Writing Journey
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "Editors!!!!"Help with writing, mine and yours.
48 total reviews
Comment from Paul McFarland
Thanks for the refresher on those editor tips. I write very little prose, but when I do, I have to be extra careful with my word choices. I have mixed feelings about editors.
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thanks for the refresher on those editor tips. I write very little prose, but when I do, I have to be extra careful with my word choices. I have mixed feelings about editors.
Comment Written 01-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support. I have decided editors are a necessary evil. LOL
Comment from Sankey
Hi, Sis. This is why I am still not published. I don't want editors to chop great hunks out of my books. I may go "self-publish" when all's said and done.
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Hi, Sis. This is why I am still not published. I don't want editors to chop great hunks out of my books. I may go "self-publish" when all's said and done.
Comment Written 01-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Dawn Munro
Were you 'in the zone' writing this, Barbara? Been there, done that, and this is excellent anyhow -- I'm sure of great help to some here. :)
"...almost all of mythats..." <
I yanked out all six of my editing books and looked it up. Since the books often disagree, I go by what the majority of the books say. Here is the majority rule on that: "If there is no danger of misreading, the word that should be omitted. Occasionally, however; a sentence might be misread without that" -- I concur with this statement.
Now about that quotation mark... (*smile*) I think you meant to put the word in quotation marks, and if so, then it needs the other half at the start of the word.
"When should I use hyphens and when not to." << question mark needed
"I as if those words are there..." << I think there is a word missing here.
I loved it, and the photo! Congratulations, my friend. Well-deserved recognition.
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Were you 'in the zone' writing this, Barbara? Been there, done that, and this is excellent anyhow -- I'm sure of great help to some here. :)
"...almost all of mythats..." <
I yanked out all six of my editing books and looked it up. Since the books often disagree, I go by what the majority of the books say. Here is the majority rule on that: "If there is no danger of misreading, the word that should be omitted. Occasionally, however; a sentence might be misread without that" -- I concur with this statement.
Now about that quotation mark... (*smile*) I think you meant to put the word in quotation marks, and if so, then it needs the other half at the start of the word.
"When should I use hyphens and when not to." << question mark needed
"I as if those words are there..." << I think there is a word missing here.
I loved it, and the photo! Congratulations, my friend. Well-deserved recognition.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Sally Law
I know what you mean about little words and little things. My copy editor catches everything. That's why he's so valuable to me. The more eyes, the better though. Get a few people that are willing to look over your draft. A voice reader is helpful too. I catch a lot listening to it.
Wonderful to see you!
Sending you my best today as always,
Sal XOs
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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I know what you mean about little words and little things. My copy editor catches everything. That's why he's so valuable to me. The more eyes, the better though. Get a few people that are willing to look over your draft. A voice reader is helpful too. I catch a lot listening to it.
Wonderful to see you!
Sending you my best today as always,
Sal XOs
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Goodness, what a nightmare! I'm not surprised you find it confusing, Barbara, especially when editors don't agree. It's enough for me on this site that so many words in the US are spelled differently to the UK and, between both spellings, my natural inclination for anything has now been completely eroded. So I'm afraid I'm not much help other than to say 5th line from the bottom - When I edit.... before I post I ??.... Good luck! Debbie
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Goodness, what a nightmare! I'm not surprised you find it confusing, Barbara, especially when editors don't agree. It's enough for me on this site that so many words in the US are spelled differently to the UK and, between both spellings, my natural inclination for anything has now been completely eroded. So I'm afraid I'm not much help other than to say 5th line from the bottom - When I edit.... before I post I ??.... Good luck! Debbie
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Opening paragraph, you call the editor an author.
I agree with rule #1. If it's not necessary . . .
Barbara, I am often frustrated with all the rules, one contrary to the other! I use an editing app and, like you, edit numerous times. What it comes down to for me is, How does it sound when I read it aloud?
I write because I love to, and publishing is at the very, very back of my mind!
Good luck.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Opening paragraph, you call the editor an author.
I agree with rule #1. If it's not necessary . . .
Barbara, I am often frustrated with all the rules, one contrary to the other! I use an editing app and, like you, edit numerous times. What it comes down to for me is, How does it sound when I read it aloud?
I write because I love to, and publishing is at the very, very back of my mind!
Good luck.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Good work. Very appropriate for us.
