Writing and Publishing News

Today I want to talk about three fairly common problems that I see when editing manuscripts for authors. And these are also three of the problems we will work on in my new online Self-Editing Course. Email me for the course description as my webmaster doesn’t have it posted at my site, yet. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Here are some chronic errors that I find in otherwise pretty good manuscripts;

1: List sentences that contain incorrect elements. I consider a sentence where you list several items, ideas, places or individuals, a list sentence. In fact, the sentence you just read is an example of a list sentence. Some authors, however, present items in their lists that do not fit properly within that particular sentence. Here’s an example: “While in this area, you can fish in the lakes, swim in the water holes, wade in the streams, the sun will warm you, hike on the trails and go skiing. Can you identify the “item” that doesn’t belong? Yes, it is “The sun will warm you.” You can change it to read, “Bask in the sun.” Now it works.

Here’s another example, “Jane purchased a home last August and then, after watering the gardens, coloring her hair, the cat went to the boarder and she filled her car with gas, she drove to her daughter’s house for the rest of the summer.”

You would never knowingly write a sentence like either of these. But I can tell you that they can appear in your perfect manuscript without you noticing.

2: Passive sentences. A passive sentence is usually one that is written, in my opinion, backwards. Passive sentences weaken your message or story. Here are a couple of examples of passive sentences. “In 90 miles, Palm Springs is reached.” I would recommend, instead, “Drive 90 miles to Palm Springs.” Here’s another one: “The ice cream cone was eaten by Clementine.” And how about this: “A nice, relaxing garden is found outside in the back.”

Instead, I would recommend, “Clementine ate the ice cream cone.” And “Relax in the lovely garden just outside the French doors of the luxury hotel.”

Of course, there are instances where a passive sentence works. But authors sometimes try to get so creative in the way they present a concept that they turn a sentence everyway but right and it becomes everything but clear.

3: Using words that don’t work. Does a lake have an “end?” Can a hillside “decline?” Will a kitten “crotch under a bush?” Is a dog apt to “bear his teeth,” “walk rather then run” or “peruse it’s own trial?”

We all make mistakes as we write, weather (er, I mean, “whether”) we are writing a book or an email to a fiend (oops, that’s “friend.”) But we don’t always catch our arrows—I meant to say, “errors.” And that’s why we must hire an experienced editor before we publish.

Let me save you money on your editing bill by teaching you how to do a more thorough job of self-editing. Sign up today for my self-editing course. Not only do you get the course, but you get me! I’ll work alongside you while you apply the lessons presented and that could be worth way more than the $200 course fee.

Contact me for a course description: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Learn more about Patricia Fry at http://www.matilijapress.com

Do you wonder where to begin when it comes to self-editing? Do you sometimes feel as though you are going in circles when you read and re-read your manuscript? If you’re like many authors, you also change your mind a lot. Oh, the damage we can do when we change our minds in midstream while editing or proofing our manuscripts. You ought to see some of the problems that occur when an author decides to tweak his or her story even just a bit. Often, they neglect to change all aspects of it and something is mistakenly left in or erroneously taken out…

And, despite the author’s editorial diligence, he only knows what he knows and he will often overlook some serious editorial problems.

What do you know about self-editing? Do you make some of the most common mistakes in your manuscript or are you a fairly savvy author? For example, you may not realize that

• It is now one space between sentences—not two.

• The em-dash connects the two words. It does not dangle between them.

• There is no apostrophe in “the 1970s.”

• Parent’s indicates belonging to one parent.

• Parents’ indicates belonging to more than one parent.

• Than is used in comparisons—“Tommy is taller than Bobby.”

• Then has many meanings related to a point in time, progression of time, etc.

• You can make your writing more interesting by varying the words you use.

• A sentence that is connected by two or more “ands” is probably a run-on sentence.

• Clarity is vital, yet muddy writing is way too common among new authors.

• Few authors recognize their own editorial weaknesses.

