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