Self-editing

Anyone that thinks writing is easy and fun doesn’t have a clue what it really takes to complete a novel. Sure, anyone can write a first draft and send it out without bothering to self-edit or hire an editor, but it’s not going to be very good or error free. Writing isn’t easy and doing self-edits isn’t fun.

I’m in the process of finishing 3 books, all part of the same series. It has been a long, tedious process, especially all the rounds of self-editing I’ve had to do. I am close to finished. Yay. I don’t know if there is an easier way to self-edit, but I do it in layers. This takes longer but gets the job done. The main things I am looking for when I go through one of my stories is overused words or phrases because that’s my bad habit. I’m also filling in details, characters and story details--what I call the “frosting” to my “book cake.” This is where I am looking for plot holes or any inconsistencies. I’m making sure the opening has a hook, that the story flows to that dark moment and final climax.

It’s a lot to look for so I have to do several rounds of self-edits. I’m done when I can read through the story and not have to fix anything or only have to fix a small amount. And once I’m finished with the self-edits, I’m going to have a professional proofreader look it over. Authors should never do final edits on their stories. Never. We are too close to our work to find all the typos. Final edits are the edits done before publishing. I can self-edit well enough to have a clean manuscript to submit to a publisher. Some authors might need to have their stories edited before submitting to a publisher. You have to know your weaknesses. I have been writing for a long time and know what I can and cannot get away with doing.

Some of the things I see in manuscripts as an editor are overused crutch words like when, as, once, that, with, etc. “When and “as” usually appear in passive sentences or sentences where the reaction comes before the action. One thing I’ve noticed is that every author, no matter how talented they are, always have at least one bad habit. That’s why it’s important to use at least a proofreader for typos and grammar. They will also catch most of the things like overused words and passive voice. An editor will look for the same things as a proofreader plus things like plot holes and flow problems.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Two mortals are caught in the midst of the battle between the Titans and Olympian gods.

http://kelleyheckart.com/daughter_of_night.html

Simple, Respectful Written Communication Skills...Dinosaur?

Greetings from Kaye Spencer.

Two weeks ago, I left one of my Yahoo reader/writer groups because a moderator sent out a message in which he didn't capitalize any words (proper nouns or first letter of sentences), nor did he put
apostrophes in contractions or possessives. He didn't include end punctuation in all of the sentences, either. His message was around 300 words, all one paragraph, and all in lowercase letters. Not only did this make the reading tedious, his message was lost on me because I was so dismayed before I reached the half-way point, that I stopped reading and cancelled my membership right then. The topic of the message had something to do with members caring/not caring about the group. Hmmm...

Yes, I got my panties in a wad.

I teach English (6th grade through community college). I'm also a published romance novelist and a romance novel editor. I realize this triple combination makes me hypersensitive to the grammar and mechanics of writing. The careless attention (or is it a lack of attention) that many people have toward employing the basic conventions of writing saddens and distresses me. I've encountered this problem in other places besides Yahoo groups. Facebook is one of those notoriously non-capitalized and non-punctuated social venues.

When did writers cease to care that when they don't apply even the most rudimentary writing conventions to their writing that it makes them look... well... stupid? Furthermore, when and why did lazy writing become fashionable? Some people want to hide their lazy writing habits behind the guise of, "It's my style" or "That's an editor's/teacher's job to fix" or "Everybody writes like that". It's ignorance on the part of the writer to leave off capital letters at the beginning of sentences or fail to insert apostrophes where they belong. Surely, I'm not the only reader in the world of writing that sees this and has issues with what I fear is a trend toward dumbing-down written communication skills. I often worry that the message conveyed in the movie "Idiocracy" is closer to reality than is comfortable.

Do lazy writers really expect to be taken seriously? Do lazy writers expect others to actually read and care about what they write? Do these writers realize the lack of maturity and intelligence they demonstrate in hen they write without using correct, basic writing conventions? I constantly harp at my students, with whom I do daily battle on these same writing issues, about professionalism in writing. How difficult is it, really, to use the shift key and capitalize the pronoun 'I'? Inserting an apostrophe doesn't even require the shift key.

I know we live in an era of texting, informal e-mail language, instant messaging, and the use of other short-cut communication tricks such as 'U' instead of 'you' or 'R' instead of 'are'. Each has its own special place in the communication spectrum, but these places are not in the public or professional writing arenas. I tell my students that others judge them by the way they use language.

