I need some advice
I have the desire to write, to create a story, and express my thoughts.
But i lack the intelligence with basic grammar.
I was not a good student in jr high, all i did was smoke pot and fail my classes.
Then they would send me to summer school and make me do bullshit work to make up for what i didn't learn. So i never did learn 
Can anyone else relate, can anyone give me a free and simple resource to learn these fundamental tools?
What you need is a sexy high school English teacher who moonlights as a dominatrix. Have her review your writing and inflict some punishment for each error.
This is a really good idea.
[URL=http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors]heres a page i try to use for some regularly made mistakes[/URL]
[QUOTE=shawnPboyle;915148]I have the desire to write, to create a story, and express my thoughts.
But i lack the intelligence with basic grammar.
I was not a good student in jr high, all i did was smoke pot and fail my classes.
Then they would send me to summer school and make me do bullshit work to make up for what i didn't learn. So i never did learn
Can anyone else relate, can anyone give me a free and simple resource to learn these fundamental tools?[/QUOTE]
[I]Start[/I] learning. One step at a time. No easy ways out, no short cuts. Just [I]start[/I]. You'll gain a little knowledge one day at a time, little more one week at a time. Some more one months at a time etc etc.
It's called Microsoft Word.
[QUOTE=corellion;915288]It's called Microsoft Word.[/QUOTE]
That helps with spelling, not with structure and grammar (well, not [I]really[/I]).
Shawn -
I think it's good that you've recognised the need to grasp the fundamentals of grammar so that you can craft the best possible story. Too many idiots think of such rules as out-of-date, constrictive and somehow stopping the natural creative flow. Bullshit. Learning how to effectively convey what you want to say using the [I]tools[/I] of grammar is one of the first things you should try and get your head round. Maybe pick up the little book [URL=http://www.ablongman.com/professional/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,020530902X,00.html]Elements of Style by Strunk and White[/URL]. It's not the most fun read in the world, but if you look at a page or two a day, try and put the suggestions into practice, then you might make some progress.
But - having said all that - don't let your grammar hold you back from writing. You might make mistakes and you might occasionally feel foolish. But like Brown says, each time you do it, you'll get a little better and you won't make the same mistake next time.
Just got to work at it mate.
I think if you aim to read a book a week, a good book mind, and also just toss out some prose whenever you can, you'll do fine. Check out the author's listed on this site. I'll tell you this much, and it might seem obvious, but I'm sure there was time when Chuck, for want of an obviously good writer's name, was sitting in his English Classes in school being asked to point out which words in a sentence were nouns and which weren't. Obviously since then he's come far. So I'd be ready to bet you could do the same. Unless you're lazy, in which case you'll die with nothing.
there should be some places online that have all the basic rules of grammar and whatnot
also, you should be able to get books from the library or Borders or where ever to brush up
basically, though i just use my own grammar and try to keep it plain and understandable
i mean who really gives a shit about split infinitives!