Category: Editing

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Write Justified

The Common Comma

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Plenty of ink has been spilled and battles fought over the necessity and superiority of the Oxford or serial comma. After the period, the comma is the most used and misused punctuation mark. No doubt, we’ve all heard and seen that commas can kill.

A comma’s uses are myriad, and there are many rules about its usage. Whereas a period is an end punctuation mark, a comma indicates a pause or small break. We’ll start with one of the more common uses: joining clauses.

Independent clauses: Complete thoughts that stand on their own can be joined with a conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet, etc.)  and a comma.

EX: The game went fifteen innings, but the Cubs lost on a fluke error.

EX: Mary couldn’t walk out of a fabric shop without at least purchasing a fat quarter, and Anne was only too happy to introduce her to every shop on the East Coast.

However, when verbs share a subject (compound predicate) they are not separated with a comma.

EX: Mary returned to the store for thread and hurried home to begin another project.

EX: The third baseman caught the fly ball and threw it to second for a double play.

A rare exception to this rule would permit a comma between the verbs if there was a possibility of misunderstanding as in the following example:

EX: Mary recognized the woman who took her parking space and giggled.

Without a comma, it’s not clear who giggled—Mary or the other woman. For clarity, insert a comma:

Mary recognized the woman who took her parking space, and giggled.

Independent clauses may also be joined with a conjunction and an adverb. In those cases, both a semi-colon and comma are used—the semi-colon before the conjunction, the comma following.

EX: The new shop carried Mary’s favorite line of fabric; however, it cost more than her meager budget allowed.

Follow the same punctuation pattern when using a transitional expression between two independent clauses, such as for example, in addition, namely.

EX: The Cubs earned a trip to the World Series for the first time since 1945; in addition, the young team has the potential for winning seasons for the next few years.

Commas are often used to set off introductory phrases. It’s not grammatically necessary to set off short introductory phrases of two or three words, but neither is it incorrect. Be aware of the publishers preferences and note these guidelines:

An introductory phrase that functions as an adverb indicating time, manner, place or degree, does not need a comma, unless the reader could be confused.

  • At noon the whistle blows.
  • On her desk are pictures of her grandchildren.
  • At his leisure Bill read the morning paper.
  • Too often the best answer is the common sense one.

Longer adverbial and other introductory phrases, however, are set off with commas.

Adverbial phrase:

EX: On the last Saturday of every month, the quilt guild holds a sewing day.

Adjective phrase modifies the subject of the independent clause:

EX: Of all the quilts at the show, Mary’s won the most ribbons.

Phrase contains a present or past participle:

EX: Coming off injured reserve, Schwarber hit a grand slam to put the Cubs ahead.

However, when a sentence begins with a gerund, a present participle that functions as a noun, it is the subject and is not separated from the verb with a comma.

EX: Designing one’s own quilt using computer software is becoming more common, even among novice quilters.

Next month we’ll look at more common uses of commas.

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The Efficiency Addict

Writing Research: Enhance Your Fiction with Facts

How to enhance your fiction with facts found through writing research.

Welcome to The Efficiency Addict column, helping writers work more effectively every day. This month I’m pleased to welcome back Kathleen Neely to share what she’s learned about writing research and how this new knowledge is enhancing her stories.

Happy Writing! ~ Cynthia Owens, The Efficiency Addict

****

When I read a novel, I want to escape to unknown places, adventurous experiences, and pursuits that my real life isn’t brave enough to follow. The old adage, write what you know, sets extreme limits. The need for research isn’t limited to historic fiction. Your reader will appreciate time spent developing occupations, settings, and hobbies. Legal and medical scenes can hold great intrigue. Give your readers something they don’t know.

Writing Research–Ideas for Each Writing Stage

Research can be accomplished during prewriting. Identify the central theme of your story, then research the topic so you can gently weave authenticity into every chapter.

Research occurs during the process of writing. While it isn’t ideal to stop the flow, sometimes inspiration strikes that wasn’t part of the original plan. I have a protagonist that plays the violin, an afterthought as her character developed. Never having picked up a violin, I went to the most immediate source, the Internet.

Research continues post-writing. After gathering legal information for a novel involving a law suit, upon its completion, I sent scenes to a friend who is a lawyer. He clarified a few facts and provided better legal language. I’ll be doing the same with the violin scenes. Upon completion of my current work-in-progress, I’ll send them to an acquaintance who plays that instrument.

Sources for Your Writing Research

We have many sources of research available to us. Let me tell you a few, and then I’ll tell you my favorite.

The hands-down best source is primary experiences. If you can visit the city of your setting, ride along with a paramedic, live among the homeless, or whatever your novel includes, there is no better research than experiential learning.

The most readily available is clearly the Internet. Today’s writers have the advantage of unlimited resources through videos, articles, and newspapers at the touch of their fingers. One of my novels includes information about a drum circle. I had never experienced one, and didn’t have the time to travel. The YouTube video provided a great secondary experience that allowed me to capture the essence of an evening of free-style rhythm.

Personal interviews tap into primary sources. We know people in many different fields of life—lawyers, doctors, accountants, teachers, builders, mechanics. I could go on and on. They are great, reliable sources of information, and generally love to talk about their specific field, especially when their feedback leads to an acknowledgment in your book.

Regardless of your timing or method of research, make sure you have a good cataloging system. Today’s world of literature includes many sequels and series. You never know when you’ll need that same information.

There are many apps available to catalog research such as Zotero. Additionally, there are many Social Bookmarking sites like Delicious. They allow you to search, organize, edit, and store helpful links found on the Internet.

And my favorite? Personal interviews. I always prefer talking to people. I choose a grocery store clerk over a self-scan. I’d rather make a phone call than use the ‘help’ icon on my computer. I have used the various sources available, but I love to phone a friend.

Research for novelists is an in-depth subject, and I’ve only touched the surface. I’d love to hear your tips.

Shareables–Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Writing what you know is limiting. How to write beyond your experience. @NeelyKneely3628 #WritingTips #Fiction” username=””]

[bctt tweet=”Enhance your writing with facts. Tips for #Writing research. @NeelyKneely3628 #AmWriting” username=”@EfficiencyADict”]

Author Kathleen NeelyBio: Kathleen Neely is an award winning author, receiving first place for her debut novel, The Least of These, in the Fresh Voices Contest through www.AlmostAnAuthor. She won second place in a short story contest through ACFW-VA. You can read two of her short stories in A Bit of Christmas – 6 Christian Short Stories Celebrating the Season, available on Amazon. Along with numerous guest blog appearances, Kathleen is a regular contributor to www.christiandevotions.us. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, Vaughn, and enjoys time with family, reading, and traveling.

You can contact Kathleen through:
KathleenNeelyAuthor.com
@NeelyKNeely3628

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Write Justified

Point of View (Part 2)-by Judy Hagey

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Third Person

In my last post, I explained that Point of View is one of the choices writers have when they tell a story. From whose perspective will the tale unfold? Or, whose voice will we hear as we read? Since POV relates closely to person, we identify POV using the personal pronouns associated first, second and third person. In this post, we’ll look at Third Person POV, which uses the third person personal pronouns he, she, they, etc.

Third Person Point of View is the most common in literature, and it offers a few more options or variations in how you tell the story. Which perspective you use determines how intimate or close up the reader will be. Since your goal is to engage the reader and enable him or her to suspend belief long enough to believe your story, you’ll want to choose your POV carefully.

  • Single character or Third Person Limited: The narrator tells the story from one character’s point of view. It may be the major character or a minor character. As the writer, you’ll be in that character’s head and will only be able to reveal what that person experiences and thinks.

Going back to the example of our train trip through the Colorado Rockies, the narrator could relate the story from my husband’s point of view. He would likely include details about the locomotive and the history of the railroads. He might even include some words and phrases that originated with railroading that are now part of the everyday vernacular. Because the narrator can get inside the character, he might go back to my better half’s childhood memories of waking up to a Lionel train set under the tree on Christmas morning and give us a glimpse into the emotions that being on the rails evoke for him.

The narrator could share the experience from the perspective of the engineer or conductor. Since they make the trip regularly, their point of view might include observations of changes they’ve seen in the operations of the railroad over the years, interesting passengers and situations they’ve encountered, or the lifestyle of living on the rails.

  • Multiple character: A more common choice today among authors choosing to write in third person is to tell the story from the perspective of more than one character. This approach avoids what can be tedium for the writer and boredom for the reader—both telling and hearing the story from only one perspective. Obviously, only one character will “speak” at a time, but this approach allows the reader to see the action from more than one perspective and serves as another way to draw the reader into the story. The writer’s challenge is not to confuse the reader as to whose head he is in at the moment. Making the transition from one character to another is critically important if you’re using multiple POV. Be sure, too, that the technique serves a good purpose. Does it move the plot along or only confuse the reader? Done well, multiple points of view can keep a story fresh and the reader engaged.

 

  • Third Person Objective (also known as Dramatic Objective or Fly on the Wall.) Think of this as just sticking to the facts. In Third Person Objective POV the reader is not privy to the thoughts of any character, but determines what he can only from the characters’ words, actions, and facial expressions. The writer employing this POV is compelled to show, not tell as that is the only way the reader understands the character’s dilemma, thought processes, and motivation.

 

  • Third Person Omniscient – This narrator sees all and knows all. The omniscient narrator is able to convey considerable information in a short period of time because he or she is not limited to one character’s point of view. While that gives the writer considerable flexibility, few modern novels use the god-like narrator. Its drawback? It keeps the reader at a distance. We don’t really get to connect with the character(s) emotionally. And let’s be honest. Isn’t that why we’re drawn to story? Because telling stories and learning about ourselves and those around is part of the human experience. Our lives are richer when we listen to and learn from our own and others stories.

 

So chose your POV carefully. Given the myriad of devices and activities vying for contemporary readers’ attention, you’ll be well served to write in a POV that overcomes the distractions of contemporary readers and draws them in to your story.

 

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

How to Pluralize Names for Christmas Cards–Re-Mix

We’re still a few days away from Thanksgiving, but we sometimes receive Christmas cards a few days after celebrating with turkey and dressing. For all the super organized people who like to get things done early, I’m re-posting  the following blog from last year–and because I’m still seeing names with apostrophes in all the wrong places.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas. I especially love sending and receiving Christmas cards. We send out a lot from our house, and we receive a lot in return. We always include a picture of the whole family. The pictures we receive from our friends find a place on our refrigerator and adorn it all year.

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I don’t, however, love the envelopes addressed to The Dougherty’s or closings that read, Love from the Jones’. Ack!! I’m happy to hear from old friends, but I can’t stop my toes from curling when I see those errant apostrophes.

Here are some simple rules to follow so that you can write names correctly and make sure your cards convey the happy messages you intend.

  1. Add an s to a proper noun that doesn’t end in s to make it plural.

Langston = Langstons
Maurer = Maurers
Tate = Tates

  1. Don’t change the spelling of a proper noun to make the plural.

Dougherty = Doughertys (not Dougherties)

3.  Add es to a name that ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh to make it plural.

Capps = Cappses ( I know it looks strange, but trust me.)
Edwards = Edwardses
Fox = Foxes
Rakiewicz = Rakiewiczes

Notice that at no time have I used an apostrophe. I haven’t used one because I’m making the names plural, not possessive.

Three rules.

That’s all you need to write your Christmas cards correctly. If you can’t bring yourself to add the es to someone’s name or you can’t bring yourself to leave off the apostrophe, there’s always an easy fallback…Love from The Dougherty Family.

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Write Justified

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

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Twice in the last year, my husband and I have made the trip from Denver to Grand Junction, Colorado. Once by car, once by train. The train trip takes twice as long, but the views are even more spectacular than the scenic I-70 route. From the train we saw mountain streams and rock formations, nearly deserted towns and remote homesteads that are not visible from the highway. We made the same trip, but the perspective was different. If we had chosen to hike even part of the journey, we would have had an even different point of view.

As writers, we make choices about how to tell a story. One of the most important is point of view. From whose perspective will we tell a tale? Like our journey across a portion of the Rocky Mountains, we have options available—each with their advantages and unique style.

You may have learned in grammar class that point of view is tied to pronoun usage—and that’s true. However, it’s more helpful to think of point of view as character. Which character is telling the story? Here are the most common approaches:

  • First person: First person narration uses the personal pronouns I, we, my, our, etc. The narrator tells the story from his or her perspective. This is a personal, intimate approach. Readers feel like they really get to know the narrator because they are inside her head. As a writer, however, it is challenging to stay in that point of view for the entire novel. The temptation is to tell rather than show what the narrator sees, feels, tastes, etc. You’ll most often find short stories, YA and literary fiction, romances and Goth written from this point of view.

If I were to write about hiking a portion of the Denver-Grand Junction train trip or rafting a section of the Colorado River I would choose first person POV. This would allow me to describe the sights, sounds, and smells I experienced and it would give the reader the most up close and personal glimpse into my experience.

Examples of authors successfully sustaining first person point of view include Harper Lee—To Kill a Mockingbird, J.D.Salinger—Catcher in the Rye, and F. Scott Fitzgerald—The Great Gatsby.

  • Second person: Very little fiction is written in second person point of view. But nonfiction and self-help books often are. Using the pronouns you and your the narrator addresses the reader or audience and draws them into the story or process. The reader becomes the protagonist, but perhaps not willingly. The narrator assumes you will see and feel things the way he or she does and that may be uncomfortable or annoying.

Second person POV would be an effective way for me to write a travel piece about our recent train trip. I could tell you the best way to make connections between the airport and train station, what to pack for an eight-hour trip, sights to look for along the way, not to mention the best strategy for securing a seat in the viewing car.

Though most readers wouldn’t consider Dr. Suess’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go a self-help book, he did succeed in writing a delightful second person POV verse that’s inspired thousands as they transition into a new season of life:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

  • Third person: The most common POV in nearly every genre is third person. There are several variations on third person, which I’ll cover in next month’s post. For now, it’s enough to know that third person POV uses the pronouns he, she, they. And this caveat: POV errors are the most frequent mistakes editors uncover.

Til next time. What POV is your current read written in?

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Compliment or Complement?

Earlier this week I wrote a post for my own blog and was reminded about two things: the difference between compliment and complement and the definition of a subjective complement.

Compliment and complement sound exactly alike. They’re homophones. They are spelled differently and have different meanings, however.

A compliment is a flattering statement. Your dinner guest might say, “This pesto is delicious. I’d love your recipe.” He’s complimented your cooking.

A complement is a thing that completes something else or brings it to perfection. A nice complement to angel hair pasta with pesto is a ripe tomato.

The tricky thing is remembering how to spell the correct form. Try this mnemonic device. I like compliments ( because don’t we love compliments?). The I in the previous statement can remind you to use the word with the i in it.

A subjective complement is one of those phrases you learned about in grade school. It’s a word or phrase that follows a linking verb (be, am, is, are, was, were,…) and renames or describes the subject.

My high school English teacher was a monster.  (Not true, by the way.) Monster is the subjective complement because it renames teacher.

I have another example of a subjective complement, but I’m not sure it’s appropriate for this blog. I used it in the post I mentioned in the first paragraph. If you want to read it, go here. Read all the way to the end.

Now, go give someone a compliment!

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Write Justified

Idioms–Literary Shorthand

 

As if English with its homophones and irregular verbs weren’t confusing enough, how about those idioms? Oh sure, you and I know what’s meant when we explain past loss with “no use crying over spilt milk.” Though to be honest, haven’t there been times when shedding a few tears over a disappointing outcome really did make you feel better?

Idioms, along with similes and metaphors, hyperbole, alliteration, personification and more, are figurative expressions or literary devices that add color and creativity to our writing. English abounds with idioms–expressions in which individual words are not to be taken literally. With their origins in Scripture, folk tales and fables, and famous authors and story tellers, they can enliven your writing. But as with so many things in life, it’s a fine line between cliché and creativity. Idioms, because they are so common, often come across as trite or corny and ought to be used sparingly.

Here are some guidelines for using them well.

  • Create a Character

Since idioms are such a natural part of conversation, use them to create memorable characters in fiction writing. Add a mangled idiom (“it ain’t rocket surgery” or “brain science”) or a regional expression (“She’s so stuck up she’d drown in a rainstorm.”) to make characters colorful and memorable.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird employs a number of southern idioms or colloquialisms:

Uncle Jack Finch who yelled an annual Christmas proposal across the street to Miss Maddie was only trying to get her goat;

Miss Maudie’s acid tongue set her in contrast to Jem and Scout’s do-good neighbor Miss Stephanie Crawford, but endeared her to the children nevertheless.

Scout’s strategy for trapping her assailant Francis was to bide her time and sure as eggs he would be back.

  • Skip the clichés

Some idioms are so overused they no longer have the desired effect. Use them in unexpected ways or turn the phrase in an unexpected way and you may achieve your desired effect. You might even coin a new malapropism.

Recently, Iowa’s governor commenting about Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse the Republican nominee for president said, “He just shot himself in his cowboy boot.” A deft way of saying he’s sabotaged his own presidential aspirations.

  • Encourage creative thinking

Idioms can be the converse of clichéd writing. They can help the reader think about something in a new, possibly clearer or more compelling way.

Instead of selling like hotcakes, you might try more popular than Pokemon Go.

Or in place of saying someone marches to the beat of a different drummer, you might describe them as a techno idiot in a social media world.

  • Remember your audience

This advice applies universally, but is an especially important reminder if your audience includes non-native English speakers. While every language has its peculiar expressions, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand how phrases such as “barking up the wrong tree,” or  “let the cat out of the bag” could leave English language learners scratching their heads in bewilderment.

 

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The Efficiency Addict

Problem Solve POV with Color

Use colored text to help you problem solve POV issues.

Welcome to The Efficiency Addict column, helping writers work more effectively every single day. For the next few months, I’ll be taking a break from posting here, but until I return, I’ve lined up some great guest bloggers to share their best writing tips with you!

This month we’ll hear from Kathleen Neely, a retired educator who wrote and sold her first book in just 9 months. To read about her experience from start to sold, visit her website at KathleenNeelyAuthor.com, but first see below where Kathleen shares a simple method to problem solve POV with color.

Happy Writing! ~ Cynthia Owens, The Efficiency Addict

****

Point of view (POV) problems have a way of sneaking into my writing. I begin a solid scene, identify my character, and write the action through his or her mind. Then when I re-read the passage, I discover POV gone amuck.

Types of POV Problems

First there are the omniscient POV errors.

  • She can’t know he was thinking about baseball.
  • He couldn’t know that she was deliberately tuning him out.

POV characters can observe another character’s demeanor, body language, or expression. POV characters can make inferences, but they can’t know.

Then there is the issue of author intrusion. My opinion on the beauty of a floral arrangement is irrelevant and interrupts the flow. Everything must be told through the eyes and ears of the character.

Another POV fault is found by allowing your POV character to narrate. When we speak, we don’t announce that we think, we feel, we said, we asked or we wondered. Remove dialogue tags and telling words. Turn this sentence – “He felt the pain when the baseball bounced off his shoulder.” Into this sentence – “Pain shot through his shoulder when the baseball made contact.”

How to Problem Solve POV

As a former teacher, I coached my students to be problem solvers.

“Mrs. Neely, I don’t have a pencil.”
“That’s a problem. Be a problem solver. “

“I forgot to write down the pages we need to read.”
“That’s a problem. Be a problem solver.”

(A little author intrusion right now—parents and teachers, never stop doing that. It moves dependent students to become independent thinkers.)

So now, faced with a dilemma, I needed to be a problem solver. I created a visual memory aide to help me keep on track – Color Coded POV’s.

The idea is simple. I choose a color for each of my POV characters. When I write a scene from his or her point of view, I turn my font into their designated color.

Will this technique avoid POV problems? Definitely not. They’ll still squirrel their way into your writing. But now they’ll be easier to locate. They should shout, jump, and wave their arms at you, begging to be seen. No longer will you have to wonder whose POV you’re supposed to be in.

Making Your Colors Count

Color coding not only provides a visual reminder, it can also reflect the nature of your character.

Red – power, energy, passion, intensity

Green – nature, outdoors, generosity

Yellow – joy, optimism, idealism, hope

Blue – loyalty, truthful, security

Purple – royalty, wisdom, noble

Orange – enthusiasm, flamboyant, warmth

Gray – age, maturity, grief

White – reverence, virginity, cleanliness

Black – formal, elegant, sophisticated

When you change scenes and font colors, stop to re-read what was just written. Do all elements of the scene match the correct POV? When you log-off for the day, let the words rest, but revisit them fresh when you log on the next day. Reviewing them will help you catch intrusions as well as prepare your mind to pick up where you left off. And when you finally say “The End,” a simple click, click, click will change the brilliant, colorful text back to its automatic boring black. Now all the brilliance will be in your story not the font.

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Problem solve your POV issues with color-coded characters. #HowTo” username=”EfficiencyADict”]

[bctt tweet=”A simple trick to write in deep POV. #WritersLife #AmWriting” username=”EfficiencyADict”]

Bio: Kathleen Neely is an award winning author, receiving first place for her debut novel, The Least of These, in the Almost an Author Fresh Voices Contest. She won second place in a short story contest through the Virginia Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers . You can read two of her short stories in A Bit of Christmas – 6 Christian Short Stories Celebrating the Season, available on Amazon. Along with numerous guest blog appearances, Kathleen is a regular contributor to ChristianDevotions.us. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, Vaughn, and enjoys time with family, reading, and traveling.

You can contact Kathleen through:
KathleenNeelyAuthor.com
@NeelyKNeely3628

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Misheard, Misused, Misspelled Words

This month’s post is all about words you might be hearing and saying and, consequently, writing improperly. We’re not talking about homophones this time. We’re talking about misheard, misused, and misspelled words.

The idea occurred to me when I received a message from whom—before this ill-typed group of sentences appeared in my inbox—I considered an educated, real adult.

Here’s the problem. She used prolly instead of probably. This construction is not a typo. It’s a made up, wrong word. Maybe that’s how she pronounces it, but it’s still wrong, wrong, wrong. And the little red squiggly line that shows up underneath—even in Facebook messages—indicates a warning people—especially writers—should heed. (I apologize if my old English teacher, persnickety self is shining through here.) (A little bit.)

What about should of? NO! The correct use is should have. The problem probably stems from the contraction, should’ve. I agree. It sounds like should of when we speak. When writing, however, use should have or should’ve. Have is a helping verb: I should have paid attention in English class.

Suppose/supposed has a couple of problems. Here are the correct usages:
I suppose I can cook dinner tonight if you wash the dishes.

I am supposed to cook dinner tonight if I have time. (Don’t forget the d on the end.)

Supposedly, I am a good cook. Not, not, not supposably. Supposably is not correct—even if you hear everyone you know say it this way.

All of a sudden is correct. Years ago when I was teaching, a student wrote, “all of the sudden.” I stopped reading. I shook my head. I’d never heard that phrase before. I marked it as wrong. The student was irritated. A wiser colleague mentioned that all of the sudden was a colloquialism. At its worst, it’s wrong. At its best, it’s informal. Use the accepted all of a sudden in your writing.

Finally, here’s one just for fun. One of my students wrote chester drawers in an essay. I don’t believe she capitalized the C either. Again, even if in quick, slurred speech, the words sound like chester, they really should be written chest of drawers.

Now that I’m thinking about it, chester drawers could make for some interesting dialog in my next work in progress.

Happy writing!

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Confusing Words…Again!

 

Yes, we’re continuing to visit confusing words because the English language abounds with them. Here are a few more examples to look for when you’re proofing your writing. Some are homophones while others are confusing because of their close spellings.

       1. Sensuous/Sensual

Sensuous means relating to the five senses, strong sensory appeal. If used correctly, the word does not have a sexual connotation.

The chocolate and hint of chili pepper combined to make a sensuous experience.

Sensual means relating to gratification of senses or the indulgence of the appetite, physically pleasing, and it comes with a hint of sex.

Many advertisements today rely on sensual images instead of clever copy.

      2. Pallet/Palate/Palette

A pallet is a temporary bed or a portable platform.

My grandmother used to make a pallet of quilts for me on her floor.

A palate is the roof of the mouth.

The hot soup scorched my palate.

A palette is an artist’s board of paint.

All the colors mingled on the artist’s palette.

      3. Carat/Karat

A carat is the unit of measure for precious stones.

Her engagement ring is a 2-carat diamond.

A karat is used to measure gold.

Her wedding band is comprised of 24 karat gold.

      4. Homey/Homely           

Homey relates to the home.

The abundance of candid photos and plump throw pillows added to the room’s homey ambiance.

Homely is used to describe things that are thought to be unattractive or simple.

The homely hound licked his spotted paw.

Take time to check on suspect words—the spelling as well as the definition.

Happy writing!

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A Little Red Ink Editing

Conferences: Paid Critique

Conferences: The Paid Critique

So you’re thinking about attending a writers conference, or perhaps you’ve already registered for one. Even if you’re a pro at this, a paid critique still may benefit you. You’ve got a new story, and every story is different.

Here’s why:

One-on-one attention from an industry professional.

401(K) 2012
A worthy investment. Photo cred: 401(K) 2012

 

For a small investment, you get to sit down with an agent, an editor, a seasoned author. Not only are you getting a fresh set of eyes on your work, you’re also getting their experience and expertise. And this is not a pitch, so there’s not quite as much at stake. It’s a lesson, a mentoring session.

Be a learner.

You thought I was going to say more than that, eh? Not so much. That gem speaks for itself. With the fresh set of eyes comes a fresh perspective. Be a learner.

Photo cred: Alice Birkin

Let’s look now at the different industry professionals who might be willing to meet with you.

Paid Critique: Agents

If you’re on the Great Agent Hunt, this is ideal. You’ll get to not only see what the agent thinks of your work but also get feedback. When you query them, most agents don’t take the time to offer tips or insight unless they genuinely feel that, with some revisions, your work would be a good fit for representation. So this is a rare treasure! Choose the agents you meet with carefully, though. Don’t waste an agent’s time (or yours!) if you write sci-fi and all their other clients are historical fiction. Do your research beforehand and pay for a critique from your dream agent.

Some agents truly are as cool as Sidney Bristow and James Bond. Photo cred: Alice Birkin
Some agents truly are as cool as Sidney Bristow and James Bond. Photo cred: Peggy Marco

To me, one of the best reasons to meet with an agent at a conference is to get a feel for their personality. In the agent-author relationship, it’s most important to find someone you could work with well. You may want a champion, a cheerleader, a career advisor. You may need a quiet professional relationship.

I remember at one of my first writers conferences, I met with an agent who�����������on paper—looked ideal for me. It turned out my work wasn’t a good fit for her, and I actually felt relieved. I could see, even before we sat down for the appointment, that our personalities wouldn’t gel. The meeting only confirmed it. We both handled ourselves professionally, and I can honestly say she’s a well-respected agent with impeccable taste. I just wouldn’t have enjoyed working with her. That’s important to me. Now? I count my agent a dear friend. (And she’s better than Sidney Bristow.)

Paid Critique: Editors

Again, do your research early and choose your appointments wisely. Get feedback from editors you hope will love your book. Listen to what they say about your writing. Ask questions about your story. But most of all, use the opportunity to ask them what they’re looking for. What makes a good story in their opinion? If they could give you any piece of advice, what would it be? They���re meeting with you because they want to be an encourager and a sharpener to you. If they didn’t want that, they wouldn’t offer paid critiques.

(Many don���t. They may still play this role in an appointment, though. If you’d like to see what editors want from their regular appointment slots at a conference, check out this excellent post by Karen Ball.)

So many authors, so many styles. Photo cred: Anton

Paid Critique: Authors

Meeting with authors who write in your genre is always a good idea. Get feedback—after all, they’re published. They know what works. Listen to their pointers on your writing with an open mind. Take notes. Think about what they’ve said that will work for you. They won’t try to change your voice, but you can gain valuable insight into both the industry and the writing process.

If you’re an indie author, this opportunity is golden. So very much goes into writing and launching and marketing a book well, and every author has their own story. Be brave and ask the hard questions. You may find the conversation invigorating and leave feeling better equipped for the challenge!

Wrapping up

Make the most of these opportunities. Many connections formed during these appointments can lead to valuable relationships. The publishing industry is always shifting and changing, and there’s always something to learn.

Have you ever had a paid critique? Tell me how it went.

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Irregardless, Not a Word?

A few weeks ago I enjoyed a lovely dinner with friends at a cool restaurant in Raleigh. The first time I ate there—decades ago—I was a young English major and ordering quiche and raspberry iced tea made me feel cool, too. Quiche was an exotic dish back then. The name of the place added to my delight because I understood the clever use of a non-word, Irregardless Café.

Yes, that’s right. Irregardless is not a word. It could be a blend of irrespective and regardless, but it’s wrong to use. Use regardless instead.

Regardless of the outcome of the soccer game, I’ll treat myself to frozen yogurt.

Another word used incorrectly is impact. Impact is a noun, not a verb.

How did the new law impact bathroom usage? Wrong. Instead write, how did the new law affect bathroom usage?

Finally, let’s consider a whole sentence that is used incorrectly. I could care less means exactly the opposite of what the speaker intends. I could care less means…I could care less. Think about it! If you could care less, care less. If you couldn’t, use I couldn’t care less instead.

Despite how often you may hear these words in daily speech or on TV, they are not correct. They may make for a cool name of a restaurant, but using them incorrectly doesn’t endear you to old English teachers, editors, or grammar police.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Preparing a Great Guest Post

3 Key Steps to Create a Great Guest Post

The golden rule for guest blogging is straightforward—Deliver solid content on time. Beyond that, there are a few simple steps you can take to prepare a great guest post.

Step 1: Layer Your Content

  • Show links to other posts and websites that provide further details on your topic. Quality outbound links raise your ranking in search engines and enhances your reader’s experience.
  • Include free items your readers can download and immediately use. A free printable, checklist, or guide can be shared and may draw new readers. These can also make readers wonder, “What additional items does this blogger have on her own website?” And just like that, a reader of your guest post becomes a visitor to your website.

Step 2: Prep for Social Media

  • List 1 – 3 Tweetable phrases. Not all bloggers use click-to-tweet plugins, but the ones that do will be thankful you made their jobs easier. Tip – If you’re unfamiliar with click-to-tweet plugins, you can see an example in the Sharables section at the bottom of this post.
  • Add Alternative Text descriptions to pictures. Social media programs like Pinterest use the alternative text information to create initial descriptions when people save your picture. This information also improves your searchability in places like Google and Bing.

Step 3: Get Critique Group Help

If you work with a critique group, there are certain things you should add to your blog post critique list. Each time your group reviews a post, check the content for

  • Tweetable phrases. What phrases stand out to you? What lines might draw a reader to this article?
  • Searchable terms. What terms might a person use to find this information? Add these phrases to your keywords/tags section.
  • An SEO-friendly title. Does the title grab your attention and does it contain a phrase that a potential reader would use to search for this information.
  • Hashtags. Consider what would be good hashtags to use with your Tweets.

To help you remember these items, I’ve included this handy Blog Post Form. Use this Word document to prepare your guest post, and you’ll have all the elements for a stellar article.

Other Helpful Resources:

Sharables–Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”What your critique group should do every time they review a blog post. #WritersLife #AmWriting” username=”@EfficiencyADict”]

[bctt tweet=”A few simple steps you can take to prepare an excellent guest post. #Blogging #HowTo” username=”@EfficiencyADict”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Writing Opportunity or Distraction?

Writing Opportunity or Distraction? How to Know the Difference

How to know when to stray from your writing plans.

Do you ever have those times when your day is organized and your goals are set only to have some strange other option lurk into view? I say lurk because sometimes those options feel more like distractions than opportunities. How do we tell the difference? How do we know when to limit our writing focus and when to try something outside our goals?

Recently, I had my day planned. With several long-term projects in process, I had spent the morning prioritizing all the tasks that needed to be done. By early afternoon I was ready to charge into my work. Then it happened. Opportunity appeared in the form of an odd email.

In my inbox was a notice about a writing contest. The writing needed wasn’t my usual target, but the subject was interesting and entrants had the possibility of gaining future work even if they didn’t win. The problem was the deadline. The piece had to be submitted in four days. I debated about what to do since this was completely outside everything I had planned. I hesitated, then dove in.

Here’s how I made my decision: I asked four simple questions.

  • Does this type of writing interest me? It did, and I could see myself doing similar projects if the work was available.
  • Am I well equipped to do this type of writing or will it require a lot of additional time researching information? I was well equipped and the special details I needed were clearly provided in the information packet.
  • Am I doing this to avoid my other writing work? This was a tougher question. I hadn’t been meeting my writing goals, but I also hadn’t been wasting my time. This was simply a period when I had a lot of work in front of me. What swayed me in favor of taking this chance was the additional potential benefits of the contest—continuing work. As writers, we want our words to make a difference, and we’d like to get paid enough to keep working. This writing opportunity offered both.
  • Does this writing opportunity resonate with me? There are moments when, even though logic may tell us otherwise, we know we need to take a step. Sometimes this is a strong spiritual prod. Other times it’s just a feeling we can’t explain. Pay attention to these moments. I can look back through my life and count the times I was specifically prodded. When I acted on this directing, I was thankful. When I didn’t, I regretted it. Thankfully, logic and that strong pull were working together in this opportunity.

How do you decide when to take a chance on something unexpected? How do you look for writing direction in light of Proverbs 16:9?

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

Shareables—Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Writing Opportunity or Distraction? How to know when to stray from your writing plans.” username=”@EfficiencyADict”]

Categories
Polishing Your Message Uncategorized

Don’t Do Dat – or That

Today’s tip on Polishing Your Message is . . . Don’t Do That.

Do What?

Overuse the word that.

The overuse of  that is one of my pet peeves when grading college essays. (Did you hear me students?) And as expected, many editors feel the same way. So don’t be surprised when you read this in more than one place. Fellow A3 writer Lori Hatcher also shares the same advice in a recent blog about “How To Drive Editors Crazy – Part 2.”

stop that

Overuse of the word has become acclimated in our speech; thus, we easily overlook it when we write it. Most of the time that used in an essay, article, or blog can easily be removed without harm to the sentence or the message.  Simply read the sentence without it and see if it changes the meaning. If not, omit it. When used incorrectly, the word that is as useful as those empty modifiers we also try to avoid like very, really, totally, truly, etc.

Now I am not saying to remove the word that every time. Many sentences will need the word to show the reader important information will soon follow. Most of the time our ear will tell us if that is needed or not. The goal for this post is to suggest you be more aware when polishing your drafts and looking for unnecessary words which can be omitted.

If you would like to read a more thorough source on when to leave that in and when to leave that out, I’ll share with you Grammar Girl’s discussion for your reading pleasure. She has much more to say on the topic. You will be amazed how much there is to think about when considering that little four letter word.

So ,add that to your proofreading checklist, and have fun polishing your message.

[bctt tweet=”Add that to your proofreading checklist” username=”BobbiBushWriter”]

(Photo credits belong to Cat Branchman and Leonard Matthews)

 

 

 

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Aid for Comma Splices

A writing acquaintance of mine recently posted about her disdain of the comma splice, more importantly, the proliferation of this punctuation error in today’s printed materials.

Here’s an easy definition of a comma splice: the misuse of a comma to join two independent clauses (two sentences).

I bought new yarn yesterday, I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet.

In the above sentence, the comma comes between the two sentences. Wrong!

Here are easy fixes.

I bought new yarn yesterday. I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (Break the two independent clauses into two sentences.)

I bought new yarn yesterday, but I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The comma plus a coordinating conjunction—and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so—can correctly join two sentences with the comma placed before the conjunction.)

I bought new yarn yesterday; I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The *semi-colon is a stronger than the comma and can separate two sentences by itself.)

I bought new yarn yesterday; however, I already have fifteen skeins waiting for me to crochet. (The semi-colon precedes a conjunctive adverb and then a comma.)

*Some fiction writers avoid using the semi-colon.

 

 

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

Confused No More

As an editor, I frequently encounter homonym errors. Someone writes whether when they intend weather. Or peek when the context calls for peak. Some are humorous. Others convey the opposite meaning of what the author intends.

I could write a post on the confused word uses I’ve corrected. But it might be more endearing if I come clean and ‘fess up to some pairs that confuse me.

Affect-Effect

This pair usually sends me to the dictionary to verify I’m using them correctly. It helps to remember that affect is a verb that means to make an impact on or cause a change.

The change in weather affected Fred’s arthritis.

Summer construction affects traffic patterns and travel times.

Effect can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun it means to bring about, or the result of an action. In this usage, it is usually followed by the preposition on.

The effect of divorce on children can be life-changing.

Scientists warn that the effects of climate change may be rising sea levels and greater temperature variations.

In the plural, effects, refers to belongings, possessions.

All the family’s personal effects were lost in the flood.

Used as a verb effect means to bring about, cause, or accomplish.

The new administrator wasted no time in effecting his own policies and procedures.

Lower interest rates effected stronger home sales.

If you remember that affect is a verb and effect a noun, you’ll be correct in most common usages.

Elicit – Illicit

I don’t recall the precise sentence, but its purpose was to encourage a response. What I actually wrote invited the reader to do something illegal. I had written illicit when I should have used elicit.

Elicit is a transitive verb meaning to draw out or bring forth. It requires a direct object.

Melanie’s antics elicited a reluctant smile from her grandmother.

Smile is the direct object of the verb elicited. Melanie’s actions drew a smile out of grandma.

Elicit also carries the meaning of bringing something hidden to light.

Brandon’s counseling sessions elicited his fear of failure.

Talking confidentially to someone can be a healthy way to discover and overcome such fears.

Illicit, on the other hand, is an adjective meaning illegal or unlawful. You will often see it used to describe the illegal use of drugs or sex. Dictionary.com also includes a second meaning: “disapproved or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.” That may explain the frequent pairing with drugs and sex.

Compliment – complement

Only one vowel separates the spelling of these two, but that simple letter changes the meaning considerably.

I pay someone a compliment when I tell them their hair (or shoes, or dress) look good on them.

Although the Oxford English Dictionary suggests a compliment usually includes some hypocrisy, Merriam Webster defines a compliment as a formal expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration.

A compliment can also be an expression of good wishes or regards.

Give my compliments to your parents.

The adjective, complimentary, means a gift or gratuity.

The new president gave a complimentary paperweight to each guest at the inauguration.

A complement, however, is something (or someone) that completes or makes whole.

Allison’s pink scarf complements her green dress and red hair.

With the vice president’s arrival, the full complement of PTA officers was in attendance.

These three sets of homonyms hardly comprise the full complement of commonly confused homonyms, but I hope the effect of this post elicits greater understanding.

 

Categories
Polishing Your Message Uncategorized

Winds and Waves of Inspiration

Are you a writer who hasn’t written a word?

How many waves of inspiration flow thru your mind before you finally pen (or type) your first words as a self-proclaimed writer?
I remember clearly the first few times I felt the stirring within to write. Emotions with no words bubbled inside like boiling water turning to vapor in effort to escape the heat of the moment. Each time I kept the lid on and eventually dismissed the thought. 

Continue reading “Winds and Waves of Inspiration”
Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Tracking Your Writing Research & Quotes

Tracking your research, reference articles, and quotes

Ever wonder what to do with all the research you’ve accumulated from your many writing projects? Do you ever get frustrated not being able to find that perfect quote or the specific data you know you have hidden somewhere in your pile of notes? Today we’re going to look at a simple system for tracking your research. We’ll see how to easily organize articles and quotes, then quickly find the information we’ve saved on a specific topic.

Highlighting and Note Taking for Articles

Start by reading your article with a pen or pencil handy. As you find critical information, highlight the section and write any keywords next to it. Keywords are words you might use to search for this information later.

Also, highlight sentences that would make great stand-alone quotes. For these I place a large Q in the margins.

Prepping the Article for Tracking

Once you’ve finished the article, it’s time to prep it for tracking. On the front page of the article, write, “Keywords–,” then list all the keywords you’ve noted throughout the article.

Next, you’ll want to add a code for the article. I use a three-part system:

The author’s last name + the article number + the year

A code for an article written by Jason Seib published on 10/26/2012 looks like:

Seib-001-12

Last name + the article number (in this case it was the first article I had collected from Jason) +12 (for 2012).

Put your code at the top of the article and your tracking prep is complete.

Users Tip* – Including the publication year in your code is quite helpful. If you’re searching for tips on how to use Facebook for marketing your book, you probably want an article written recently as opposed to one from several years ago. Having the publication year in your article’s code makes this easy to see.

Tracking Your Research

Now we’ll enter the article into a Research Tracking Spreadsheet. Below is an Excel file you can download to track your material. It includes two tabs, one for article notes and one for quotes.

Download the Research Tracking Spreadhseet (Excel File)

How to track research, quotes, and reference articles.
Screenshot: Reference Articles Tracking

 

How to track research, quotes, and references articles.
Screenshot: Quotes Tracking

 

Enter the information from your article. Then, when you need to find something, use the search feature in Excel to find all the items that match your keyword.

Saving Your Files

Now that you’ve collected enough data from your article to easily find it again, it’s time to file that article. Place your document in a three-ring binder arranged alphabetically by the article code. When you want to retrieve it, your spreadsheet will tell you exactly what code you need to look up in your notebook.

Similarly, if you keep electronic files as back up, name your electronic document by the same article code. Then put all your documents in a “Research Articles” folder.

Bonus Use: Researching with Books

You can also use this spreadsheet for tracking information you gather from books. Michael Hyatt shares his system for gathering data from books here: How to Retrieve What You’ve Read–Almost Instantly

The Research Tracking Spreadsheet covers what Michael calls “the master index.”

What tips do you have for keeping up with your writing research?

Sharables—Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Easily organize your research articles & quotes with this simple method. #WorkSmarter” username=”@EfficiencyAdict”]

Categories
Write Justified

Mind Those Apostrophes

When editors are asked to name their pet peeves, misuse of apostrophes ranks at or near the top of their list. The apostrophe, more than any other punctuation mark, is likely to be overused.