• Age should be indicated by numerals, most other numbers under 100 are written.

Would you like to save thirty to fifty percent on your final professional manuscript editing? Learn how to more effectively edit your own work and lower your final editing bill. Work alongside an experienced editor. How? Sign up for Patricia Fry’s newest online course—Practical and Effective Self-Editing for Authors. Email me for the course description. This course is so new, it isn’t even posted at my website, yet. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Catscapades Update
Copies of Catscapades, True Cat Tales are starting to fly off the shelf and out of my office. I think it is the Mother’s Day frenzy that’s generating sales. I’m autographing a lot of books for special birthdays, as well. Order your own copy and those for friends and family today. If you like cats (or, like some of us, are cat-obsessed), you will fall in love with Lily—the kitten who almost didn’t make it past her three month birthday. Thankfully, gentle Lily lived to charm everyone who crosses her path, especially small children. You’ll enjoy reading about Gus, the reluctant babysitting cat and Frigie, the brown and white kitten who was cat-napped. Read more about Catscapades, True Cat Tales here. And place your birthday and Mother’s Day orders. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

Yes, I think that’s going to be the title of my upcoming online workshop—Common Sense Self-Editing for Authors. I already told you I am in the process of designing an online memoir-writing workshop and I am also considering this self-editing workshop for authors, as well.

The concept of editing intimidates some authors. Those who are not intimidated by the thought of editing their manuscripts to perfection, probably don’t, yet, understand much about writing a book for publication. If you aren’t aware of the importance of good writing, you may not actually recognize it when you see it.

I know authors (or shall we call them would-be authors) who cannot distinguish between good and poor writing. They seem to believe that, because they “get” what they’ve written, others will, too. They know what they are attempting to say and they think that everyone else will also grasp it. These people cannot see problematic sentences. They know what the sentence is supposed to say and they believe that everyone else will, too. They don’t notice when they use incorrect words. If it works for them, it must be right. And if their spell-check doesn’t kick in, then they know for sure it is correct.

I wonder if some of these writers even care if they are connecting in a meaningful way with their readers. Or do they simply want to make a statement, say their piece, spill their guts, get it off their chest and/or experience the prestige of being a published author?

I believe that even these authors have some inkling that they need at least a little help with their way of writing. And what better method of improving your manuscript and learning techniques to apply in the future, than from the comfort and in the privacy of your home with the personal guidance of an experienced writer/author/editor/teacher. Yes, I think that Common Sense Self-Editing for Authors would be a welcome and valuable course (and maybe later, a book). But then, reading a book is far different from the hands-on process of learning that you can receive through a personalized, on-line, email course.

So what do you think? Is it something you’d like to do for yourself in order to improve your writing and self-editing techniques? I doubt that you’ll find this sort of on-hands process anywhere else. What an opportunity!

An expression of interest will prompt me to put this project on the front burner. Just let me know your thoughts: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Catscapades Update
We received the proof for the new cover of Catscapades, True Cat Tales from 360 Digital Books yesterday and it is SCRUMPTIOUS. Love it! If you want copies of this charming book of true cat stories for Mother’s Day, order them now. Specify to me via my email address whether you want the book with the original cover—it has hot pink in areas where it is supposed to be black—or if you want to wait for the newly bound book. It will be here in time for Mother’s Day giving. These copies are limited, so reserve yours now. Learn more about this delightful book at: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

Bobbie Florio Graham, and her cat, Terzo, introduced Catscapades in their Meow Newsletter yesterday. Thank you, Bobbi.

To learn more about Patricia Fry and Matilija Press, spend some time here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Are you confident that you are a good writer? Is your book manuscript in fabulous shape? Do your sentences accurately portray your story, do they share your feelings/thoughts and/or do they effectively pass along information or facts? Are the words you use correct and appropriate? Are your transitions effective? Are aspects of the story or the facts in your manuscript consistent?

I know that, as an author, you work very hard—in fact, excruciatingly so—to perfect your manuscript. And then you invite some of your most articulate friends to view it. Good for you! This is what I would advise.

