Category: Editing

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The Efficiency Addict

On Writing: Practice Excellence

The value of reading authors that inspire you to writing excellence.

Practice makes perfect. I believed this mantra for years until a music teacher changed my mind. “Perfect practice makes perfect,” he said, then explained that if you practice with poor technique or study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. It was not enough to practice. The key was to focus on practicing exceptional technique.

Recently, I considered this wisdom with regard to writing. I’ve been reading. A lot. As writers we read for pleasure and knowledge, studying other authors to learn their techniques. The authors I found were good, but then I read one who was exceptional, and she challenged me. Here are the writing elements that drew my attention in her books:

  • the breadth of research
  • the depth of characterization
  • her fully fleshed-out fantasy elements
  • a storyline built on action (not chance or coincidence)

I had allowed my writing to become weak in some areas. This author made me look at my writing with fresh eyes—and higher standards.

Are you reading books that inspire you to write better? If not, seek them out. It’s true—artists improve by studying a wide breadth of creative people. However, there’s a reason artisans used to be apprenticed to masters and practice their techniques. Find those old and new masters who elevate their stories with exceptional writing craft.

Care to Comment?

Who are the master writers you study? What have you learned? I’d love to see your picks in the Comments section below.

And, in case you’re wondering, here’s the author who challenged me:

Mary Robinette Kowal writes historical fantasy. Her Glamourist Histories, set in the early 19th century, pay homage to Jane Austen’s writing style while creating a new alternate reality all their own. Kowal’s notes at the back of her books will be of particular interest to writers. Here she discusses how she overcame storyline challenges, conducted research, and worked with other authors and period experts. Writers can find additional tips in Kowal’s “Debut Author Lessons” blog post series found at www.MaryRobinetteKowal.com.

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”If you study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. #AuthorLife #WritersRoad”]

[bctt tweet=”Studying Master Writers: Why it’s important. #WritersLife”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Using Pinterest for Ministry

Pinterest for Writers: Part 2 - Using Pinterest for Ministry

Pinterest for Writers: Part 2

When I teach computer classes for Christian writers and speakers, many attendees are surprised that I suggest using Pinterest for ministry. I think they envision one of two extremes—1) having a separate ministry account that is filled with only scripture verses, Bible studies, and worship albums or 2) having to remove all the special interest boards they have on their personal accounts so everything becomes ministry focused. Neither extreme is necessary. In fact, it is our unique personal interests, as shown through our Pinterest boards and pins, that can help us reach people who might never connect with anything “churchy”.

Think about how Pinterest works. Our feeds are filled with pins based on our likes and the boards we follow. When a user finds a pin of interest, he or she will pin it, take a look at its board, and visit the pinner’s home page to see if there are other intriguing items. This is a great opportunity for ministry.

Consider this real-life example:
A woman I know loves all things related to tea and tea parties. She has boards dedicated to tea recipes, table decorations, being a good host, teapots, and tea sayings. Many of her 500+ followers found her because they, too, like tea. However, this woman also has boards for scripture verses, encouragement, and women’s ministry. Those who choose to follow her because they like her tea information will receive the pins from her other boards. Those who only follow her tea boards will still be exposed to scripture because some of her tea pictures include Bible verses. This woman draws people to her page through the things she likes. She gets to share Jesus with pinners because she doesn’t separate Him from the other things that make her who she is.

So, if you have a Pinterest account, consider how you can minister to others. Don’t worry about creating something formal. Simply, collect pins and create boards based on who you are. If you like Corgi dogs, have a board for that. If you’re into camping, gather up those tent-pitching pins. If you’re studying kindness in the Bible, compile verses and articles that remind you of God’s graciousness. People can connect over the strangest things. Show others what and Whom you love on Pinterest, and let God direct the rest.

The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ~Mark 4:14 (NLT)

If you’d like to see Pinterest ministry in action, check out these Pinterest home pages created by fellow writers and speakers:

Carolyn Knefely, The TeaCup Living Lady – https://www.pinterest.com/CarolynKKnefely/

Maureen Hager – Christian speaker, lover of Corgis & Harley Davidson motorcycles https://www.pinterest.com/MoHager

Beth Bergren – Passionate about God, food, family & fun https://www.pinterest.com/BethBergren/

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Our Pinterest hobby boards can help us reach people who might never connect with anything “churchy”. #Ministry”]

[bctt tweet=”Using Pinterest for Ministry – How writers can connect and minister to readers with Pinterest. #WriteToInspire”]

Categories
Write Justified

2 + 2 Doesn’t Always Equal 4

Students of English learn quickly that to every rule, there is an exception; sometimes the exception is the rule. That appears to be the case when forming plurals.

Most nouns form their plural by adding s or es:

  • toys
  • books
  • blocks
  • cups
  • cars

Words that end in s, x, z, ch, or sh add es (as well as another syllable) to form their plurals.

  • boxes
  • houses
  • hunches
  • wishes
  • whizzes (note the double z)

Things get a little more complicated with words that end in f or o. Words that end in f usually form the plural by turning the f to v and adding es:

  • wife  – wives
  • knife – knives
  • half – halves
  • shelf – shelves

BUT here are a couple of exceptions:

  • roof – roofs
  • safe – safes (so as not to be confused with the present tense of the verb save).

Words ending in o also present challenges. (Just ask Dan Quayle). Some add es, others only s

  • hero – heroes
  • potato – potatoes (This is the one that tripped up Vice President Quayle)
  • echo – echoes

BUT

  • ego – egos
  • portfolio – portfolios

The best thing to do with these regularly irregular plural forms is to consult the dictionary. And even then, be aware that some words have two acceptable plural forms with corresponding and distinct meanings.

The plural of staff—staffs—means a group of people. But the plural of the musical notation staff is staves.

Mediums are people with paranormal powers; media are artistic materials.

And what about hyphenated compound nouns like daughter-in-law and babe-in-arms? The answer is pretty simple. Add s to the noun portion of the compound: daughters-in-law, babes-in-arms.

Solid compounds are considered regular nouns and take an s: cupfuls, spoonfuls, handfuls, teaspoonfuls

Open compounds like attorney general also add s to the key noun: attorneys general.

The general rule—regardless of whether the compound noun is hyphenated, two words or closed—is to make the principle word plural. Another way to think of it is to pluralize the element that is subject to change in number.

Next month I’ll tackle some of the other exceptional ways to make plurals: including proper nouns, abbreviations and initialisms, and everybody’s favorite—English words adopted from the classical languages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Grammar and Grace Uncategorized

Five More Confusing Word Pairs to Consider

We’re continuing to examine words that are used incorrectly.

  1. Enthused/Enthusiastic—Although enthused has become acceptable in standard usage, old school people still prefer enthusiastic.

My daughter was not very enthusiastic about salmon for dinner.

  1. Farther/Further—Farther is used for geographic distances. Further means “in addition to” without involving geography.

A great bed and breakfast is located about a mile farther down the road.

Further accidents can be avoided with common sense.

  1. Fewer/Less—Use fewer for groups or collections with parts that can be counted individually. Use less for things in bulk.

The fifth grade class earned fewer cupcakes than the fourth grade.

We added less butter in our brownies for a low fat option.

  1. Impact/Affect— Some people shudder when impact is used as a verb although it’s become acceptable in standard English.

The impact of the wind knocked me down.  (Yes.)

The song impacted me more than you’ll ever know. (No. This usage may bring to mind images of impacted teeth…or bowels. You don’t want that, do you?)

