Writing Journey
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "Editors!!!!"Help with writing, mine and yours.
48 total reviews
Comment from jim vecchio
oH my--is it for:33 O'CLOCK alre4wdy?Wear did the thyme go?!?
Only kidding! Now I know I can never be an editor! I remember a movie once where a lady wanted to be an artist. She was afraid, though, because she hadn't any experience. Her friend replied, "Just paint! The first man that painted just did it. There was no one to teach him" I say, just write! God never made any rules about hyphens or apostrophes.
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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oH my--is it for:33 O'CLOCK alre4wdy?Wear did the thyme go?!?
Only kidding! Now I know I can never be an editor! I remember a movie once where a lady wanted to be an artist. She was afraid, though, because she hadn't any experience. Her friend replied, "Just paint! The first man that painted just did it. There was no one to teach him" I say, just write! God never made any rules about hyphens or apostrophes.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Alexandra Trovato
I have a masters in Literacy reading and writing. That is correct. Get rid of that's. Good advice.
In the following sentence I think you meant to write editor not author, if I'm following correctly.
I'm still reading because I want to read more thoroughly for you. I was a teacher for 30 years but my MS changed and made teaching more difficult for me. If you ever want me to over some writing it would be my pleasure.
Best wishes!
Alexandra
The other author had the novel you know at
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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I have a masters in Literacy reading and writing. That is correct. Get rid of that's. Good advice.
In the following sentence I think you meant to write editor not author, if I'm following correctly.
I'm still reading because I want to read more thoroughly for you. I was a teacher for 30 years but my MS changed and made teaching more difficult for me. If you ever want me to over some writing it would be my pleasure.
Best wishes!
Alexandra
The other author had the novel you know at
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. 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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That sounds about right. I used to be a writer who wrote a lot Journals etc, but all full of bad grammar and spelling . They kept me in Honors through school and that was a problem. I wouldn't have allowed that id I were the teachers. I couldn't spell every other word.
Now I am so eager to share what I finally learned in my 30s. :)
Comment from Ulla
Well, what can I say? English is not my first language, so how on on earth can I ever get it right when none of the native writers can't? I feel better already. How many times have I been pulled up for something I did right in the first place? Phew! Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Well, what can I say? English is not my first language, so how on on earth can I ever get it right when none of the native writers can't? I feel better already. How many times have I been pulled up for something I did right in the first place? Phew! Ulla:)))
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from nomi338
I find your struggles with editors both interesting and a bit entertaining. I am sure balancing the opinions of two people with competing mindsets, along with your own can be a trial. Good luck with that. Your account give me pause when it comes to choosing an editor when my main project, my autobiography is ready.
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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I find your struggles with editors both interesting and a bit entertaining. I am sure balancing the opinions of two people with competing mindsets, along with your own can be a trial. Good luck with that. Your account give me pause when it comes to choosing an editor when my main project, my autobiography is ready.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from royowen
I love the difference in opinions, and really, if there is a conflict between editors it is because of personal opinions, and the things you've pointed out wouldn't change, they are not things that affect me as a reader, genre and theme are always the major reasons fro my reading preferences, and as long as spelling and syntax are acceptable, I don't care, it's very subjective, I'm fortunately not ambitions, thanks for sharing Barbara, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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I love the difference in opinions, and really, if there is a conflict between editors it is because of personal opinions, and the things you've pointed out wouldn't change, they are not things that affect me as a reader, genre and theme are always the major reasons fro my reading preferences, and as long as spelling and syntax are acceptable, I don't care, it's very subjective, I'm fortunately not ambitions, thanks for sharing Barbara, blessings Roy
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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A pleasure
Comment from Lisasview
Hi Barbara,
I found this extremely interesting. I am huge on editing...for example you wrote AT 'St. Louis" instead of AS ....
I see the tiny "typos"
But it is always easier editing someone else's work.
I have known about the ~ that question for years and I always leave it out unless it is absolutely important to make a sentence clear.
I also never use o'clock...
Having two editors that do not agree on basic things, like punctuation would make me crazy.
I mainly write poetry, which you know .. and, those types of issues come up...yes, even in poetry.
Too bad that you did not send the same novel to both editors ... the results would be quite interesting... I am sure.
As far as the readers/reviewers not catching errors...well, what I believe is that reviewers do not want to spend the time it takes to let a writer know there are errors...or, perhaps they do not feel it is their place to let you know...
Have a fun time with your family,
Lisa
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Hi Barbara,
I found this extremely interesting. I am huge on editing...for example you wrote AT 'St. Louis" instead of AS ....
I see the tiny "typos"
But it is always easier editing someone else's work.
I have known about the ~ that question for years and I always leave it out unless it is absolutely important to make a sentence clear.
I also never use o'clock...
Having two editors that do not agree on basic things, like punctuation would make me crazy.
I mainly write poetry, which you know .. and, those types of issues come up...yes, even in poetry.