But don’t stop there. This is just your preliminary responsibility to your project and, by the way your readers. Now it is time to hire an experienced book editor.

I cannot tell you how many problematic manuscripts I see even after the authors have taken these important steps I’ve outlined—even after they have followed my self-editing tips.

Just this week, I convinced a gentleman to let me take a look at his manuscript before he put the money out to have it published. He was reluctant because he felt it was ready and had already scheduled a May 1st publication date.

Mama Mia, you should have seen the problems I found: muddy, run-on sentences galore; incomplete sentences; unnecessarily repeated information and misused words and apostrophes—oh that crazy little apostrophe! The manuscript lacked transitions in many places, creating definite distractions and confusion for the reader. Oh my gosh, and the inconsistencies were abundant and truly troublesome. In one instance the man in the story was huge and in another, slight built. HUH? His name was Josh most of the time, but occasionally, he was referred to as Slim. This would be okay if there had been an explanation as to the name variances. There was a dog in the story and suddenly the dog disappeared without a trace. Did the author think his readers would not notice?

What editorial problems lurk in your prize manuscript?

Present your best effort while learning volumes about writing and editing. How? Hire a reliable, experienced book editor to fine-tune your amazing book manuscript. Some of them (including myself) teach as they edit so that you know where your weakness appear and exactly how to correct them. With time, your manuscripts will require fewer and fewer edits.

I’m providing FREE manuscript evaluations. Contact me for details: PLFry620@yahoo.com.
Read some of the testimonials from my happy clients here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/testimonials.html

I’m also considering developing an online editing course. What do you think? Would you be interested in taking it?

When you write a story—whether fiction or nonfiction—do you always connect the dots? In other words, do you make sure to carry your readers along with the story or do you drop them somewhere and make them have to work to catch up?

Do you sometimes get so tired of writing that you leave things out? Does your story move along so fast in your head that you miss writing down important steps? And what about segues? Do you sometimes forget to build bridges from one activity or action to another?

These are some of the mistakes that can be caught during your thorough editing process. But, it is difficult for the author, who is so close to the story, to always catch these blatant errors. These mishaps of fatigue or mistakes due to familiarity can sure ruin a good book.

For example, don’t have your character drive up to his house, turn off the car and then climb into bed. Of course, there are methods you can use to pull this off. You can have the character deep in thought as he pulls up to the house. Once you have the character express some of those thoughts and emotions, you can, perhaps, devise a clever segue having him shut down his overactive mind, go upstairs and turn in for the night.

Read and re-read your manuscript from various points of view, not just the same old stale position. I’ve said this before—get into your readers’ heads. View the story as if you are seeing it for the first time. You’ll definitely pick up on holes in your descriptions, unnecessarily repeated words and terms, misspelled names/words (usually because you changed someone’s name along the way) and areas where the dots need to be connected in order to make the story flow.

Just yesterday I was editing a manuscript where the author described her main character twice in two different chapters AND in two different ways. Now there’s a good way to keep your readers confused—not a good idea.

Once you have completed your thorough editing work, be sure to turn your manuscript over to an editor. He/she WILL see things that have escaped your keen examination. And this is oftentimes many, many more things than you can imagine.

This might be a good weekend to sit down with your manuscript using several new sets of eyes. Read it as if you are someone from Mars. Review it from the standpoint of an eager reader. Study it from an editor’s point of view (repeated words, spelling errors, inconsistencies, etc.)

You might find the “self-editing” section in my book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book,” of use in this process. Order your copy now at
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Keep this book close at hand as you will refer to it often as you consider publishing options (I provide pros and cons to help you decide the best option for your project), pursue distributors and wholesalers, present your first book signing, attend a book festival, send press releases announcing your book, seek out conferences where you can sign up as an expert presenter on behalf of your book, wonder about getting book reviews (I tell you how to get LOTS of them), develop your marketing plan and so very much more.