Instead, use affect.

The nostalgic play affected me to the point of tears.

  1. Irregardless/Regardless—Old English teachers might have rapped knuckles and said, “Irregardless isn’t a word. It isn’t in the dictionary.” My dictionary has it listed along with the definition of non standard English. Irregardless is, however, a fun café in Raleigh, NC. Please use regardless instead.

Do you agree or disagree about the usage of enthuse or impact?

Happy writing!

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

How’s Your Posture?

listening1One of the occupational hazards of the writing-editing life is back and/or neck pain as a result of poor posture. We’re often sitting, hunched over a computer for long periods of time. Without our chair, desk, and computer properly aligned we’re prone to periodic discomfort or chronic pain. Not to mention eye strain if we forget to follow the 20-20-20- practice: [bctt tweet=”every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to look at something at least 20 feet away.”]

Impaired mental posture also takes its toll. Writer’s block, fear, and procrastination all conspire to keep us from proper mental alignment and inhibit our productivity. Some of these misalignments can be corrected by developing our technical skills–brushing up on grammar, sentence structure, etc., But even successful writers battle mental misalignment from time to time.

And then there’s our spiritual posture. What’s our stance before our heavenly Father, the source of our creative desires and energy? I confess that mine ranges from a careless slouch—casually acknowledging God from afar as a friendly grandfather who will show up when I signal him, to a self-righteous erectness attempting to balance all the demands of life atop my own head and shoulders and expecting a “well done” for my independence and self-sufficiency.

[bctt tweet=”God desires an intimate relationship with us and that requires a certain posture”]. He may get my attention in dramatic fashion, but he’s just as likely to speak to me in a still small voice. The ability to hear that voice requires a certain posture. It’s a wise teacher who lowers her voice get the classes’ attention. It’s a far more effective way to get students to listen than trying to speak above their noise. Students may even need to lean in and turn an ear in the direction of the teacher’s voice to be sure they hear. They need to set aside distractions and focus on the teacher.

As I open God’s Word and quiet myself in my prayer room, I need to lean in in anticipation and expectation. I need to keep my eyes wide open to the ways he is already at work in the world and in my life. And I need to adopt a heart posture of humble submission, leaning in expectantly to hear from the Teacher. It’s a divine posture adjustment and it’s essential to a well aligned life.  How’s your posture?

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five More Confusing Word Pairs

For the past couple of posts, we’ve been focusing on confusing word pairs. Today will continue with a few more. The following words may not be spelled similarly or sound alike, but they are sometimes used incorrectly.

  1. Accept and Except

Accept—is a verb that means “to receive.”

Please accept this million dollars for your excellent manuscript.

 

Except—is a preposition that means “but.”

The toddler ate everything except his kale.

 

  1. Advice and Advise

Advice—is a noun and rhymes with “rice.”

Take my advice. You need to proofread your paper.

 

Advise—is a verb and rhymes with “prize.”

The teacher will advise you on which class to take.

 

  1. Allusion and Illusion

Allusion—is a reference to something else.

Please find five allusions in Poe’s, “The Raven.”

 

Illusion—is a dream, a fantasy.

He believed the illusion that he could lose weight without changing his eating habits.

 

  1. Among and Between

Between—is usually used to show a relationship with two nouns.

Between you and me, I’m pulling for the Panthers to win.

 

Among—is usually used to show a relationship with more than two nouns.

Sadness was common among Pittsburghers when the Steelers lost the last game.

 

  1. Anxious and Eager

Anxious—can show fear.

I’m anxious about the skin test results.

 

Eager—shows strong interest.

I’m eager to be finished with doctors’ appointments.

 

These words are distinct and are easy to use properly if you remember the definitions. Good luck with your writing!

Categories
Polishing Your Message Uncategorized

A Shell of a Draft . . .

Shell of a Draft

Shortly after moving to the Islands, a new habit easily became walking early on the beach. On one particular morning, something unlikely happened. (Unlikely from my beach experiences . . . ) I found a big beautiful shell— a whole shell. Do you understand?  I found a large complete shell five inches tall and four inches wide.  Feeling stunned, amazed, and thrilled, I instantly knew I was meant to find this particular shell, on this particular day, in this particular way.

How do I know that? Because it was God showing off again in my world. See, before my walk I had just read how God uses our SHAPE for his purpose. SHAPE being an acronym from Rick Warren’s book A Purpose Driven Life (236).  His SHAPE acronym represents the following words and how God uses them in our life:

S – Spiritual Gifts

H – Heart

A – Abilities

P – Personality

E – Experiences

The SHELL I found is a symbol for the devotion I had read and a gift to remember the lesson. Believe me, I have walked beaches many times, and I have never found such a big unbroken SHELL. On this particular day, He reminded me he has made us all for a special purpose and wants us to use all the above traits for his purpose.

A couple months pass and again I’m walking the beach contemplating inspirations for a new blog, and again I am still thinking about that SHELL. (Now anytime I see a shell, I think of that shell.)

As I continue walking the pastel carpet of broken shell pieces listening to the crunch of each step, I ponder Warren’s acronym and think about how our first drafts for short blogs, essays, and articles form a shell for our final written work. Getting that first Shell of a Draft is sometimes the hardest part of writing. Coming up with ideas is not difficult for writers– it is giving the idea shape. Ask around and discover, most writers keep stashes of ideas tucked in shoe boxes, notebooks, electronic files, and the sandy corners of their minds to develop one day. Discerning what direction, what purpose, and for what audience an idea best agrees often forms its shape when we write that First Shell of a Draft.

[bctt tweet=”Getting that first Shell of a Draft is sometimes the hardest part of writing.”]

While walking and enjoying the formation of birds standing at attention, a new ACRONYM for the word SHAPE came to mind. An acronym to help writers create a first SHELL OF A DRAFT.

How to SHAPE a Shell of a Draft:

birds8

S – See it

H – Hear it

A – Ask it

P – Perceive it

E – End it, Edit it, Edit it, Edit it,  .  .  .  and END IT.

[bctt tweet=”Write to see what’s on your mind. “]

See it:

One of my favorite quotes to share is by E.M Forster, “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” The heart of our drafts often originates when we free write those first initial thoughts and ideas. Sometimes we are surprised by what appears on the blank screen or notebook and we discover, learn, and grow when what is deep within our heart is revealed.  So for step one, when you have a topic or idea,  just write. Write to see what’s on your mind. Write to see what’s on your heart, and write to see what’s in your Spirit. Just get it down on paper.

Hear it:

Do my thoughts flow smoothly for the reader? Reread the draft repeatedly listening for areas where words may be missing or thoughts are not connecting smoothly. (Perhaps some transitions will help.) Listen for opportunities of adding parallelism with list or alliteration to catch a reader’s attention. These are all writing elements, tools, or techniques a wordsmith enjoys adding to his or her work. Pay attention to word choice when rereading aloud. Look up words if needed and use a thesaurus to reduce redundancy. Finally, say a little prayer and trust your ear; trust it as an assistant to your writing.

Ask it:

Are there any areas of confusion? Are the examples and support all supporting the main idea of the message? If not, some may need to be omitted. Writers often have lots of ideas on how to reveal a message, but determine which details and examples best reveal your purpose and audience and omit the rest. This question is a key factor in helping writers decide what to leave in and what to take out. If it does not support the purpose, consider leaving it out.