Consider the wisdom of this saying: "You only get one chance to make a first impression." Cyber-socializing and cyber-communicating is a significant part of our daily lives. The interactions we have with others are increasingly via the written word. So, folks, make a positive impression every single time you present yourself in writing.

No, I am not a grammar or punctuation nazi, and this rant is not for debating the proper placement of commas, subject/verb agreement, run-on sentences, dangling participles, etc. In fact, I'm absolutely certain some of you reading this diatribe will critique my grammar and punctuation and point out my errors. I can accept that. Neither am I on my soapbox saying that we must all write (or even speak) with formal correctness all the time. I am, however, on my soapbox rallying for a minimum standard of self-respect for yourself and others in written communication endeavors by applying, at a minimum, correct capitalization, end punctuation, and appropriate apostrophe placement. My students know that my classroom is a "Full Communication Classroom". This means no lazy language allowed, written or spoken. For instance, 'IDK' is prohibited as is 'OMG' and '4' in place of the word. Perhaps I'm the proverbial 'dinosaur' teacher who is unable to change with the times and will eventually die off. If that's the case, I will go out in a blaze of glory still teaching the basic conventions of the English language.

I will leave you with this quote from Ernest Hemingway. His words apply to more than just punctuation. "My attitude toward punctuation is that it ought to be as conventional as possible. The game of golf would lose a good deal if croquet mallets and billiard cues were allowed on the putting green. You ought to be able to show that you can do it a good deal better than anyone else with the regular tools before you have a license to bring in your own improvements."

Fair warning to lazy writers: I'm no longer going to try to decipher your meaning when you haven't bothered to show me you respect me as a reader. So, please, if you want me to read what you have to say, then employ the basic mechanics of writing. It's the intelligent, respectful thing to do for all of your readers and yourself.

Until next month,

Kaye
Fall in love... faster, harder, deeper with Kaye Spencer romances
http://www.kayespencer.com

You Say That, I Say Then

Thank goodness for Find and Replace. Despite all the headaches my laptop can start, I praise the search-and-destroy power of Find and Replace. Quick, someone Google the person who invented it. I want to send a glowing email.

All writers have voice and with that voice comes a tendency to overuse words. Sometimes, it's not obvious. Two examples: I wish Stephanie Meyer's editor had deleted about a dozen uses of glower. I understand why she used it with Edward, but it made me cringe after reading it every fourth or fifth page (I exaggerate, but not much). Another writer (a friend not affiliated with NN) who is published, overuses the word momentarily. Sure, there are a limited number of ways a writer can say, in a sec, but sprinkle them throughout your book for maximum effect.

I'm no saint (that's a cliche, but I'm off-topic). In my first book, which I'm querying, I began to notice I liked to use words that started with un-. After grinding un- through Find and Replace, I discovered 632 words that began with un- on 300 pages. You do the math (again, cliche). No, I'll do it for you: 2.11 un- words per page. I joked for several months that I'd written the Unbook. I ended up cutting about half of them, still not perfect, but much better.

Most overused words are simple ones. I tend to favor that and so. I do so love that pair. I used to go back and fix them after a draft, but I'm more aware of my habit and try to avoid them as I draft, which is why I write this post. Better to know thyself and save yourself the edits later. Therefore, here is the list of the most frequently used crutch words:

some, well, thing, OK, just (evil word), actually, certainly, really, lots, for a moment, that (my dear friend), then, slightly, only, almost (almost never needed), personally, often, sometimes, breathtaking, since, because, a bit, perhaps, maybe, more, so, very and (another personal fav) even. Also, be on the watch for look.

It's unrealistic to never use these words. That would be cramp-inducing. Minimizing their use strengthens your work. One simple trick to see if you've overused a word without rereading your book page-by-page is to use the lovely Find and Replace. Put the word in question in Find and the same word in Replace. Hit Replace All. You'll get a count of how many times the word has been used.

So, was that helpful? What are your crutch words?