We might have caught the 'little words', but my style is to generally omit them. The only way I would insert them is if a publisher ordered them, or else.
I agree that most thats should be omitted. (smiley face here)
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Good work. Very appropriate for us.
We might have caught the 'little words', but my style is to generally omit them. The only way I would insert them is if a publisher ordered them, or else.
I agree that most thats should be omitted. (smiley face here)
Best wishes.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Teri7
Barbara, Thank you for writing this and sharing with us. The thing about my writing is I write from my heart a lot. Sometimes I follow the rules of the poem or story. I just enjoy writing for the sake of writing. love and blessings. I hope you have a very safe and happy trip! love and blessings, Teri
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Barbara, Thank you for writing this and sharing with us. The thing about my writing is I write from my heart a lot. Sometimes I follow the rules of the poem or story. I just enjoy writing for the sake of writing. love and blessings. I hope you have a very safe and happy trip! love and blessings, Teri
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
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You are so welcome as always!
Comment from Paul Manton
A fascinating read, Barbara. thirty-four is correct, and always has been; any editor who disagrees is a dork! (I always say, once you reach the age of 70, you have earned the right to be truly offensive!)
The o'clock malarkey is a hoot. (08.00 and 20.00) And the word 'that' - or even 'which' - is a minefield. My take on those is simply trust your intuition - some of us have been around words so long we should be able to tell from the SOUND of the sentence what works and what doesn't. Occasionally a really good grammarian will correct me - but I only allow REALLY good ones (friends of course) to do that. People on this site have learned not to take me on!
On the other hand, there is a significant group to whom I kow-tow, and from whom I love to learn (yourself included) - no loss of face in gaining wisdom from one's betters. But none of those are editors!
Thank you, Barbara. Immensely impressive picture - but very humble of you not to display your Nobel Prize.
Paul
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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A fascinating read, Barbara. thirty-four is correct, and always has been; any editor who disagrees is a dork! (I always say, once you reach the age of 70, you have earned the right to be truly offensive!)
The o'clock malarkey is a hoot. (08.00 and 20.00) And the word 'that' - or even 'which' - is a minefield. My take on those is simply trust your intuition - some of us have been around words so long we should be able to tell from the SOUND of the sentence what works and what doesn't. Occasionally a really good grammarian will correct me - but I only allow REALLY good ones (friends of course) to do that. People on this site have learned not to take me on!
On the other hand, there is a significant group to whom I kow-tow, and from whom I love to learn (yourself included) - no loss of face in gaining wisdom from one's betters. But none of those are editors!
Thank you, Barbara. Immensely impressive picture - but very humble of you not to display your Nobel Prize.
Paul
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. What is your take on sat down or stood up. That's another area they disagreed with. I haven't been able to find enough information to decide which is really correct. My previous guidance was it's understood so don't use the direction words.
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Good question. How about 'cadences' - use whichever sounds better in the context of the sentence. In the UK there is regional usage too - in Liverpool they often use 'Why should I be sat here?' when most of us would use 'sitting'. If you're using dialogue, presumably you can use their voice/choice - even editors can't disagree surely.
'I sat down by the table' /'I sat by the table' - the former is slightly more formal - an older person might use it, whereas a younger person might prefer the latter form. I think the same would apply to stood/up, Barbara. No help whatsoever - but a little meandering!
Paul
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lol
Comment from judiverse
I thought there were editors so people wouldn't need to do their own editing. Magazines and newspapers have their own stylebooks so writers will know what to follow. Publishers should have the same. The important thing is to pick one style and be consistent, as with how you write time. I'm not going to fret over the use of "that." The problem would be if you overdo the usage. I like your thought about writing time. Wear a power outfit to your next Meet the Author event. Maybe something red. That'll show them. I know editing is hard. I always have errors, even when I think I've caught everything. Excellent thoughts on editing. judi
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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I thought there were editors so people wouldn't need to do their own editing. Magazines and newspapers have their own stylebooks so writers will know what to follow. Publishers should have the same. The important thing is to pick one style and be consistent, as with how you write time. I'm not going to fret over the use of "that." The problem would be if you overdo the usage. I like your thought about writing time. Wear a power outfit to your next Meet the Author event. Maybe something red. That'll show them. I know editing is hard. I always have errors, even when I think I've caught everything. Excellent thoughts on editing. judi
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