Perceive it:

This is the time for peer review or reader feedback. Can the text be misunderstood, unclear, or offensive to readers? How might others interpret the prose? When asking someone’s perspective, you may want to share a past blog on how a friend can offer confident feedback.

End it: 

This may be the hardest decision, but deadlines and goals help encourage the process. End it, then edit it, end it again, let it rest, and edit it again. Embrace the process and accept revision, revision, revision is required to get that draft into shape. Continue the process until you feel peace or your time has expired. Say a little prayer and let your message go.

Today, when I hold the shell I found, it symbolizes for me the SHAPE God is molding me into and how my spirit, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences SHAPE my writing. In addition, the shell is a marker of answered prayer (for years I’ve wanted to live back near a beach).  It represents my current life transition from single motherhood to empty-nester and the SHAPE for which my heavenly father sees me and cares about every detail in my life– even a walk on the beach.

I hope these suggestions will help new writers develop their ideas into drafts and then on to a final message.

(I am ending here because it’s now time to go walk on the beach with a friend.)

Below, I invite you to share what gifts God reveals to  you while enjoying nature.

Categories
Write Justified

Are You Editing? or Editorializing?

Every writer needs an editor or at least a proofreader. Even experienced writers benefit from another pair of eyes reviewing what they have written before it goes to press.

According to Beth Hill at The Editor’s Blog, [bctt tweet=”An editor polishes and refines, he directs the focus of the story or article or movie along a particular course. “]He cuts out what doesn’t fit, what is nonessential to the purpose of the story. He enhances the major points, drawing attention to places where the audience should focus.”

In the newsroom, the editor is especially influential in directing what stories take top billing or which ones are below the fold or relegated to page six. The leanings of a newspaper or television station are evident by these decisions. The myth of an unbiased editor is just that—a myth.

On the editorial pages the publisher/editor may legitimately voice his/her opinion on local, national, or world affairs. But editorializing—expressing opinions within a factual news piece is unacceptable journalism.

On a recent get away to western Colorado, we discovered a local paper that engaged in a bit of editorializing in, of all sections, the local crime blotter. The results provided great hilarity over our morning coffee.

Under the heading, Busted in the Butte, (gotta love that!) we chuckled over these entries. (Note editorial comments in italics.)

A report was filed for a stolen license plate. Only one plate was taken, so the thief must have only needed the one.

  • Follow-up was done on a suspect who had pled guilty in in a bad check case and wasn’t paying the money back as agreed. His next stop could quite possibly be in front of a judge.

Even when the writer is not editorializing, he/she has a sense of humor that goes beyond “just the facts, Maam.”

  • A bike versus vehicle accident occurred near the Nordic Center. An investigation is ongoing, but regardless of the outcome, a bicyclist never “wins” in a collision with a vehicle.
  • A Marshal did a welfare check via text with an overdue female whose family was concerned about her whereabouts. She responded to the text and contacted her family.

I’m still wondering if the female in question was just late coming home, or pregnant and past her due date. And don’t you love a diligent marshal who employs the latest technology rather than old-fashioned footwork to solve a crime? (That’s me editorializing.)

And my favorite:

  • It was determined that a 911 hang-up with yelling in the background was not a case of domestic violence, but the case of a doggy that was in deep doo-doo because of his deep doo-doo in the house.

You know it’s a small town when these are the items that populate the crime blotter. And you have to appreciate the editor who permits this kind of editorializing. But don’t you try it.

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Understanding Lie and Lay

 

We’ll take a break from adding more confusing words to our list this time and  focus only on the two verbs lie and lay. They are often confused because they’re both irregular verbs, and the past tense of lie is lay.

(present tense)     Lie                                         Lay
(past tense)           Lay                                        Laid
(past participle)   Have lain                             Laid

*To lie means “to recline.”

I hope to lie down to sleep at 9:30.

Last night, I lay down at 10:30.

I had lain in bed for two hours before I gave up and turned on the light.

*To lay means “to put down.”

Colleen, lay the baby in the crib for a nap, please.

Colleen laid the baby in the crib twenty minutes ago.

Colleen had laid the baby in the crib before the phone rang.

Next time, we’ll continue with more confusing words.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Using Pinterest for Writing Research

How Pinterest can help writers find expert and original source materials.

Pinterest for Writers – Part 1

If you’ve heard about Pinterest and think it’s only for women or crafters, think again. Pinterest encourages people from all over the world to gather around common interests and share their knowledge. This results in a rich database of information for writing research.

  • Have a character who’s into sailing, and you need the name of common boating knots? (Pinterest Search “Sailboat Knots”)
  • Want to know the color schemes of a 1950s kitchen? (Pinterest Search “1950s Kitchen Décor”)
  • Need to find a quaint Irish town for your next suspense novel? (Pinterest Search “Irish Towns”)

What’s the best part of using Pinterest for writing research? It’s easy, because other Pinterest users (a.k.a. Pinners) have already done a lot of the work for you.

[bctt tweet=”How to use Pinterest for Writing Research. #AuthorLife #HowTo”]

Research Tools You’ll Find on Pinterest

  1. Collections – Pinterest users collect articles and pictures that interest them onto boards. The Pinner names the board based on it’s topic and gives it a description. These names and descriptions are searchable by other Pinterest users. If you type the phrase “London Theater “ into the Pinterest search box, individual articles and pictures about this topic will appear as well as entire boards (collections of articles and pictures) on this subject. Bonus – Pinned items come from all over the Internet, including websites, Instagram pictures, Etsy listings, Ebay listings, and more.Writing Research-London Theater
  2. Expert Bloggers – When you click on a pin that interests you, you’ll find additional information. If the pin originated with a website, you can click on the website to read the full article or see other pictures. This is a great way to find blogs written by subject-matter gurus. Bloggers with strong material are pinned and shared. Note- If you’re a blogger, be sure to have a Pin This button on your blog posts so your great material can be shared, too.
  3. Original Documents – It’s critical for writers to get it right. Experts are wonderful. Primary source documents are even better. It’s not uncommon to have scans of primary source material pinned on Pinterest. When I searched Pinterest for “Edwardian Fashion,” I found a link to a 1910 print entitle “Children’s House Clothes for the Little Girl from 6 to 12.” It’s part of the The New York Public Library’s digital archives, a free resource with many additional original documents. Other source documents frequently found on Pinterest include archived magazine articles, how to books dating back to the 1800s, design schematics, and antique photographs. How to Use Pinterest for Writing Research.
  4. Related Pins – When you click on a Pin, Related Pins appear below it. These are pins similar to the one you selected. So, each search and selection you make leads you to a host of other selections that are already pre-sorted for you.

To learn more about how to use Pinterest, connect with me at The EfficiencyAddict on Pinterest or visit my blog at TheEfficiencyAddict.com. This month’s #WorkSmarter Series is all about using Pinterest for writers, speakers, and small business owners.

Categories
Polishing Your Message

Building Bridges With Transitions

Transitions are an important element in our writing. Without them a paragraph can sometimes feel like we are reading a grocery list. The sentences seem choppy feeling like we are jumping from one thought to another.

I like to tell my students to think of transitions as bridges. They help connect the writer’s thoughts and allow the reader to easily follow and comprehend the message. Without them, the reader may have to work harder to concentrate and associate the unwritten connections. (Do remember, as writers, it is our job to make reading easy for our audience.) In addition, transitions will polish our writing and help us not lose our readers as we deliver our message.

