Finding Help When You Need It

If you've followed the suggestions for proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar in this chapter and feel you still need assistance, don't despair. Help is just a mouse click away. Whether you want to purchase punctuation and style handbooks (www.amazon.com) or research a prickly grammar question at a university's Web site (http://owl.english.purdue.edu), the Internet can be a tremendous resource.

Beware of ads for editorial services for fiction writers that you might find at some Web sites. While many such companies are legitimate, many others may be scams, especially when coupled with claims of “guaranteed publication” after using their services.

Another great resource is your local library or teachers at your local high school or community college's English Department. Often these professionals are happy to answer a specific question for a new writer.

Finally, if you feel your grammar skills really need more assistance than you can obtain from books and online research, consider taking a night course at your local community college.

  1. Home
  2. Writing a Romance Novel
  3. The Mechanics of Writing Well
  4. Finding Help When You Need It
Visit other About.com sites: