creative person with a passionate desire to create entertaining, interesting content. I’m learning all I can about writing, but knowledge only takes me so far.
So I’ve decided to put the learning aside and dive into the black waters of the unknown. I believe I’m ready to unleash my own destiny, using the English language as best I can – even if it starts out less than polished.
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