As mentioned, I think of transitional devices as bridges, which brings to mind many different types of bridges: short bridges, long bridges, covered bridges, weak bridges,  and sturdy steel bridges. Without them, we cannot get to the other side, which is often where we are trying to take our readers. Equally, many different types of transitions are available as tools to help move our thoughts along. These transitions can be short using one word, long using phrases, weak by choosing wrong words, and sturdy dependable transitions like the list below.   These bridges can transport readers past years in time with a few little words. For example: “Six years later. . . .” Or maybe we skip to the next thought using words like ” first, next,” and “finally.” Choosing the best transitional device takes practice and a good ear, so be sure to read the text aloud and listen to hear if it connects your thoughts smoothly.

The different transitional devices and phrases will lead the reader in a variety of directions.   See below a list of common transitions and their purposes.  Many list are available online (see above link) and handy tools to have available.   

  • Addition or Sequences – also, besides, finally, first, furthermore, in addition
  • Comparison – also, similarly, in the same way, likewise
  • Contrast – even so, however, in contrast, still, otherwise, nevertheless
  • Examples – for example, for instance, that is
  • Emphasis – Indeed, in fact, of course
  • Place – below, elsewhere, nearby, to the east
  • Repetition or Summary – in brief, in other words, in short, in summary
  • Cause and Effect – as a result, consequently, hence, therefore, thus
  • Time Sequence- Eventually, finally, meanwhile, next, once, then, today, now

[bctt tweet=”Common transitions and their purposes”]

In a similar manner, life also offers us many transitions. I recently experienced a major life transition (which is why my posts are void a couple expected blogs). On July 15, 2015, I had no idea what my immediate or long term future held. I didn’t know my future job or expected resources. My youngest was leaving the nest and starting college. Thus, I was unsure of my future purpose and direction. Nevertheless, by August 15, 2015, God had moved me to Savannah, moved me from a three bedroom home with a garage to a one bedroom condo, moved me into a new job, and made me an official Empty Nester all in one week. How is that for godly transitions? He built a bridge in 30 days which was easy to follow and easy to comprehend knowing His hand was in every aspect of my life transition.

As a result, I think God often likes to show off in how he makes a transition come about. During that month, He sure showed off to me. He had me laughing, praising, and full of joy as he provided  encouraging Christian shoppers at three yard sales to downsize. The sales alone were fun, joyful, and full of good wishes and prayers for my future from strangers. Next, He led me to the perfect condo close to the beach, and He provided kind people to help me move. (Living near the beach has been a desire for many years, but I expected it would not be reality until much later in life . . . Thank you Lord!) He opened a door to teach in a Christian environment, and as always, He provided the resources needed perfectly. This bridge to my next season in life was joyful, easy to cross, and covered with his protection all the way.

Meanwhile, my long term future is still unknown now living as an Empty  Nester  enjoying Fridays spent reading, writing, and biking.  As an adjunct instructor, for me my semesters are also my bridges. I know not where the end of this one will lead, and I do not worry. He has provided all I need for this semester. So although I am single, I am not alone. Today, January 15, 2016, I am here Lord, ready to cross the next bridge with you.

PS. When I wrote my bio 6 months ago, I never dreamed I would be living near the beach within 30 days. God is good. (Imagine big smile here.)

So, what life transitions has God used to show off in your world lately?

[bctt tweet=”What life transitions has God used to show off in your world lately?”]

Sources: Quick Access: Reference for Writers 7th ed.  Lynn Q Troyka and Douglas Hessee (65)

 

Categories
Write Justified

Look Back to Move Ahead

A few days before the deadline for this blog I had some time to begin thinking about the next year and the goals I would set for myself as a writer in 2016. Naturally, I looked at the goals I’d set for 2015 as a starting point. True confessions, here. I didn’t do great at achieving the goals I’d set for myself last year.

Oh, I can rationalize that personally last year held more drama and transition than I could have foreseen. Job loss and a major move count for something, don’t they? Who wouldn’t have abandoned some goals in the face of that kind of upheaval.

Yet, honesty compels me to acknowledge that one of the primary reasons I didn’t meet more of my goals is fear. I know I’m not alone as a writer in struggling with fear. I’ve read enough other writers’ blogs and published authors to know that all of us who aspire to put ourselves out there in print for the world to see cringe at the prospect of being misunderstood, ridiculed, or both. It’s much easier for me to wield an editor’s pen than to submit my own prose to others probing, critical eyes.

I could continue to berate myself for not blogging regularly, not attempting to submit more articles for publication, or not joining the professional editor’s group I’ve considered joining for three years, but still haven’t invested the funds. It may be more helpful, however, to recall the small steps I’ve taken in the last year:

  • I took the Goodreads Book Challenge and set a modest goal of reading 15 books in 2015. By early summer I had reached that number. By year’s end I’d read more than 30.
  • Included in those 30 reads of 2015 are a few that took me outside my usual nonfiction genre of history, biography-memoir, spirituality. I dipped a toe into horror with Stephen King’s The Shining and magic realism with Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child. Though reading outside my usual interests wasn’t a goal I’d specifically set for myself, I claim it as a small step of progress in expanding my awareness of what constitutes good writing—an essential element in being a good writer.
  • Connecting with other writers was at the top of my list when making the adjustment to our new home. I’m grateful to have found A3 this year, as well as a local chapter of Word Weavers, a Christian critique group.  The friendship and sounding board these writers provide are a sweet blessing on my journey.
  • I submitted two pieces for publication in 2015; one was accepted. That’s an acceptance rate I can live with. The challenge in the year ahead is to be a bit more productive than that.

[bctt tweet=”Setting goals is essential to realizing our hopes and aspirations.”] Michael Hyatt says they are a prerequisite to happiness and offers five principles for goal setting. To these I would add, [bctt tweet=”…celebrate small accomplishments. For small successes are a great antidote to fear.”]

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Practical Writing Habits

Practical Writing Habits to keep you writing all year long.

Welcome to 2016! I hope you’ve already begun your writing journey by creating a scene, outlining the bones of a new story, or just getting some words on the page. If you haven’t started this process or need some encouragement, here are three practical writing habits to get your 2016 year off to a smart start.

  1. Set Realistic Word Count Goals – We like to think we can write 5000 words in a session, but is this realistic for a daily word count goal? A professional, i.e. making-a-living writer I know, has a goal of 500 words a day. That sounds low considering she is contracted for at least two books per year. However, this author has learned that when she sits down to write 500 words, she frequently exceeds this count. By having a small goal, she sets herself up for success. On the rare days she barely passes this count, she has still met her goal, and she knows she’ll write more tomorrow. That’s what matters. So, choose an achievable word count goal (500, 750, 1000 words) and see what happens. Consistent writing, even with small word count goals, leads to completed manuscripts.

[bctt tweet=”Set yourself up for success with small writing goals. #AuthorLife #HowTo”]

  1. Know Your Writing Days – It’s easy to say, “I’m going to write seven days a week.” Then life happens. Maybe your weekends are booked with family errands. Perhaps Tuesday and Thursday mornings are your workout times and you just can’t get up any earlier to write. Whatever is happening in your life, don’t worry. Make your writing schedule something that works for you. Choose days that fit your needs and commit to that writing time. Then enjoy your off days knowing your next writing session is coming soon.
  1. Set a Standard Time – Have you picked up on the theme of this post? There is value in routine. Consciously doing things over and over creates a habit. Getting in the habit of writing at a specific time sets us up for success. Do you have to think about brushing your teeth in the morning? No. It’s a habit. You probably do it at the same time every morning. There’s no debate over whether you’ll do it. You simply pick up your toothbrush and start. You can create the same habit for your writing. Pick a time when you’re going to write and stick with it. Consider it as critical as brushing your teeth. Keep this practice going and soon it will be automatic. That time of day will arrive and your mind will go into “writing mode”—a very good place to be.

