Hey, Onicia!
So, I have been using Hemingway app for editing for some time. It has helped me get a lot together. But I can’t help but to notice, when I put a published pieced from a well respected writer that it is all kinds of mark-ups. Which app do you use, if you use one at all?
I hear all the time to learn the rules then break them, but then I think
there are so many rules to learn, lawd Jesus. I feel like I never will
know all the rules, but I won’t give up.
Hey, Iris!
Yes, writing is an art. The rules are suggestions. So, learn the rules and then break them.
Hemmingway helped me be concise. Especially when writing for children.
I've
had a Grammarly subscription for almost 4 years now. Grammarly is not
perfect and can miss contextual errors. It doesn't understand slang or
human-speak.
I use Merriam-Webster every day to confirm spelling, definitions, and alternative words.
Grammar Girl is my fave resource for learning the rules.
Google
Docs voice typing is a powerful voice-to-text tool. Perfect
for when you can't get your fingers to move as fast as your mind.
As you've seen with the Hemmingway app, respected authors have
plenty of "mistakes" that went unnoticed by you. Measure your writing by
influence, not by some arbituary grammar score.
How to tell if your writing is improving
- Do I feel more confident while writing?
- Am I writing faster?
- Do I cringe less when I re-read my work?
- Are people responding to my call to actions?
- Am I getting more shares, comments, or generating a discussion?
- Am I landing more clients?
Basically, is your writing bringing you closer to your goals or are you in the same position?
P.S. Looking to learn a new skill? Iris recommends Skillshare's "Writing Editing Masterclass -Content Editing, Copyediting and Proofreading” and "Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact” by Roxanne Gay.