The Chicago of Manual of Style names only three primary uses for an apostrophe:

  • to show possession

Most singular (regular) nouns show possession by adding an apostrophe + s: horse’s mouth; company’s policy; Jamie’s daughter. An apostrophe is a less cumbersome way to show possession than the prepositional phrase the mouth belonging to the horse.

The possessive of most plural nouns is formed by adding an apostrophe after the s: girls’ toys, books’ pages, clocks’ batteries. However, in the case of nouns that do not add an s to form their plural, e.g. man – men, woman – women, child – children – the possessive is formed the same way as singular nouns: apostrophe + s.

In the case of nouns that end in s, the 16th (latest) edition of CMOS comes down on the side of apostrophe + s, thus Des Moines’s mayor attended the conference; Descartes’s thesis was included in the syllabus are the proper renderings.

  • to indicate missing letters

Use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters. Common contractions are the combination of a pronoun and verb apostropheplaquesuch as we are – we’re; he/she is – he’s/she’s; they have – they’ve and be-verbs and most of the auxiliary verbs when followed by not: are not – aren’t; was not – wasn’t; have not – haven’t.

(It takes all my restraint, not to insert an apostrophe in this plaque hanging in my son and daughter-in-law’s home. In this case, family harmony trumps punctuation.)

  • and, to form the plurals of lower case letters.

Here, Chicago opts for a visual rather than a grammatical choice. In phrases like, “Mind your p’s and q’s,” apostrophes are used simply for ease in reading. But note that “dos and don’ts” rates only the apostrophe for the contraction don’t.

Don’t use an apostrophe in these situations:

  • to form the plural of a family name. We went along with the Smiths to the beach.
  • in possessive pronouns: hers, his, theirs, its, yours, etc.
  • when capital letters are used as words. Capital Bank’s IRAs are earning a higher interest rate than First Federal’s.
  • numerals are used as nouns. The hits from the 1990s continue to attract listeners. (No apostrophe in 1990s.)
  • abbreviations are plural. Fred and Edna cashed in their CDs to fund their retirement expenses.
Categories
Grammar and Grace Uncategorized

Dangling Modifiers

Last month, I overheard a conversation about dangling modifiers. Lots of laughter. Lots of confusion. Lots of questions.

“What’s a dangling modifier?” “Wait. What’s a modifier?”

Let me explain.

A modifier adds description to a sentence. A modifier can be a word, a phrase, or a clause. In English, the modifier usually appears right before the noun it’s describing, but sometimes we find the modifier right after the word it describes.

Terrified, Penny prayed during the bumpy flight, which passed through a thunderstorm.

In the above sentence, terrified comes before Penny and describes her state of mind. Bumpy precedes flight. Which passed through a thunderstorm comes after flight.

In a dangling modifier situation, the modifier is placed near the wrong word. The construction makes the sentence confusing. Because the modifier doesn’t have a word to hang onto, it dangles, not attached to anything in the sentence.

Crushed by the Dear John text, the chocolate cake beckoned to Nancy from the countertop.

Crushed by the Dear John text comes before chocolate cake. Cake is the noun it’s supposed to modify, but cakes can’t be crushed by a Dear John text.

Here’s a correct way of writing the sentence: Crushed by the Dear John text, Nancy ate the chocolate cake that beckoned to her from the countertop.

Nancy is a person who can by crushed by a text, so the modifier is describing the correct word.

Try another one.

Thrilled by the letter of acceptance, the party plans commenced right away.

Plans can’t be thrilled. Thrilled by the letter of acceptance is dangling.

Write instead:

Thrilled by the letter of acceptance, Jordan commenced planning his party.

How about a one-word dangling modifier?

Sleepy, the bed looked inviting.

Do you see the problem? Bed can’t be sleepy.

A correct version would be—Sleepy, I crawled into the comfy bed.

When you start looking for dangling modifiers, you can find them easily, and a lot of times, they make for some funny sentences.

Have you found a dangling modifier lately that you can share in the comments? Please do!

Categories
A Little Red Ink Editing

What is a critique?

What is a critique?

Well, it’s one of my favorites. A critique is very much like a macro edit, only the editor probably won’t comment in the margins of your manuscript. Rather than take the time to stop and comment throughout, the editor acts as a reader and sends you their notes at the end. (Hint: that’s why I like it.)

It’s still important to choose your freelance editor wisely, seeking out someone with a good track record and respect from others in the industry. But this is a step that, used wisely—especially if you’re someone who has spent the time to learn the craft well and doesn’t need help on the fundamentals of writing—can save you from paying for a full macro (or substantive) edit. You still probably need a line edit, a copy edit, or a proofread after this, though.

Let’s get a little more in-depth. What is a critique exactly?

A critique highlights your strengths.

While your editor reads, he or she is taking notes. Lines that made an impression, scenes that were meaningful, moments that characters won your affection. Any moment where they sat safely in the palm of your hand, caught up in the story and feeling exactly as you wanted them to—those will get some praise.

I might compliment your solid hook and satisfying resolution. Tell you how quickly I felt anchored to your story world. Anywhere from beginning to end, plot to pacing to POV and back—if you did it well, I’ll tell you so (and give an example or two).

While I’m reading and targeting items on my checklist, I’m noticing the problem areas as well.

A critique points out your weaknesses.

The first chapter didn’t grab my attention or empathy quickly enough. There was a three-page backstory info dump. Your main character isn’t very likable. Your antagonist is a bit cartoonish. The middle sags. This moment—which really needed to pack a punch—got weak-kneed and sat down.

Those are easy enough fixes. But there may be something more in depth.

What if I can’t keep up with all six POV characters? Or, perhaps, I can keep up with them, but one of them adds nothing to the plot—nothing complex, nothing that makes the POV worthwhile.

What if you have four minor characters who all do essentially the same thing? Can one or more of them be combined?

Perhaps a character’s motivation wasn’t compelling.

If you think this part of the edit might make you cry, don’t fear too, too much.

(Honestly? It might make you cry. I’ve gotten a few that have made me cry, because I’m not armadillo-skinned).

But there’s hope.

A critique makes suggestions.

When I do a critique for someone, I don’t merely point out their manuscript’s flaws and say, “Good luck with that.” I make suggestions. I brainstorm ideas. I come up with a compelling reason or two for something and list a few spots where that might be easy to work in.

A good editor will share ideas about how two minor characters could be combined.

She might suggest adding a scene or two. She might suggest cutting a scene or two.

Your editor could say, “Cut all the on-the-nose writing.” If there are details everyone knows happened, but they don’t move your plot forward? Snip, snip, snip.

[bctt tweet=”A critique is an editor’s professional opinion of your work. Ultimately, though, the choices are yours to make. #editing #critiquevsedit”]

A critique is subjective.

Ultimately, though, the choices are yours to make. A critique is an editor’s professional opinion of your work. If they know what works in your genre, trust them. But don’t let anyone make YOUR story THEIR story.

Sift through the advice.

Put the letter away for a few days and do nothing to your manuscript.

Definitely consider the major weaknesses. Work on those.