For more information on developing effective routines, visit my November post series Developing a Positive Routine at TheEfficiencyAddict.com.

Happy New Year and Happy Writing! ~ The Efficiency Addict

[bctt tweet=”Practical habits for developing a positive writing routine. #AmWriting #HowTo”]

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five Confusing Word Pairs

The English language has many confusing words because of all of those homonyms and synonyms (don’t even get me started on homographs, homophones, and heteronyms), but in this post we’ll consider only five.

  1. Clenched and Clinched

Clench—to hold tightly

Susan’s clenched teeth signaled an aversion to large, metal objects.

Clinch—to confirm or settle

Anna’s goal in the first two minutes of the soccer game clinched the championship.

  1. Verses and Versus

Verses—the plural form of verse.

The choir sang all four verses of It is Well With My Soul.

Versus—against.

Today’s game will be the Steelers versus the Ravens. Go Steelers!

  1. Complement and Compliment

Complement—something added for completion.

Kevin insists bacon is a great complement to peanut butter.

Compliment—an approval

Because of his kindness toward the refugees, the press gave the governor many compliments.

  1. Affect and Effect

Affect—to impress or to change (usually used as a verb)

Heavy holiday traffic affects our drive from the airport.

Effect—the result (usually used as a noun)

Peace is one of the many effects of prayer.

  1. Lie and Lay

Lie—to recline

I’ll lie down for a nap about 2:00 this afternoon.

Lay—to place

Lay the baby in the crib for his nap.

We’ll tackle more confusing word pairs next time.

Categories
A Little Red Ink Editing

What Is a Line Edit?

What is a line edit? It’s not a mere cleaning up of the manuscript. A true line edit can take your manuscript to another level.

Let’s say you’ve had the macro edit done, so you know the timeline works, the character arcs show evolution, and the conflict builds to a necessary (but better than readers expect) resolution. And the copy edit cleaned up your pacing, the obvious mistakes, the pet words, the weasel words, and the buried dialogue.

Your baby could be ready for a proofread and submission (or you might be ready to have it formatted for the Indie Ocean).

But there’s another option.

Hire a line editor.

A line edit can take your manuscript from ready to absolutely ready to stand out.

[bctt tweet=”A true line edit can take your manuscript from ready to absolutely ready to stand out. #editingtip #writingtip #A3″]

Here are a few of the things it can address:

Develop your voice.

Some stories sound like they’re whittled out of Appalachian hemlock. Or like Sam Elliot is the narrator—all man and lean muscle, dust and leather. Some books deserve to be read by a winsome British grandfather, a little cheeky, a lot endearing. Others sound raw. Emotion. Grit. Honesty.

Perhaps you’ve got a great story, but it’s not the kind of book that a reader can crack open and say, “This. I love this author. I can tell it’s her within a few paragraphs.” You can get there with a line edit. What does the story ache for? Imagine for a moment. If your dream reader were available for the audio book—who would it be? Why? What does your story lend to that?

[bctt tweet=””This. I can always tell it’s this author in a few paragraphs. Her voice is so unique.” What a line edit can do for your writing. #editingtip #writingtip #A3″]

Do you have two unique character POVs?  Then they should sound distinct. A line edit will hone your characters’ voices too. Use appropriate dialect and lingo, not just for the jobs and activities the characters do but for their thoughts. The metaphors and similes ought to reflect the mind of the character. How would a baseball player describe his last chance to win a girl’s heart?

Zan

Add musicality and rhythm.

I love for the language of a book to arrest me. To hold my attention and stay with me like a favorite song—one I spend time, on purpose, memorizing because the lyrics sing to my heart. To me, there are three aspects of this: tempo, rhythm, and lyrics. A good line edit will address all three.

Tempo. Pacing should be a fluid thing. Some moments are legato, slow, flowing, steady. But what happens when the scene picks up? How about allegro? When the main character’s mind is flying, her thoughts are rushing, rambling from one thought to the next and she’s facing danger on one side, doubts on another—can you make your words race? Are you daring enough to use a stream of consciousness?

Rhythm. Pay attention to the way different characters speak and think. Could be short. Might be choppy. Overall, the effect is key. What will you risk for that?

Use your paragraphing to dictate whether the reading should be fluid or distinct. Use punctuation to magnify a pause if you need it.

A good usage of staccato makes my own heart pound as I read. I love when authors use the white space to their advantage. If a character is living through a heart-pounding, breath-stealing moment, show it (literally).

Pacing

Lyrics. This one’s simple. A line edit should help you choose words as carefully as a songwriter. Tell the story in as few as possible. I’m one of those people who scores a brand new CD and carves out an hour to listen to it with the dust jacket in my hands as I read along, soak in the lyrics. Write a book that keeps me there.

Add layers and enrich themes.

painting
Image by pedrojperez

Just like in a painting, colors can add mood to the scene. But it’s the layering, the shading and the tinting that give a painting depth and richness. They can add to the perspective almost as much as the horizon line. And the nuances you add to your entire story can enrich your theme.

[bctt tweet=”A line edit can adjust subplots, symbolism, and subtext to add layers to your story. You don’t want it just to be a neat tale. You want it to be a work of art.”]

Wrapping it up.

I’ve got to add again: Not all editors do a true line edit. Ask around.

To me? A line edit is worth the extra time and investment. I’d rather my own work sing. That’s probably why this is my favorite type of editing to do for others.

Is it possible to get trapped in this phase, tinkering and tweaking ad nauseum? Absolutely. This is where some authors have been known to waste a year or two and never truly make their work better. My honest recommendation is to do one round of edits with this as your sole goal, just before you send your manuscript to the agent or publisher or proofreader (which I’ll talk about next time).

Let me hear back from you. Have you read a book worth underlining and highlighting? What was it about the writing that won you?

 

Categories
A Little Red Ink Editing

What Is a Copy Edit?

What is a copy edit?

When you’re ready to choose a freelance editor, knowing the level of edit you’re after is important. We talked about the macro edit last week, and today, we’re skipping over line edit and heading right for copy edit.

Why? you ask.

Well, there’s a difference between a copy edit and a line edit, but not all freelance editors offer both. The line edit is a step above a copy edit, and you may not need or want one of these. (Though they’re my favorite type of edit.)

Today, since a copy edit is the next necessary step in the editing process, let’s go there. I’ll address the line edit next time.

Macro (or substantive) edit

(Line edit)

Copy edit

Proofread

Critique

The copy edit zooms in on the details.

Image by Randy Heinitz

 

It’s more detail-oriented than the macro. The second door.

You’ve got your solid hook and satisfying resolution. Your story world and characters are believable and worth cheering for. It’s time to sand out those rough edges. The editor will be targeting several things.

Obvious typos and misspellings

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Image by Altankomen

Your character mentions pouring over classified documents, rather than poring over them. She’s unsure weather or not she’s found a solid peace of evidence.

This isn’t the final proofread, but a good editor can’t (and shouldn’t) pass these mistakes and not mark them at this stage. (NOTE: They do get overlooked in the macro phase, because you might be revising them anyway).

Weasel words

Just. That. So. Very. Look.

