First novel murder and forms

[shelleycat]

So I'm at the point where I have to decide whether to renovate my first novel or stuff it in the proverbial trunk with my other failed attempts. Considering this project I actually somewhat "finished" and there are two or three really great scenes in it with really sexy characters, I'm tempted to perform major surgery. If I can get the process down

Comments

[ceph]

"I danced, dusting" and your other examples sound grammatically correct to me. I don't think switching from -ed to -ing necessarily constitutes changing tense mid-sentence--words ending in -ing are awfully flexible creatures. Unfortunately I can't find any references on that particular usage to back me up...

[ceph]

Oh, here's something:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/sample/intermediate/gs/gs_26a.htm

I think the gist is that it's OK because it's a shortening of "I danced, dusting while I did so." Or "While dusting, I danced." The -ing bit is, I think, an adverb clause, so I suppose it is basically equivalent to "I danced, happily."

[shelleycat]

kewlness! Thanks so much.

One of these days I'll get a good, non-grade specific English grammar text and turn into one of those intimidating, rule-quoting librarian types. ;)

[neonelephant]

I have no citation to back it up, but I agree with ceph that your critters are on crack; it looks fine to me.