The Dreaded Apostrophe

    Thank goodness there is no such thing as grammar police, because I would be serving a life sentence with no chance of parole. And that's the honest truth. Today I thought we would go over the use of the dreaded apostrophe.  Most of them are self-explanatory but then there is the dreaded  ‘s. It can twist us into knots trying to figure out the right way to use this little darling. Is it   ‘s  or  s’ ?  That is the big question as writers we seem to run into. Well today I hope to clear that all up for everyone. I am not a grammar queen but I did a lot of research on this and feel I have it down now.  Lets get started with this grammar lesson. Hang on tight this might throw your brain into overload.    

Rule 1.	Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.
	Examples:	don't, isn't
		You're right.
		She's a great teacher.

Rule 2.	Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession.
	Examples:	one boy's hat
		one woman's hat
		one actress's hat
		one child's hat
		Ms. Chang's house
		NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.
		Mr. Jones's golf clubs
		Texas's weather
		Ms. Straus's daughter
		Jose Sanchez's artwork
		Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)
		Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)

Rule 3.	Use the apostrophe where the noun that should follow is implied.
	Example:	This was his father's, not his, jacket.

Rule 4.	To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.
	Examples:	two boys' hats
		two women's hats
		two actresses' hats
		two children's hats
		the Changs' house
		the Joneses' golf clubs
		the Strauses' daughter
		the Sanchezes' artwork
		the Hastingses' appointment
		the Leeses' books

Rule 5.	Do not use an apostrophe for the plural of a name.
	Examples:	We visited the Sanchezes in Los Angeles.
		The Changs have two cats and a dog.

Rule 6.	With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.
	Example:	my mother-in-law's hat

Rule 7.	If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.
	Example:	my two brothers-in-law's hats

Rule 8.	Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.
	Examples:	Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.
		Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year. Indicates separate ownership.
		Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year. Indicates joint ownership of more than one contract.

Rule 9.	Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.
	Examples: Correct:	This book is hers, not yours.
	Incorrect:	Sincerely your's.

Rule 10.	The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is or it has.
	Examples:	It's a nice day.
		It's your right to refuse the invitation.
		It's been great getting to know you.

Rule 11.	The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.
	Examples:	She consulted with three M.D.s. BUT She went to three M.D.s' offices. The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.
		She learned her ABCs.
		the 1990s not the 1990's
		the '90s or the mid-'70s not the '90's or the mid-'70's
		She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.
	Exception:	Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.
	Examples:	Please dot your i's.
		You don't mean is.
		Ted couldn't distinguish between his 6's and 0's.
		You need to use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of zero or it will look like the word Os. To be consistent within a sentence, you would also use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of 6's.

Rule 12.	Use the possessive case in front of a gerund (-ing word).
	Examples:	Alex's skating was a joy to behold.
		This does not stop Joan's inspecting of our facilities next Thursday.

Rule 13.	If the gerund has a pronoun in front of it, use the possessive form of that pronoun.
	Examples:	I appreciate your inviting me to dinner.
		I appreciated his working with me to resolve the conflict.

aren't	are not
can't	cannot
couldn't	could not
didn't	did not
doesn't	does not
don't	do not
hadn't	had not
hasn't	has not
haven't	have not
he'd	he had; he would
he'll	he will; he shall
he's	he is; he has
I'd	I had; I would
I'll	I will; I shall
I'm	I am
I've	I have
isn't	is not
let's	let us
mightn't	might not
mustn't	must not
shan't	shall not
she'd	she had; she would
she'll	she will; she shall
she's	she is; she has
shouldn't	should not
that's	that is; that has
there's	there is; there has
they'd	they had; they would
they'll	they will; they shall
they're	they are
they've	they have
we'd	we had; we would
we're	we are
we've	we have
weren't	were not
what'll	what will; what shall
what're	what are
what's	what is; what has
what've	what have
where's	where is; where has
who's	who had; who would
who'll	who will; who shall
who're	who are
who's	who is; who has
who've	who have
won't	will not
wouldn't	would not
you'd	you had; you would
you'll	you will; you shall
you're	you are
you've	you have

     
     Theses little buggers can be confusing and mind jarring at times. I know I struggle with them a lot. But as writers we have to know the proper way to use them. But hey thank God for Crit partners. LOL! I would be lost without mine. A good criter is worth their weight in gold. I hope this lesson helped to straighten out any confusion there might have been on this issue. I found the information on the net very educational and helpful. I hope you all did as well. 

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabitha Blake