Too bad that you did not send the same novel to both editors ... the results would be quite interesting... I am sure.
As far as the readers/reviewers not catching errors...well, what I believe is that reviewers do not want to spend the time it takes to let a writer know there are errors...or, perhaps they do not feel it is their place to let you know...
Have a fun time with your family,
Lisa
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. Too expensive to send the novels to the same authors.
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
I follow you completely. I have had one person tell me to add quote marks and I add them and then the next person says delete them. My big problem has always been commas. I enjoyed your writing.
Karen
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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I follow you completely. I have had one person tell me to add quote marks and I add them and then the next person says delete them. My big problem has always been commas. I enjoyed your writing.
Karen
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. I struggle with comma's myself. My thought, when in doubt leave them out.
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I started not using them at all and let Grammarly and Spellcheck tell me when to add them. There's more than one way to skin a cat! Karen
Comment from Spitfire
What a nice photo to go with your post. I have to agree 'that' is overused. The rule of misreading is a good one. Appreciate the message on hyphens too. By the way, exclamation points are also overused. LOL
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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What a nice photo to go with your post. I have to agree 'that' is overused. The rule of misreading is a good one. Appreciate the message on hyphens too. By the way, exclamation points are also overused. LOL
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. You're right about exclamation points. Luckily that wasn't an issue for me.
Comment from LJbutterfly
Hi Barbara,
I really appreciate your discussion about editors. I've never published a book or had an editor, but I've taken many online writing courses, subscribe to the magazines, Writer's Digest and Creative Writing, purchased books on writing, joined Master Class and listened to top authors, and live in my 897 page Handbook for Writers by Simon and Schuster.
The general consensus is, if you use the word 'that,' it gives your work the feel of an amateur. I have a list of at least 30 more words to avoid, including was, were and had. But it's impossible to be perfect for every reader or editor.
Thanks for explaining the differences in writing a child's age, and how to present the time.
When I review, if I see a writer doesn't write the same way I do, but tells a good story, free of major SPAGS, I ignore the little things the writer does that I would never do. Who said I'm always right?
Thanks for this helpful post.
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Hi Barbara,
I really appreciate your discussion about editors. I've never published a book or had an editor, but I've taken many online writing courses, subscribe to the magazines, Writer's Digest and Creative Writing, purchased books on writing, joined Master Class and listened to top authors, and live in my 897 page Handbook for Writers by Simon and Schuster.
The general consensus is, if you use the word 'that,' it gives your work the feel of an amateur. I have a list of at least 30 more words to avoid, including was, were and had. But it's impossible to be perfect for every reader or editor.
Thanks for explaining the differences in writing a child's age, and how to present the time.
When I review, if I see a writer doesn't write the same way I do, but tells a good story, free of major SPAGS, I ignore the little things the writer does that I would never do. Who said I'm always right?
Thanks for this helpful post.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the support. I like your sentence, 'The general consensus is, if you use the word 'that,' it gives your work the feel of an amateur.' It makes sense. I try to avoid the words, was, were, and had. One editor added a lot of 'look'. I've been told numerous time to avoid it, because there are so many other verbs to describe how they looked. What is your take on it?
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In classes I've taken, you should use words like glance, scan, peer, gape, admire, scrutinize, and many more to avoid saying a person 'looked.' Also don't constantly say 'said.' Write your dialogue so the reader knows who is talking. It's hard to remember all this stuff when you're trying to get a story out.
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Do you have any guidance on up & down. My guidance had been example, sat, not sat down or stood, not stood up because it's understood.
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Yes. My guidance has been the same. I find that I write like I speak. (that) When I sit down to edit (down), I find lots of words to remove.
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lol
Comment from Susan Newell
Barbara,
This is very interesting. I believe the differing opinions are a matter of "style." Style requires consistency throughout the work, however it is done. Hyphens are tricky critters and I'm never sure when to use them, or when something is a compound word. Example: it used to be pick-up truck, but is now pickup. I defy spell check all the time. Blacksmith is a compound word, so why don't word smith's deserve the same. Most spellcheckers will screech at wordsmith. Spellcheck is another aggravation. Depending on software you'll have different levels of vocabulary depth and they don't always agree with each other. Lots of food for thought here.
Sue
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Barbara,
This is very interesting. I believe the differing opinions are a matter of "style." Style requires consistency throughout the work, however it is done. Hyphens are tricky critters and I'm never sure when to use them, or when something is a compound word. Example: it used to be pick-up truck, but is now pickup. I defy spell check all the time. Blacksmith is a compound word, so why don't word smith's deserve the same. Most spellcheckers will screech at wordsmith. Spellcheck is another aggravation. Depending on software you'll have different levels of vocabulary depth and they don't always agree with each other. Lots of food for thought here.
Sue
Comment Written 31-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2023
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Yes, that's another one pick-up or pickup. I struggled with that one too. Thank you for the support.