Wherever you can, seek and destroy.

Sentence and paragraph structure

Do you follow the same basic patterns? If all of your sentences start with the character’s name or a personal pronoun, your editor will suggest spicing it up.

In your dialogue, does each speaker begin a new paragraph? Do you bury dialogue at the end of a long section of prose?

Dialogue—a little more in depth

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Image by Kite

Does your dialogue sound natural? Do the characters use contractions? Era-appropriate lingo?

Speakers leave off words every now and again?

How about your tough military guys? Do they sound like poetic ladies, or vice-versa?

Does everyone sound like you?

Is there a balance among action beats, tags, and letting the words speak for themselves?

Pet words and phrases

Every writer has these.

Don’t be offended when an editor or friend brings one or two to your attention. Brainstorm. Get in the head of your character. Find a better—more character-voice-worthy—way to say the same thing.

Clichés

Same dealio.

Redundancies

Maybe you’ve given the same bit of information twice. Perhaps you’ve used the same phrasing more than once. It’s possible that a word has been used seven times on one page (“look,” for example). Cut them. You want to strike the balance between sounding like you used a thesaurus until the binding was broken and you only have a seven-hundred word vocabulary.

You laugh, but sometimes—in order to get the story on the page—it happens. And then, in self-editing mode, you might miss some things. An extra set of eyes is a valuable investment.

Basic industry standard formatting

Times New Roman, 12 pt. One-inch margins, double-spaced paragraphs. The formatter will handle the rest, but the copy should look nice and clean.

Wrap-up

While a professional editor will address all of these things during the copy edit, some will mark the bare bones. Others will give you a little lesson or explanation in the margin the first time and then simply point out the rest and trust you to remember the reason. Some will compliment you on the phrasing and story elements they love.

Every editor has their own style.

But remember this: You have your own style, too. It’s important that your editor—while pointing out the essential fixes—doesn’t try to change your voice. They should only strive to make your writing the best it can be.

It’s still yours.

But it is worth investing in, since your name will be on the cover.

Question

What are some of your weasel words and pet words?

 

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Writing a Novel: The Gift of Bad Writing

Writing a novel can be sidetracked by early editing. Learn why bad writing is actually a gift.

I’m a firm believer in being efficient. Why waste time when a little planning can make such a positive impact? I’ve repeatedly seen how having an organized computer, workspace, or schedule frees people to be more productive and creative. There is, however, one area where I’m learning it pays to be inefficient—writing a novel.

For years, I thought of story ideas but never managed to complete a manuscript. I’d sit down to write and get frustrated. The words on the page didn’t match the beautiful story in my head. I’d write a few pages or paragraphs, then spend the rest of my time editing. In the end, I had some nice scenes but no completed novels. Sound familiar?

Some of you may have just finished NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Did you notice how freeing it was? The only way to write 50,000 words in one month without tearing your hair out is to let go of your internal editor. You have to write fast in a just-get-the-story-on-the-page kind of way. If you stop yourself by thinking that sentence isn’t right, you’ll never meet the goal.

When people finish NaNoWriMo, their stories generally aren’t ready to send to a publisher, but that’s not the point. They’re complete stories, and there’s a lot you can do with those.

When asked, many authors will tell you they make 3 to 4 editing passes once their manuscripts are drafted. For newer writers, it may take that many passes just get it readable. Our drafts may overflow with dialogue and need more description, or they may include too much telling and need dialogue to improve the pace. Then there are editing passes for grammar, point of view checks, and a host of other ways to improve our stories.

The point is this: Efficiency would tell us we need to create a system to handle these editing issues up front. Surely, if we just write better in the beginning, we’ll get more done. Right? Experience tells us differently. When we get bogged down in making our writing stellar from the beginning, we might never get past those first pages.

If you’re struggling to write a manuscript, give yourself a gift this season— write badly (at least on the first pass). Get the story down. It’s okay if it’s rough or fragmented. The point is, it’s written. Editing will make it pretty, but we can’t edit what we don’t have.

[bctt tweet=”Bad writing can be the start of a great manuscript. #AmWriting #WritersWrite”]

NaNoWriMo may have been in November, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start your own writing month right now. Don’t go into the new year with big dreams and the same unfruitful habits. Try something new. If you need to start a writing routine, check out my November #WorkSmarter Series Developing a Positive Routine at TheEfficiencyAddict.com. And if you’re looking for a way to write quickly and complete a full manuscript, see last month’s Almost An Author article—Writing A Novel in Three Steps.

Merry Christmas, and may the joy of the season inspire you with stories to bring hope to the world. —The Efficiency Addict.

Categories
Writer's Block

The Blank Page

Writing Prompt #4

Arriving at work early, I was sitting in my car thinking about this month’s writing prompt when it came to me that as writers we use all of our senses when we write or at least we should. So I made a list of what I could see, hear, smell, taste, and feel while sitting in the front seat of my car.  First off I heard the radio which I proceeded to switch off.

Seeing: small drops of a misty rain on the windshield

peeling bark on a crepe myrtle tree in front of the car

the leaves of the tree were turning red and yellow, some had fallen off

there was breeze blowing the branches of the tree

the parking lot was newly paved, the lines starkly white against the newness

an empty styrofoam cup someone left

Hearing:  traffic going by on the street

a revved up motor somewhere

crows cawing

a mower running nearby

Smelling:  smoke from the barbecue restaurant across the street

gasoline or engine odor from the passing cars

Tasting: could almost taste the tailgate food (game day on the plains)

Feeling: the firmness of the seat behind my back

the soft smoothness of the upholstery of the carseat

You get the idea. Think about these things when you’re writing your next story.

Blessings and Keep Writing!

Categories
Write Justified

Making a Point–Indirectly

Death_to_stock_photography_weekend_work (10 of 10)

Let’s categorize these three figures of speech as “substitutions.” We’re going to explore three devices that make a point indirectly, but no less effectively.

You may be familiar with allusion (not to be confused with illusion). It’s a brief, indirect reference to something or someone—usually a character or event from history or literature, or has some cultural significance. Whatever is alluded to must be familiar enough to the reader that they understand its importance. Note the qualities or characteristics conveyed in these allusions:

Regardless of where people fall on the political spectrum, most agree that Donald Trump brings a Midas touch to most of his endeavors.

Midas touch is a reference to the mythological King Midas; everything he touched turned to gold.

The town fathers were concerned that without adult supervision and additional regulations the proposed concert would become another Woodstock.

Woodstock, a three-day rock concert held near Woodstock, New York in 1969, is considered the nexus of the countercultural generation.

Despite her Ivy League education and silk-stocking upbringing, public speaking proved to be the ingénue’s Achille’s heel.

The sentence offers a trifecta of allusion: Ivy League is a reference to elite, East Coast colleges (Yale, Harvard, etc); silk-stocking upbringing refers to the wealthy region of a locale; Achille’s heel is another mythological reference. This one to a person’s point of weakness or vulnerability.

A closely related figure of speech is the eponym—a word that derives from another person’s name based on some characteristic or historic contribution. [bctt tweet=”Our English language is full of [eponyms] and often we don’t even realize we’re using one.”] Consider: we use

  • Webster in place of dictionary because Noah Webster is regarded as the inspiration behind the earliest comprehensive lexicon;
  • valentine refers to one’s sweetheart or the greeting cards exchanged on February 14 in observance of Saint Valentine and the celebration of romantic love;
  • sandwich was the culinary concoction of the Earl of Sandwich;
  • and quixotic is a reference to impractical idealists in the manner of Don Quixote’s Cervantes.

