tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7718995534993013570..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Ask the Editors – Self-Editing, Part OneDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22096743284466578102009-01-27T09:30:00.000-07:002009-01-27T09:30:00.000-07:00Agreed. Exclamation marks are mostly unnecessary, ...Agreed. Exclamation marks are mostly unnecessary, if not evil.Joshua Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03327580698736503954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8771094223239710372009-01-24T14:36:00.000-07:002009-01-24T14:36:00.000-07:00Great series. Thank you. As a writer who has used ...Great series. Thank you. As a writer who has used the same professional, freelance editor twice, I can tell you it is the best investment a new author can make. For example, I had 3 characters with "meaty hands" and didn't even notice it. If I ever write a book on writing, I plan to title it "Meaty Hands." <BR/><BR/>K. Harrington<BR/>author, JaneologyKaren Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13425141684712829990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43606920717325749552009-01-24T10:14:00.000-07:002009-01-24T10:14:00.000-07:00Overuse of exclamations!!!!!Say it ain't so!!!!!Th...Overuse of exclamations!!!!!<BR/><BR/>Say it ain't so!!!!!<BR/><BR/>That is a bad thing???!!!<BR/><BR/>Oh my, I am in deep deep trouble!!!!<BR/><BR/>LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72521125401972953132009-01-23T15:05:00.000-07:002009-01-23T15:05:00.000-07:00Very informative. I'm looking forward to the rest ...Very informative. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.Sharon Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315316958986428740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37444861447249926962009-01-23T14:01:00.000-07:002009-01-23T14:01:00.000-07:00Good points, Marvin. And I agree with Dani about m...Good points, Marvin. And I agree with Dani about making sure an author does what a specific editor or publisher wants. As the question of the question marks illustrates, there are differing opinions from some editors and publishers and we need to follow what our publisher wants.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42699678949021535312009-01-23T13:12:00.000-07:002009-01-23T13:12:00.000-07:00And, Chris, always check with YOUR editor, because...And, Chris, always check with YOUR editor, because they may disagree with some of these points, and utltimately, your publisher's preference is what needs to be followed.<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'. ;)<BR/><BR/>Dani<BR/>Quake Publishing<BR/>http://teen-seen.blogspot.comDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14732164418576456492009-01-23T12:05:00.000-07:002009-01-23T12:05:00.000-07:00Informative post, Marvin. Especially about the ?.Informative post, Marvin. Especially about the ?.Mary Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61967949157444705642009-01-23T11:03:00.000-07:002009-01-23T11:03:00.000-07:00Sounds like a new way to set editing rates, Marvin...Sounds like a new way to set editing rates, Marvin.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69518936715275868552009-01-23T09:54:00.000-07:002009-01-23T09:54:00.000-07:00Hey guys, just checkin in on the conversation. The...Hey guys, just checkin in on the conversation. The question mark issue is debated amongst editors these days. I am of the same school of thought as Helen. Her comment is very clear on the distinction between a needed Q mark and one that is not. And Author 101 - stick around, I DO address your "too many thats" point later in the series. Funny you brought THAT up - I just edited a book and had to take about - well put it this way - If I had a dollar for every that I took out, I'd be retired now! LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85354354633699036722009-01-23T08:36:00.000-07:002009-01-23T08:36:00.000-07:00As to the question mark issue -- If it's clear who...As to the question mark issue -- If it's clear who's talking, I would put, "“What did you say, John?” If it's not clear, perhaps there are multiple characters in the conversation, I would put something like, "What did you say, John," Mary asked.<BR/><BR/>Good tips, Marvin. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31587754331101976862009-01-23T07:49:00.000-07:002009-01-23T07:49:00.000-07:00I was always taught that it was incorrect not to p...I was always taught that it was incorrect not to put a question mark after a question. I always do, and so far none of my editors have fussed about it.Elaine Cantrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05668294337075373288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68765548112209722142009-01-23T07:36:00.000-07:002009-01-23T07:36:00.000-07:00Glad I asked; I'm going to save these points as a ...Glad I asked; I'm going to save these points as a checklist. Thanks!CA Verstraetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00824300762520579768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51589989183393785612009-01-23T07:19:00.000-07:002009-01-23T07:19:00.000-07:00Well, ta for that! The question mark issue, I mea...Well, ta for that! The question mark issue, I mean. I had one editor slap my wrist for not using them in a grammatically correct fashion ALWAYS--and another editor, say...Aaaaagh! Please don't!<BR/><BR/>That's made it a little clearer. :)Sheryl Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00921522478513543769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21342688627472860292009-01-23T06:49:00.000-07:002009-01-23T06:49:00.000-07:00I would add, delete the "thats." New writers gross...I would add, delete the "thats." New writers grossly overuse the word. When you read your script, see how may you could do without.<BR/>But overall, nothing replaces professional editing!<BR/><BR/>Carol Denbow<BR/>http://abookinside.blogspot.comCarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575560533081045606noreply@blogger.com