Writing Journey
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "Editors!!!!"Help with writing, mine and yours.
48 total reviews
Comment from eliz100
I hope you are having a wonderful time. This was helpful for me. What grammar book would you suggest? What a wonderful treasure chest of books. I do not see any room for improvement. Have a blessed day.
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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I hope you are having a wonderful time. This was helpful for me. What grammar book would you suggest? What a wonderful treasure chest of books. I do not see any room for improvement. Have a blessed day.
Comment Written 04-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from w.j.debi
It is interesting that there is a standard to be met, and yet there are variances by publisher. How frustrating that it depends on who you are working with. Yet, how exciting that you have options.
I appreciate you sharing your hints and your experience.
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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It is interesting that there is a standard to be met, and yet there are variances by publisher. How frustrating that it depends on who you are working with. Yet, how exciting that you have options.
I appreciate you sharing your hints and your experience.
Comment Written 04-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Ric Myworld
Barbara, never worry too much about the little things. Although I certainly need all the help I can get and appreciate your post, you know by now that I don't put much emphasis on punctuation and grammar. Most people know what we are trying to say and just read right through the mistakes like we do. LOL. I read your stories for the kindness and the content of your heart, and you make much fewer miscues than most. Especially, me. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Barbara, never worry too much about the little things. Although I certainly need all the help I can get and appreciate your post, you know by now that I don't put much emphasis on punctuation and grammar. Most people know what we are trying to say and just read right through the mistakes like we do. LOL. I read your stories for the kindness and the content of your heart, and you make much fewer miscues than most. Especially, me. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 04-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from T B Botts
Hi Barbara,
When things get too confusing, I generally throw up my hands and do whatever I want to. While I try to do what is right, I'm not going to drive myself nuts trying to get things perfect. I'm not a perfectionist by any means. The few books that I wrote I pretty much self-edited, but I'm sure that once they got to the printers, they had a revision or two. It's nice that you have a number of books under your belt. I hope you're selling lots.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Hi Barbara,
When things get too confusing, I generally throw up my hands and do whatever I want to. While I try to do what is right, I'm not going to drive myself nuts trying to get things perfect. I'm not a perfectionist by any means. The few books that I wrote I pretty much self-edited, but I'm sure that once they got to the printers, they had a revision or two. It's nice that you have a number of books under your belt. I hope you're selling lots.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from estory
Interesting essay and I have to say I try to cut down on the 'thats' in my edits, as much as possible. I have to agree on that. One thing you have to keep in mind is that when you have created a character, it's important to have that character stay in character and personality when using dialogue, staying with the way that character talks. I try to keep in mind what great writers have done in the past. Many of them don't follow the so called rules and when you have a strong writing style, that supercedes the rules. Thomas Mann had long sentences, so did John Cheever. estory
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Interesting essay and I have to say I try to cut down on the 'thats' in my edits, as much as possible. I have to agree on that. One thing you have to keep in mind is that when you have created a character, it's important to have that character stay in character and personality when using dialogue, staying with the way that character talks. I try to keep in mind what great writers have done in the past. Many of them don't follow the so called rules and when you have a strong writing style, that supercedes the rules. Thomas Mann had long sentences, so did John Cheever. estory
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support. I think famous authors don't need to worry about all the conformity, but people trying to break into that world, probably do.
Comment from Brett Matthew West
Is it supposed to be as "St. Louis..." or "At St. Louis..."?
"Editors can't agree"? Welcome to the world of publishing. Never dealt with two who could agree on much of anything.
Tend to agree with the advice in #1 to eliminate as many "that's" as are not necessary, which most are not. The word does not add much to a sentence and can be mighty distracting.
The hyphen note in #2 is how I learned to use them.
Best rule of thumb for writing I was ever told is omit ALL unnecessary words regardless of how the writer personally feels about them. If they add nothing, get rid of them.
One of my biggest writing hangups is the use of commas.
Shouldn't "granddaughter letters" be granddaughter's letters.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Is it supposed to be as "St. Louis..." or "At St. Louis..."?
"Editors can't agree"? Welcome to the world of publishing. Never dealt with two who could agree on much of anything.