Because eponyms are only useful when they refer to a famous person/event, they tend to be clichés. But used sparingly, and creatively, they can add the right touch to poetry or prose.

While [bctt tweet=”an eponym draws on a person’s name, an epithet uses an adjective or adjective phrase that draws on a key characteristic of the subject/noun.”]

Historically, epithets were attached to a ruler to describe their character. They gave us Richard the Lionhearted and Catherine the Great. Over time, epithets were used to distinguish one individual from another. And as human nature is wont to do, the distinguishing characteristic was not necessarily a positive one. Hence these colorful epithets: Hallbjorn Half-Troll, Ulf the Squinter, Hjorleif the Womanizer, and Ketil Flat-Nose.

But when the adjective modifies a noun in an atypical way it can be refreshingly effective. Don’t these epithets create memorable images?

  • sagging house;
  • a dancing mountain stream,
  • a politician’s flabby rhetoric.

And isn’t that our goal in our writing—to communicate clearly and memorably?

Categories
Grammar and Grace

How to Pluralize Names for Christmas Cards

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, there’s always an easy fallback—Love from The Dougherty Family.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Writing a Novel in Three Steps

Writing a Novel in Three Steps - A simple method for drafting an entire novel in three passes.

A fellow wordsmith recently shared his method for writing a novel. I was so intrigued by his straightforward process, I’m sharing it with you today. If you’ve never completed a novel or if you’re frustrated with your pace, perhaps this method will give you new energy.

I call this system The Three-Pass Method. This involves writing the entire novel but does not include editing. That’s a topic best left for another post. Today we simply want to tell our tale.

The First Pass: Write the entire story in 5000 words.
My friend has done this several times. He thinks of a story idea. Then, he writes all of the main elements. This includes the main characters, a brief backstory, 3-4 pivotal scenes, and the beginning/middle/end scenarios. In one quick 5000-word sprint, he has the whole tale. He doesn’t waste his energy making the words pretty or polished. The point of this exercise is to the see the story from start to finish. When he’s done, he has the bones of a novel and can decide if he wants to pursue it further.

The Second Pass: Expand to 15,000 words by roughing in key scenes and details.
This isn’t a big leap. Moving from 5,000 to 15,0000 words is only a 10,000-word increase. You can easily reach that level by drafting 10-12 additional scenes. You already have your pivotal scenes from the first pass. So, what do your characters need to do or experience that lead them to those critical moments? Write those elements as new scenes and you’ll quickly reach the 15,000 word mark.

The Third Pass: Expand to 85,000 words by filling out the story.
This is the fun part. Up to this point, you’ve been drafting—writing the elements and marking the critical details. Now, you get to play. If you’ve been writing in dialogue, add the descriptive elements. Engage the reader’s senses. Give us a feel for the locale. If you’ve been telling the story, give us dialogue. Add that witty repartee. Let us know who these characters are through how they speak, what they feel, and the way they react physically. Based on passes one and two, you’ll know exactly where this story is going. Use all your writing skills to give us an emotional, fun-filled, scary, suspenseful, or cryptic journey to that fabulous ending.

That’s the whole system. Notice this method focuses solely on the story. Time isn’t wasted on massive editing or polishing, although some editing will occur naturally as you make each pass. The benefit of this method is two-fold: we complete a manuscript (Yay!) and we don’t edit unnecessarily. We know that with each pass scenes and details will be built upon, so there’s no need to make them “perfect” in those first and second versions. By the time we make the third pass, we know the story so well we’re automatically making better decisions with the details we include.

If you try this method, I’d love to hear your results. Now get back to writing—you have a 5,000 word draft to craft!

[bctt tweet=”Have an idea for a novel? Here’s how to draft it in 3 simple steps. #WritersRoad #HowTo”]

Categories
A Little Red Ink Editing

What Is a Macro Edit?

What is a macro edit?

When you’re ready to choose a freelance editor, knowing the level of edit you’re after is important. Over the next few posts, let’s take a look at what the differences are in each level of editing.

Macro (or substantive) edit

Line edit

Copy edit

Proofread

Critique

First up is the macro edit.

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Image by Bloodwise

Often called a substantive edit, this is concerned with the big picture.

After you’ve finished your manuscript, this is the first edit you’ll need. Let me offer a caveat here: By finished, I don’t mean you’ve typed “The End” on your first draft. I mean your beta readers or critique group has given you input, and you’ve taken that into consideration, revised your work, and polished the manuscript up. You can save yourself a lot of money and heartache if you do this hard work yourself.

Even if you’ve got a stellar crit group or crit partner, a professional editor could still find several big-picture issues that need to be addressed. So…what is a macro edit? What is the editor looking for?

A Killer Hook

You know this bit, I’m sure. Personally, as a reader, I’m a tough sell. Convince me that your book deserves 15-20 hours of my time, anchor me in your story world, and get me to invest in your character’s plight, or I’ll put it down.

As an editor, I obviously won’t put it down. But I’m going to focus a Herculean effort on it.

A macro edit zeroes in on the firsts—first lines, first pages, first chapters.

Compelling story arcs

A macro edit eyes the story arcs of your entire cast. Crafting awful, believable circumstances for your main character isn’t so tough, but what is the antagonist after? What do the minor characters want? (Hint: knowing the answers to these and threading them throughout the story is the way to set up a series. Make people wish they knew the other characters’ stories.)

Characters acting…out of character

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Image by Jan Faborsky

As the story arc climbs, and as readers get to know your cast, the characters need to behave believably. If a girl always, always keeps her face covered with a scarf, she’s not going to suddenly walk into a crowd in a sundress, smiling at everyone she meets. If she does show her face, it’d better be worth it. She’s doing something out of the ordinary for her—and she shouldn’t feel comfortable with it.

Another macro object: If a character is going to be a changed person by the end of the story, readers need to see either a microevolution or a major life-changing event. The macro edit will look for these things and point out spots where those could be enriched.

Plot holes

Since it’s every writer’s goal to avoid these little buggers, the macro edit is the hired mercenary. Seek. Target. Destroy. Some editors will mark them. “How did we get here? I thought we were…” Or “They’re discussing something that happened…before they make the discovery that it happened on page 218.”

Don’t convince your readers that the thing they’re most rooting for is on the horizon…and then leave it out. If you make promises to your readers, keep them. The macro edit will focus on that as well.

Pacing

Maybe your setup takes too long; maybe your middle sags. Perhaps the action scenes take a full ten minutes longer to read than they would to see played out. Maybe the readers need a breather or a little humor to break the tension. An editor will be sure to point spots like this out on the macro.

Dropped threads

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Image by Devin Young

Sometimes—with the best of intentions—you’ll include details of a story thread (a minor theme), and it’ll get lost along the way. During the substantive edit, an editor will notice those, possibly suggesting they get cut, and possibly pointing out a few areas they can be worked back in.

A satisfying conclusion

Most of all, the editor will make sure your story comes to a satisfying conclusion—leaving readers right where you want them. Do you want to end with possibility but uncertainty? Let your editor know. Are you setting up a sequel? Is there enough resolution to hold the reader until it’s available (while still leaving them longing for more)?

The End…of my post

Of course, each editor is different and will handle the points in his or her own style. This is why a sample edit or a personal recommendation is a great idea.