And then look at the brainstorming ideas again. A few of those ideas will be gems, maybe even be enough to help you fall in love with a story that was beginning to suck the life out of you. (Hey, it’s happened.) Figure out what you can do with them, and let them take your story to the next level.

And then go for it.

On your own.

A critique is the end of that bit of editing.

Unlike with a macro edit, where there may be a bit of back and forth on the editing (some go as many as three rounds), a critique is sort of a standalone. The editor reads your books, writes the critique up, and sends it to you.

That’s it.

What you do with it from there is all you.

To me, though, that’s fun. As an editor, I find it enjoyable work. As an author, I find it empowering. I know what to do to make my story better.

Question

Have you had a professional critique done? How did you feel about it?

Categories
A Little Red Ink

What is a Proofread?

What is a proofread?

I’m sure you know by now the importance of wisdom as you choose a freelance editor. If you’ve missed the other posts defining the levels of editing, you can use the links below to catch up.

Macro (or substantive) edit

Line edit

Copy edit

Today, let’s talk about what a proofread entails.

The proofread is the final step…

before going to print (or uploading to online retailers).

Your book should’ve already had both a macro and copy edit, and—ideally—it will have even been formatted before this. The proofreader’s job is to catch remaining typos and word repetition, spot inconsistencies in formatting, make note of spacing issues, and basically get your book into perfect condition for print.

If you’re working with a publishing house, they will have certain in-house standards. You may or may not be involved in this step of the process.

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Ways to proofread.

Some proofreaders prefer to print out the manuscript and do this by hand. Believe me, it makes a difference. Even you would spot different things if you did this step on your own. Our eyes just see things differently in print than they do on a computer screen.

[bctt tweet=”#ProofreadingTip: Print a formatted copy or PDF of your manuscript. Our eyes just see things differently in print than they do on a computer screen. #amwriting #amediting”]

NOTE: If you hire a proofreader to do this, they will likely include a printing fee. There may be a standard fee, or they may charge by the page. Don’t be afraid to ask 1) whether they use clean paper or print on the back of scrap paper (It could save you money); 2) whether you can print a copy and send it to them.

Some—in order to make certain they miss nothing—will proofread backwards. Then, rather than getting caught up in the story, they see each sentence as an individual sentence. This is what I do when I proofread (if I must) for my macro and copy editing clients.

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Find someone new.

I don’t proofread for my editing clients if possible. It’s not wise to have the same editor do the macro edit, copy edit, and proofread. If possible, get someone else. Hey, ask your current editor for a recommendation. Many of us have people we’d trust with our own work.

editor sisters

My sister and I (both editing under the A Little Red Ink banner) routinely do proofreading for one another’s clients. That makes it super easy when questions come up.

“Is this word supposed to be capitalized in this story world?”

“I see this odd paragraphing—is that intentional?”

Erynn and I send our clients’ style sheets to each other, and we remain available to answer questions.

The key is making sure the editor hasn’t already been staring at the manuscript for the last 30 or 40 hours. They’ll miss things. A fresh set of eyes is crucial. If you are going to have the same editor proofread, give them time in between rounds. That requires planning on your part, sticking to deadlines. But it’s worthwhile if you’re determined to stick with one person.

[bctt tweet=”A fresh set of eyes is crucial. If you must have the same editor proofread, give them time in between rounds. #editvsproofread #alittleredink”]

Wrap-up

If you write in Traditional Publishing Land, this step isn’t your responsibility. However, if you’re braving the Indie Ocean, it’s a must. I know every penny counts. This one’s worth your investment.

Still, it’s possible to avoid a fee if you’ve got some killer beta readers who are willing to read through a formatted copy and let you know if they spot any typos. It’s a great trade. Scratch another author’s back with this deal, and then ask them to scratch yours. You’ll both be better off.

Question

Have you ever read a book and spotted typos? Were you quick to pick up other books by the same author?

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

When 2 + 2 Still Don’t = 4

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of plurals (see 2 + 2 Doesn’t Always = 4), let’s look at some more exceptions to the rules of pluralization.

For some reason, proper nouns or names often trip folks up. There’s no need, really. The plurals of proper names, including family names that end in s follow the same rules as regular nouns: add s or es.

  • A month of Sundays
  • The two Germanys reunited in the 1990s.
  • All the Johnnys and Marys raised their hands.

The same pluralization rules apply to family names as to regular nouns – add s, or in the case of proper nouns/names that end in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add es:

  • The Kennedys aspired to public service.
  • The Browns vacationed in Hawaii.
  • The Joneses live on Pleasant Avenue.
  • The Martinezes have four children.

BUT nicknamed geographical terms:

  • Rocky Mountains becomes the Rockies
  • Smokey Mountains becomes the Smokies

You will often see proper names pluralized with an apostrophe s, but don’t you try it. Adding an apostrophe makes nouns possessive, not plural.

We should also talk about letters, numerals, and abbreviations as well as common phrases used as nouns. If you follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Sweetie), you will be right 99 percent of the time:

  • Add an s to abbreviations such as CDs, JPEGs, IRAs, and FAQs

BUT when lower case letters are forming plurals, use an apostrophe (only to aid comprehension).

  • Mind your p’s and q’s
  • Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
  • Add an s to numerals, including years or decades such as: 7s, 1990s, 1000s

Some hyphenated words or phrases are not nouns, but can be used as nouns; these form a plural by adding s.

  • Ifs, ands, or buts
  • Thank-yous
  • Twos and threes
  • Dos and don’ts

And finally, those lovely words we’ve adopted from the classical Latin and Greek. Although these plurals may not come naturally to most English speakers, they do follow a pattern.

Greek

Singular ending

Plural ending

on (criterion, phenomenon)

a (criteria, phenomena)

ma (stigma)

mata (stigmata)

 

Latin

Singular endings

Plural endings

a (alumna, larva)

ae (alumni, larvae)

us (fungus, radius)

ii (fungii, radii)

um (datum, memorandum)

a (data, memoranda)

is (basis, thesis)

es (bases, theses)

x (matrix)

ce (matrice)

And when all else fails, do what I do. Refer to the dictionary. You do keep one handy, don’t you?

 

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five Words or Phrases to Avoid

Lots of time we hear verbal patterns that may be acceptable (to some people) in speech, but they are considered ungrammatical in the written word. Below are five examples of words or phrases to avoid in your written communications.

  1. Being as/Being that–Don’t use in place of because or since.

Being as the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.  Wrong

Because the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.   Correct

  1. Can’t hardly—This phrase is a double negative and not acceptable in standard English.

I can’t hardly wait for the first day of summer.  Wrong

I can hardly wait for the first day of summer.     Correct

I can’t wait for the first day of summer.              Correct

 Could of/Should of/Would of—These expressions are ungrammatical uses of could have, should have, and would have. They probably originate from the contractions in speech, could’ve, should’ve, and would’ve. Use the proper form in written English.

  1. Different from/Different Than—The correct usage is different from, not different than.

North Carolina eastern style barbeque is different from western style.

  1. Due to—This expression is a wordy construction. Use because

Due to the fact that Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance. Wordy

Because Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance.                   Much better

 Clean up your manuscripts by avoiding these ungrammatical expressions. Clean up your speech patterns by avoiding them, too.

Happy writing!