tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7528673909905807193..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Ask the Editor Free-For-All Tuesday by Morgan MandelDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87942577952117808552010-08-04T12:18:46.728-06:002010-08-04T12:18:46.728-06:00Typo!! http://www.heidimthomas.com
As an editor, ...Typo!! http://www.heidimthomas.com<br /><br />As an editor, I should know to proofread even my website address! LOLHeidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13521325287368715252010-08-04T12:17:04.910-06:002010-08-04T12:17:04.910-06:00Enid, I echo other comments--read a LOT. And the G...Enid, I echo other comments--read a LOT. And the Grammar Girl is excellent.<br /><br />Libby: google children's publishers, check Writers Market, also Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents & Publishers is excellent. Publishers generally provide their own artist, unless it's your own work & then they might consider it. Check guidelines.<br /><br />Conny, I have a small press traditional publisher who doesn't require an agent & I'm happy with our arrangement. Many smaller publishers will work directly with the author. Again, google, check Writers Market etc.<br /><br />Re taglines: don't overuse. It's OK to use "said" occasionally, don't try to replace that common word with something too "out there" like "opined" and also you can't smile words. But, as someone else said, if you have an action with the dialogue, you don't need a tag.<br /><br />Re that/who--I don't care what the common usage is, I always recommend who for people and that for inanimates & animals. Also, I HATE the word "snuck!" LOL<br /><br />Rebecca: the marketing gurus are advising establishing a platform even before your book comes out--short stories, essays, blog posts, speaking opps, etc.<br /><br />Anne, if you feel strongly about something you've written & the editor wants to change, you are certainly within your bounds to explain it. I would advise to pick your battles carefully, though. Don't argue about every little comma etc, but if it's a major story point or cutting an entire character, etc. you might want to have a dialogue.<br /><br />Kato, First person can be limiting, but I certainly see many mysteries (especially with humor) done that way. No right or wrong way to do it--what you are comfortable with and does it give you the leeway you need. You could try writing a chapter in 3rd and see what difference it makes.<br /><br />Peppy, Look in your community for critique groups and/or writing classes. That helps immensely, gives you feedback and provides a "deadline" to produce each week. There are on-line classes you can take too and writers conferences that offer great workshops. Also many great "how-to" books.<br /><br />Bastet: re italics: use for SHORT, immediate thoughts in first person, present tense. I think that is normally accepted, if it isn't too much. I have heard that a few agents/publishers don't like any italics, though, so check their guidelines.<br /><br />Great questions and answers!<br /><br />Heidi M. Thomas<br />http://www.heidimthomas.ocmHeidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59630267874180315372010-08-04T11:06:30.641-06:002010-08-04T11:06:30.641-06:00Anne Easter Smith:
If you are asking about defendi...Anne Easter Smith:<br />If you are asking about defending yourself to a developmental editor, the main thing for you to understand is that we give the feedback we do for a valid reason. I try to give all those reasons, but if one of your characters is coming off as ditzy and you want her to be a revered professor, you are doing something wrong. It is not the editor's fault for not "getting" your book, for she is providing honest and therefore valid feedback. There may be a complicated confluence of factors at play of which you are not aware. That's the beauty of a paid critique—the honesty. <br /><br />On your pages and in our evaluations we editors give you the sum of our experience. It's what you paid for. But after all is said and done, it's your name going on the cover. The final decision is yours. If you have questions about why we marked what we did, ask away, so that you can better make up your mind. But if you are already sure you are right, what's the point in arguing? <br /><br />An editing discrepancy here or there will not make or break a decision by an agent or publishing house. Those sorts of things might be changed by house rules in the end game anyway. The structural integrity of the story, and the concision and appropriateness of your language choices, are of greater concern.<br /><br />(However, for the purpose of this forum, please feel free to rebut--haha!)Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36957817161693569522010-08-04T09:21:55.802-06:002010-08-04T09:21:55.802-06:00Hi Linda,
Thanks a mil for answering my question....Hi Linda,<br /><br />Thanks a mil for answering my question. I look forward to hearing from you. I do write all of books in English/French and Spanish. As a foreign language teacher I think it is very important to expose young children to a second language early on.<br />Nicole Weaver<br />http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com<br />http://outskirtspress.com/nicoleweaverNicole weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179227584523601691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24516254124318513552010-08-04T08:39:13.116-06:002010-08-04T08:39:13.116-06:00Thanks a lot, dear editors! Good to read some of t...Thanks a lot, dear editors! Good to read some of the writing and publishing questions and answers.<br /><br /><a href="http://steamydarcy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> Steamy Darcy</a>Enid Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248877161249788607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29210688605070897352010-08-04T07:45:49.114-06:002010-08-04T07:45:49.114-06:00Nicole, my novel that was just released is bilingu...Nicole, my novel that was just released is bilingual up to a point. It's Spanish-speaking characters do speak in their native tongue when the context allows an English-speaking-only reader to discern the meaning and maintain the flow of the story. Also, My company has published 2 books of poetry in French and English, and I even had the privilege of working on the English "translations," which, of course, were not literal. So the question you raise is of particular interest to me. <br /><br />A team of poets in Grand Junction, Colorado, has published a totally bilingual (English and Spanish) book for children, but I don't know how well it has sold. Also, I have heard about a distributor (?) who is looking for works in Spanish because, I'm told, there is a huge demand for them among the Spanish speakers in our country. I'll do some research on this and contact you.Linda Lanehttp://www.DenverEditor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86566636128550465792010-08-04T06:52:08.259-06:002010-08-04T06:52:08.259-06:00Bo Parker - You can't go wrong picking one of ...Bo Parker - You can't go wrong picking one of our editors!<br />I'd don't know if there's an industry standard as far as mistakes missed. It seems that some always<br /> crop up.<br />People are human. There are perfectly edited books out there, but I haven't noticed too many.<br />I usually find one or two errors is a norm. If I saw more, I would wonder if the book was edited.<br /><br />Morgan MandelMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89845826224261810442010-08-04T06:44:29.388-06:002010-08-04T06:44:29.388-06:00Depending on what you write, you can join local ch...Depending on what you write, you can join local chapters for Romance Writers of America or Mystery Writers of America or other genre organizations.<br />If that's not an option, there are often groups at libraries or even bookstores. <br />If you can't get out to meetings, many have online chapters also.<br />It's best to get feedback from people who know your genre and it's very helpful if they're also published authors.<br /><br />Morgan MandelMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25238454555351248412010-08-03T23:39:26.220-06:002010-08-03T23:39:26.220-06:00I'm late to the party but I didn't see an ...I'm late to the party but I didn't see an answer to Libby's third question: Whether artwork should be included when submitting a children's book to a publisher. The answer (usually) is "No". In almost all cases publishers have their own illustrators they work with and will hire to illustrate your book if it is optioned. If you are intent on your own artwork it might be something you can discuss after the publisher has declared their interest, but it might be a deal-breaker for them, so bear that in mind. A good idea to go through an agent on that one.<br /><br />There are always exceptions, of course.<br /><br />Elle<br /><a href="http://hearwritenow.com/word-4-writers/" rel="nofollow">Word 4 Writers on HearWriteNow</a><br /><a href="http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Blood-Red Pencil</a>Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-53175989947987271682010-08-03T22:23:10.690-06:002010-08-03T22:23:10.690-06:00Patti M -- There are authors who can't leave a...Patti M -- There are authors who can't leave a page until they think it's perfect, but for most of us, it's better to charge on through and get that first draft down on paper.<br /><br />The revision and self-editing phase is not a one-step process. Several passes at the manuscript are needed, and then it pays to let the story or novel rest a bit before you go back and read it again. <br /><br />You might want to check out my series for authors on <a href="http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2010/07/finding-tips-on-self-editing-at-blood.html" rel="nofollow"> Self-editing One Step at a Time</a> here at The Blood-Red Pencil.<br /><br /><a href="http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Patricia</a>Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65226385097533308422010-08-03T22:13:14.074-06:002010-08-03T22:13:14.074-06:00Hi Peppy, I didn't see an answer to your quest...Hi Peppy, I didn't see an answer to your question, so let me jump right in from an author's point of view. <br /><br />I highly recommend writers' conferences, so look around and see if there's one in your part of the country. Most conf. are 3-5 days long, many over weekends, and they provide great opportunities to learn writing skills and network with other beginners. One of the best sources of info on this topic is <a href="http://writing.shawguides.com/" rel="nofollow">Shaw Guides</a><br /><br />A lot of information is available in books at your library and on writing blogs. If you check the archives or use the search option here at The Blood-Red Pencil, you'll find posts on various topics (including examples of writing conferences).<br /><br />If you can find a writers' group/organization or a critique group in your area, that will help. Try asking your favorite librarian and using Google searches for "writers' groups" or "organizations for writers" and similar searches. Include your city and state to narrow the search.<br /><br />Magazines such as Writer's Digest and The Writer are very helpful. Check out older issues from your library. <br /><br />Is there a university, junior college, senior center, or recreation department in your city? Check them out because any or all may offer writing classes.<br /><br />I hope that gets you started. Feel free to drop by my blog and check out my blogrolls. I have some good writing blogs and a few writing site links listed there. <br /><br /><a href="http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Patricia</a>Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30846023176780972962010-08-03T22:10:05.477-06:002010-08-03T22:10:05.477-06:00Is it better to edit as I write or edit all at onc...Is it better to edit as I write or edit all at once after I finish putting words to paper? Thanks!Patti Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2181265501700779592010-08-03T20:47:59.557-06:002010-08-03T20:47:59.557-06:00Victoria Roder said...
