tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5233777561868903301..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Editing Crimes: A Case StudyDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86446193458810085932014-06-27T13:10:09.881-06:002014-06-27T13:10:09.881-06:00Yes Kerry I saw your post, and your added marketin...Yes Kerry I saw your post, and your added marketing sensibility is important. Whether in a blog post, a blog comment, or in an entire book, you don't want to be caught with your underwear showing!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43734627768656386172014-06-27T13:08:41.217-06:002014-06-27T13:08:41.217-06:00Donna I struggle of course with the showing/tellin...Donna I struggle of course with the showing/telling balance as well, but hey, writing will never really get easy! It's a challenge we must rise to again and again. The thing is to recognize when we need that outside eye, right?Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11211012775268431312014-06-27T13:03:30.792-06:002014-06-27T13:03:30.792-06:00Guilty of telling and then showing--although I hav...Guilty of telling and then showing--although I have gotten much better at catching that tic, since I've had so many people point it out to me over the years.<br /><br />And the fact that one "bad" book can turn off a fan is something we all need to remember. Writing is art, but publishing is business. You always, always need to put the best product you can out there. My last blog post over on The Goose's Quill was, in fact, on that very topic. Because every single thing you write can break you---or make your career.Kerry Ganshttp://www.kerrygans.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78947589843767053082014-06-27T12:27:02.768-06:002014-06-27T12:27:02.768-06:00Ahh, this speaks to me, especially as a new author...Ahh, this speaks to me, especially as a new author! And one guilty of showing AND telling - but I had an amazing editorial staff point this out to me so I could be conscious of it and correct it (before print!). And so this truly resonates with me "But by the time a reader has purchased our book, we should have said exactly what we meant: once, with confidence." The revising and editing is where our voice should be shaped to shine with confidence. I will stride on to do this! <br /><br />And now writing book 2 in a series I am painfully aware of repetition as I put the words on paper. DO NOT re-state! And I think in being aware of this can also flow into the parts of your book where a special moment/revelation/awareness occurs. Pick that ONE moment of revelation and have it shine - otherwise having it shine over and over will make it lose its luster. :) Love the tip on not explaining symbolism as well! DonnaGalantihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936331145444649588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59160365777780699722014-06-26T18:09:39.939-06:002014-06-26T18:09:39.939-06:00Sounds like a plan, Elle—as soon as I get my edits...Sounds like a plan, Elle—as soon as I get my edits back to my publisher. Tight three-week turnaround and plenty to do!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-18215562345769070822014-06-26T18:02:39.124-06:002014-06-26T18:02:39.124-06:00Oh, Kathryn, I'd love to read a post on using ...Oh, Kathryn, I'd love to read a post on using setting to suggest emotional state!Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42272812867405171162014-06-26T17:59:35.507-06:002014-06-26T17:59:35.507-06:00Unless you're willing to pay an editor to guid...Unless you're willing to pay an editor to guide/mentor you as you learn. It might mean multiple drafts, but at least you have peace of mind.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75184973749319718792014-06-26T17:53:20.010-06:002014-06-26T17:53:20.010-06:00It was fantasy, there was a "god" involv...It was fantasy, there was a "god" involved, and the protagonist had apparently "earned" this "reward" because of everything she'd heroically sacrificed, blah, blah, blah, ugh.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60501633287532599732014-06-26T10:25:09.057-06:002014-06-26T10:25:09.057-06:00Absolutely!Absolutely!Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55680348998581069252014-06-26T09:47:12.090-06:002014-06-26T09:47:12.090-06:00Peter used to smooth his mustache an awful lot, to...Peter used to smooth his mustache an awful lot, too ... those identifying gestures can turn into tics so quickly!<br /><br />I've found "The Emotion Thesaurus" gets me out of my usual ruts.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86586449447999809102014-06-26T09:42:59.833-06:002014-06-26T09:42:59.833-06:00Oh, great -- another one to look for! Will see if ...Oh, great -- another one to look for! Will see if Smart Edit caught it or maybe I'm clear on that one. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12486273625360779712014-06-26T09:25:42.325-06:002014-06-26T09:25:42.325-06:00Our errors in these comments bring up an interesti...Our errors in these comments bring up an interesting point, Linda: comments on blog posts are one of the many ways we self-publish our writing, and we should put our best public face forward!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88857399693475842902014-06-26T09:22:34.970-06:002014-06-26T09:22:34.970-06:00Yes, Maryann, if we took sighs, deep steadying bre...Yes, Maryann, if we took sighs, deep steadying breaths, ragged breaths, and sharp intakes of breath away from some of these characters they'd be so oxygen-deprived they'd suffocate. <br /><br />That's why I'm a fan of using setting as much as you can to indirectly suggest emotional states—human beings only have so many biological emotions to tap, but a specific setting offers so many interesting alternatives.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9247102185107931582014-06-26T09:22:23.279-06:002014-06-26T09:22:23.279-06:00(Oops! Sorry about the deletion. Despite my carefu...(Oops! Sorry about the deletion. Despite my careful [?] proofreading, I didn't see an error until after I hit the publish button. As an editor who's complaining about poorly written books, I couldn't let that one go.)<br /><br />True about the upside of indie publishing -- a lot of excellent books have come from that arena. Interestingly, the one by the well-known writer that I no longer read was traditionally published, and the story was good. However, it appeared to have been released without much (if any) editing -- of course I didn't see the original manuscript, so I can't know that for certain. However, I'd read several earlier books by the same author, and they were all well edited. On the other hand, the flow in this one was compromised by frequent repetition of words, awkward sentence structures, and many punctuation errors. At one point, I put it down after exclaiming, "WHERE was her editor?" The obvious editing oversights were so distracting that I was shocked it came from a large, traditional publisher. <br /><br />My intent in commenting here was not to be harsh, and a few editing oversights don't bother me. (I also miss things when I edit.) However, a plethora of glaring errors don't create an enjoyable read, at least not for me. Perhaps my years as an editor have made me pickier than the average reader. Most of my reading years were spent with the offerings from the big houses, and the books didn't contain a lot of errors back in those days. It makes me sad to think those great publishers might have lowered their standards. And maybe this one was a fluke -- you're right. I should give the author another chance. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44156495478274893132014-06-26T09:18:14.357-06:002014-06-26T09:18:14.357-06:00Excellent post and great tips in the comments, too...Excellent post and great tips in the comments, too. Right now I'm reading a book from a small publisher that is so good in so many ways, but has repeats of gestures that make me crazy. I tend to use the same gestures a lot, like Kathryn mentioned about the hands, and I think a good editor can catch those if we don't see them ourselves. I like that we have tools like "find" to help us discover repetitions, but another set of eyes is crucial. I remember when I first started reading Faye Kellerman's series I tired of her main character constantly "blowing out a breath". Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4984149303555625182014-06-26T09:09:10.259-06:002014-06-26T09:09:10.259-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64699335025300974402014-06-26T08:15:26.755-06:002014-06-26T08:15:26.755-06:00Thanks for sharing your experience, Terry. Interes...Thanks for sharing your experience, Terry. Interesting about Smart Edit—will have to check it out. Because you're right, there's only so much we can catch. But halcyon? Pretty sure the author could have caught multiple uses of that one!<br /><br />I'm in an editing phase, too. Thanks for the random flipping through my ms using Word's "find" function for the usual suspects (there, just, even, was, etc.), I happened to notice a lot of "hands"—wringing hands, holding hands, patting hands, rings twisted on hands, etc. So I went through, again using Word's find function, and changed most of them. "Hand" is just a regular word, but when drafting our minds will default to the obvious, and that was clearly one of my defaults.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78108537572276879082014-06-26T07:26:29.525-06:002014-06-26T07:26:29.525-06:00As I'm in the "last edit before my editor...As I'm in the "last edit before my editor gets it" phase of the WIP, this is a timely (and excellent) article. I recently read a book where the author used "halcyon" way more times than a word that's not part of what I think is 'common, everyday conversational' usage should appear, and I noticed every one of them. I've plugged my manuscript into a program called Smart Edit, and it's finding words I need to cull. I like to think I've learned all the lessons you've pointed out, but knowing them, and then noticing when you've failed to apply them... a whole 'nother ball game. I'm counting on my editor to improve my work, but she shouldn't have to deal with so many of the basics.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84344612741189153272014-06-26T07:07:07.095-06:002014-06-26T07:07:07.095-06:00...and then I, an editor and author writing a caut......and then I, an editor and author writing a cautionary post, write a sloppy comment—not only using the dreaded "sci-fi" term, which I've heard aficionados detest, but typing it "sic-fi." Already published, no way to edit. Another case study!<br /><br />As you point out, Diana, it is easy to publish today—but it can be even more difficult to attract readers. We must be our own best advocates for the excellence of our work! Thanks for being one of those advocates!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61598896814555302932014-06-26T07:01:44.486-06:002014-06-26T07:01:44.486-06:00I always hear writers who don't want to learn ...I always hear writers who don't want to learn deep craft say, "I'll let the editors deal with that stuff." I cry foul. If you want to be a writer, you should learn how to craft your words. The editor can catch the few mistakes you don't notice. It isn't his/her job to shore up shoddy construction for you. If you self-publish, it is critical to teach yourself how to edit and revise because you have no safety net. I'm finding major errors in everything these days from botched memes and headlines in national magazines and newspapers, to traditional published books rife with terrible writing. It is a sad turn of events.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10448757527057044842014-06-26T06:57:00.041-06:002014-06-26T06:57:00.041-06:00That is quite the accomplishment. I'm certain ...That is quite the accomplishment. I'm certain that character would make medical journals all over the world.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80597359774653502182014-06-26T06:40:00.016-06:002014-06-26T06:40:00.016-06:00I love that idea of applauding the editor though, ...I love that idea of applauding the editor though, Diane! It does get harder to enter into the fictive dream as you cross deeper into editing territory, for sure, but it can happen. Informed readers like me will continue to seek such an experience.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35401710103272450052014-06-26T06:28:05.840-06:002014-06-26T06:28:05.840-06:00"...a transparent story that lacked even the ..."...a transparent story that lacked even the depth of the paper on which it was printed."<br />Love your writing, Linda, hate the concept! <br /><br />But your summary at the top of your comment—right on.<br /><br />You said you never read another book by that writer. Writers might say that's harsh; not every book a writer produces is top notch. But that's another side effect of the indie publishing boom—we have so many authors to choose from, mediocrity becomes much more dangerous.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-23539319152884416592014-06-26T06:17:22.751-06:002014-06-26T06:17:22.751-06:00Oh no!!! That's really bad, unless it is sic-...Oh no!!! That's really bad, unless it is sic-fi and explained down to the cellular level how this miracle could actually happen! A crying shame if you liked the rest of the book.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11339029809533172422014-06-26T06:02:09.820-06:002014-06-26T06:02:09.820-06:00Excellent article, as always. As an editor, I find...Excellent article, as always. As an editor, I find reading less and less enjoyable as I encounter this issue with nearly every book I pick up. That includes titles from major publishers who have decimated their editorial ranks in favor of marketing, along with the egregious mistakes found in small pub and indie titles. When I find one that's been properly edited, invariably I include in my review a paragraph applauding the editor! Will that help? Somehow I doubt it. Diane Nelsonhttp://www.idancewithwords.comnoreply@blogger.com