And remember, when you get the macro edit back, the work isn’t done. Think of it like a bull’s-eye. The macro edit is the outer ring. The follow-up edits (copy edit and proofread) will get you closer to center.

Until you truly hit the target.

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Quick Rules for Using Hyphens and Dashes

A hyphen is a type of punctuation linking words that form one idea to avoid confusion. Here are a few simple rules to follow when using hyphens:

  1. Use hyphens in numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine
  1. Use hyphens with ages that are used as adjectives.

Thomas babysat the two-year-old boy. (Yes.)

The boy in the swing is two years old. (No hyphen.)

 

  1. Use hyphens when the compound adjective comes before the noun.

The custom-built alarm clock won the science award. (Yes.)

Teddy’s alarm clock was custom built. (No hyphen.)

 

  1. Hyphens are also used in the following example when words are repeated:

Runners will compete in the 3-, 6-, and 10-mile events.

 

  1. Use hyphens with prefixes and words that have a capital letter.

The article is decidedly pro-American.

 

  1. Use hyphens when joining letters and words.

We studied an s-shaped curve in economics.

 

  1. Use hyphens with prefixes.

My ex-boss just friended me on Facebook.

An em dash works similarly to a set of parentheses. It allows a break from the main sentence for an additional thought. You form it by adding two hyphens together.

Cam ignored the feeling—whether disappointment or relief—coursing through her.

Hyphens and dashes, although similar in look, have different uses in sentences. For additional details about both kinds of punctuation, check the AP Manual of Style, the Chicago Manual of Style, or the Oxford Dictionaries.

Categories
Write Justified

If I’ve Said It Once…

To paraphrase that wise king Solomon, “There’s a time and place for everything.” For writers, that includes repetition, despite the oft-heard advice to avoid needless repetition. Just to be clear, there’s a difference between repetition and redundancy. Redundancy is needless repetition; it serves no point. [bctt tweet=”Repetition, well placed and appropriately used, provides emphasis, creates emotion, strengthens your writing and makes it memorable.”]

Several literary devices employ a specific type of repetition. Although their names may not be familiar to you (they weren’t to me), it’s quite possible you’ve encountered the technique in your reading and probably used it in your writing.

Anadiplosis is Latin for “repetition of an initial word.” Repeating the last word of a clause or phrase near the beginning of the next is anadiplosis. These verses from the apostle Peter’s second letter illustrate:

“……… you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love” (II Peter 1:5 – 7).

The repetition emphasizes and reinforces the writer’s point. In this case, Peter is showing how these spiritual disciplines are connected. It’s not possible to produce one fruit of the Spirit without the others following.

And for a less sublime, but equally effective use of anadiplosis, you need look no further than DirectTV’s 2012 ad touting the disastrous results for those who opt out of their cable TV service:

“When your cable company keeps you on hold, you get angry. When you get angry, you go blow off steam. When you go blow off steam, accidents happen. When accidents happen, you get an eye patch. When you get an eye patch, people think you’re tough. When people think you’re tough, people want to see how tough. And when people want to see how tough, you wake up in a roadside ditch. Don’t wake up in a roadside ditch: Get rid of cable and upgrade to DIRECTV”

Anaphora, a literary device with roots in the psalms, is the repetition of the first word or words in a series of successive phrases. This device is useful for building to a climax and achieving an emotional effect. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is an example of accomplishing just that. One classical scholar has compared anaphora to “a series of hammer blows in which the repetition of the word both connects and reinforces the successive thoughts.”

Sara Thebarge uses anaphora effectively in a recent blog about working in a missionary hospital in Africa.

“I cried because my heart aches for the families who lost their loved ones.  I cried because I’m spent — I don’t feel well, and after being up on my feet working all day, I feel even worse.  I cried because so much has gone into building and running this hospital, and yet some days, it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Notice how repeating “I cried” becomes so much more than a physical act, but reveals Sara’s heart.

Antistrophe (also called epistrophe) is the exact opposite of anaphora. Here the repetition occurs at the end of each successive clause, phrase, or sentence.

If you’ve ever been called to witness at a trial you’ve recited an antistrophe when you promised “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” This may be a case where having heard that oath so often it no longer carries the weight it once did. But repeating a word or series of words at the end of a construction is good way to emphasize a point. It also has the effect making a statement more memorable.

Abraham Lincoln, a great rhetorician as well as revered president, used both anaphora and antistrophe effectively in the Gettysburg Address.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground.

And

…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

It bears repeating, well-placed, well-used repetition is persuasive. Like any good thing, overdone it loses its impact.

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Where Do Writers Find Free Pictures?

Links to sites that contain high-quality, free pictures available on the web. Great resource for your next writing project.

It’s a struggle authors frequently have. We write an article or blog post, and then comes the dreaded question, “Where do I find a picture for my piece?”

The unspoken hope is that the image will not only be free but also interesting and of high quality. Oh, and could we could make this whole process easy? Absolutely. Today’s post will tell you how.

Here are two ways to get great pictures for your writing:

#1 Create Your Own

Programs like Canva and PicMonkey are fairly easy to learn and will let you create an image from scratch or modify a picture you already have. Both are free, although each has paid elements that may be useful.

  • Canva.com – This program has both free and paid picture options. Pay pictures are clearly marked and are usually only $1. Canva’s text overlays are pre-formatted in interesting styles, allowing the using to simply add their own words.
  • PicMonkey.com – Pay features allow you access to a larger number of fonts and editing features, although the base features are quite extensive. Note: PicMonkey does not provide basic pictures but does allow you to use shapes, textures, and graphics to create a background image for text to be placed on the top.
  • For examples of what can be created with both of these programs, check out fellow A3 writer Meaghan Burnett’s article Creating Free Graphics or Memes for Authors.

#2 Find Images on Free Picture Websites

Yes, free picture websites with quality images can be found. Some require an acknowledgement for the photographer. Many do not. Be sure to read the FAQ and About sections for each site so you know how it operates.

  • Pixabay.com – This is my go-to site. Pixabay has a wide range of interesting pictures on a variety of topics. When you search for a subject, Shutterstock images appear at the top. These are pay images that are clearly marked. The ones below are the freebies, and there are lots of them. No account is required although it makes it easier to download if you use the site a lot. FYI – If you find a photographer you like, buy him or her a cup of coffee. You’ll be given this option after each download. It’s not necessary—this is a free site—but it’s a nice gesture for their hard work.
  • FreeDigitalPhotos.net – This site offers free photos in small sizes and only requires an attribution be listed. If you need larger photos or ones with high resolution, these can be purchased for a nominal fee.
  • Alegriphotos.com – This is a European website with a small collection of free and public domain photos. Includes pictures of European hotspots like the Colosseum in Rome, yachts anchored of Rhodes, and columns at the Vatican.
  • StockArch.com – Photographers on this site share their photos in exchange for a credit and a link back to their websites. Not a bad deal considering the high-quality pictures available.
  • OpenPhoto.net – Credit to the photographer is required and licensing varies. Some images can be modified for commercial use while others cannot. To check the licensing type, select the desired picture. Then, click on the attribution type. Ways the photo can be used are clearly listed.
  • Unsplash.com – As the site says, these are “free—do whatever you want—high resolution photos.” Ten new photos are added to the site every ten days. Old photos are searchable.

If you’ve struggled to find photos, consider that a thing of the past. So, what are you going to do with all your extra time? Sounds like a writing opportunity–get to it!

[bctt tweet=”8 ways to get free pictures for your writing projects. #AmWriting”]