Tend to agree with the advice in #1 to eliminate as many "that's" as are not necessary, which most are not. The word does not add much to a sentence and can be mighty distracting.
The hyphen note in #2 is how I learned to use them.
Best rule of thumb for writing I was ever told is omit ALL unnecessary words regardless of how the writer personally feels about them. If they add nothing, get rid of them.
One of my biggest writing hangups is the use of commas.
Shouldn't "granddaughter letters" be granddaughter's letters.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Yes, it should be granddaughter's letters. I'm shocked as many reviews as I've had on this you're the only one to point it out. Commas are one of my pitfalls too. Thank you for the support.
Comment from Pam (respa)
Thanks for sharing the photo and the experience with two editors. I imagine that could get pretty confusing. I'm with you in your comment about being clear as mud. I like to go with the old adage, "all things in moderation." Sometimes thing should be left out, and sometimes they are needed. Maybe editors don't feel like they are doing their job if they don't point out every little thing. You do a good job letting readers know about your experience. I can't imagine using two different editors.
I don't ever plan on doing that, but I am curious about one thing. If you have an editor, is that included in a package with an agent, editor, and publisher, or is it all one package. Maybe sometime you could share about how you find a good person for what you need in the way of an editor or publisher. I would find that interesting.
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend with your family.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Thanks for sharing the photo and the experience with two editors. I imagine that could get pretty confusing. I'm with you in your comment about being clear as mud. I like to go with the old adage, "all things in moderation." Sometimes thing should be left out, and sometimes they are needed. Maybe editors don't feel like they are doing their job if they don't point out every little thing. You do a good job letting readers know about your experience. I can't imagine using two different editors.
I don't ever plan on doing that, but I am curious about one thing. If you have an editor, is that included in a package with an agent, editor, and publisher, or is it all one package. Maybe sometime you could share about how you find a good person for what you need in the way of an editor or publisher. I would find that interesting.
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend with your family.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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They were both new to me and I wanted to see which one worked better for me, so I tried them both. Thank you for the support.
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You are welcome and thanks for sharing. Good luck with your decision.
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
Hi Barbara, a trip to the Gulf sounds awesome!! I haven't been this summer, but I know it touches the soul that needs touching.
I'm glad you brought up the thats. I've been working on reducing mine as well, and mostly because people on here have suggested it. It does sound better that way, but I see them all the time when reading. Still and all, it doesn't lower the word count to remove them when needed, lol.
Lots of stuff to think about, I know.
Take care,
Rhonda
Good clarification on the hyphens with ages, too. It's always good to know and pay attention to.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Hi Barbara, a trip to the Gulf sounds awesome!! I haven't been this summer, but I know it touches the soul that needs touching.
I'm glad you brought up the thats. I've been working on reducing mine as well, and mostly because people on here have suggested it. It does sound better that way, but I see them all the time when reading. Still and all, it doesn't lower the word count to remove them when needed, lol.
Lots of stuff to think about, I know.
Take care,
Rhonda
Good clarification on the hyphens with ages, too. It's always good to know and pay attention to.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Thank you for the support.
Comment from Thesis
Editors are all different. What one likes, another disposes. Go with your gut. If they don't like it find another. I've found most to be literary snobs, which of you follow their direction, hurt your style of writing.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Editors are all different. What one likes, another disposes. Go with your gut. If they don't like it find another. I've found most to be literary snobs, which of you follow their direction, hurt your style of writing.
Comment Written 03-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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I really like your last sentence. 'follow their direction hurt your style of writing.' Thank you for your support.
Comment from lancellot
Hmm, it seems from your narrative, that, at least to me, these editors are nitpicking over your story. What they are pointing out aren't errors but subjective writing styles. I wouldn't worry so much about it, if they don't have anything of importance.
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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Hmm, it seems from your narrative, that, at least to me, these editors are nitpicking over your story. What they are pointing out aren't errors but subjective writing styles. I wouldn't worry so much about it, if they don't have anything of importance.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2023
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2023
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These are the type of things they are pointing out. Thank you for the support.