I'm reading very usefu...Victoria Roder said... <br />I'm reading very useful information today, thank you for that. My question is about word count. I enjoy a fast paced novel and that is how I write, but there doesn't seem to be enough word count. I have two novels published with smaller pressess. My WIP is a paranormal ghost story and only 54,000. I can't even submit to some publishers because it's not 65,000, but I don't want to pad it and slow down the action. Maybe it's not a question, but a frustration.<br />Thanks <br /><br />Victoria<br />My latest release is a paranormal romance and I found a great publisher who publishes novels of different lengths. Please Email me at cberrypickle AT aol.com and I'll tell you about this great publisher.<br />G W PickleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88837556251042060922010-08-03T20:05:47.595-06:002010-08-03T20:05:47.595-06:00I am looking for publishers interested in publishi...I am looking for publishers interested in publishing multicultural books written in English/French/Spanish . Any suggestions?<br />Nicole weaver<br />http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.comNicole weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179227584523601691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32336196612176530032010-08-03T20:02:10.385-06:002010-08-03T20:02:10.385-06:00Re: the use of italics for thoughts. I have about ...Re: the use of italics for thoughts. I have about 20 books on how to write effective fiction, and I've read in several of them (I forget which ones right at the moment) that the accepted font is to use italics (no quotation marks) for direct thoughts (present tense, first person), such as: Omigod! Who the hell does he think I am anyway? and normal font, no quotation marks, for indirect thoughts, such as: She wondered who he thought she was, anyway. Maybe not the best examples, as they're right off the top of my head; and also, I wanted to put quotation marks around them, to make the examples stand out, but didn't, as neither should be encased in quotation marks in fiction writing. (I also didn't know how to do the italics here, for the first example.)Jodie Rennerhttp://www.JodieRennerEditing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68318610703077787022010-08-03T19:04:29.025-06:002010-08-03T19:04:29.025-06:00Libby, since your book is for children, there'...Libby, since your book is for children, there's a website called JacketFlap which might be of use to you. They have a long list of publishers (http://www.jacketflap.com/alphapub.asp), and details about whether or not they accept unsolicited manuscripts. Some of the information may not be completely up to date, but it's a good starting place. I have also just completed a children's book (for ages 9-12) and am looking for a publisher...a very daunting task! So if anyone has any advice for me, I'd love to hear it! <br />Best of luck,<br />Katherine Angela Yeboah<br />http://www.katherineangelayeboah.blogspot.com <br />http://twitter.com/katherineyeboahKatherine Angela Yeboahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12661303246862573937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14495979462324421042010-08-03T18:56:48.136-06:002010-08-03T18:56:48.136-06:00I'm reading very useful information today, tha...I'm reading very useful information today, thank you for that. My question is about word count. I enjoy a fast paced novel and that is how I write, but there doesn't seem to be enough word count. I have two novels published with smaller pressess. My WIP is a paranormal ghost story and only 54,000. I can't even submit to some publishers because it's not 65,000, but I don't want to pad it and slow down the action. Maybe it's not a question, but a frustration.<br />ThanksVictoria Roderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04933859286104636739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24776039529892428362010-08-03T18:31:56.747-06:002010-08-03T18:31:56.747-06:00I have a question and an answer.
For Jo, an answe...I have a question and an answer. <br />For Jo, an answer. I work as an editor in journalism (and it's NOT that different, folks!), and I have been fighting the war against using "that" when referencing people, too. While it's not technically wrong, I think that it's certainly more thoughtful for a writer to use "who" when referencing a living, breathing human being. Keep using "who" and you are never incorrect.<br /><br />My question now for any editor or publisher who would care to jump into this murky pool:<br />What is the verdict on using italics for a character's thoughts? I had been using them for years. Then someone in my writers' group started to complain. A few months ago, I received a newsletter that said NO GRADUATE STUDENT would ever try to get italic thoughts past a class discussion of his/her work. Well, this floored me, because I'd been to the Iowa Summer Writing Festival twice and the Northwestern U. summer program once. Both were taught by graduate-level professors and no one batted an eye at italics.<br /><br />Will someone please tell me what the current thought is on this? I'm happy to change everything if this is now considered to be hopelessly old-fashioned or just no longer done. But if it's simply not to the taste of certain people (which I think is what is going on here), then I'll stick to my guns. I still read lots of fiction where characters' thoughts are rendered in italics. Are these authors outdated too?<br />What is going on?<br /><br />I wait for the verdict.<br />Lynn VoedischBastethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15031109621488847594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33267222808281747232010-08-03T18:21:27.828-06:002010-08-03T18:21:27.828-06:00Lots of great questions and answers going on here....Lots of great questions and answers going on here. I hope everyone checks them all out because they may be details you could use later on.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81199711647464014282010-08-03T18:14:03.027-06:002010-08-03T18:14:03.027-06:00For the question of that vs. which – a quick way t...For the question of that vs. which – a quick way to remember is that “which” is always preceded by a comma, and “that” is never preceded by a comma. Examples: “The hotel that I stayed in was in Manhattan.”; “The hotel, which was really expensive, was in Manhattan.” See Garner’s Modern American Usage, pages 782-783; and Chicago Manual of Style, 5.202, page 230.Jodie Rennerhttp://www.JodieRennerEditing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55883964664344944112010-08-03T17:40:55.911-06:002010-08-03T17:40:55.911-06:00Been busy writing today myself so sorry just getti...Been busy writing today myself so sorry just getting in on the discussion and questions. Let me see if I can offer some general remarks that may be of help. In the area of submitting material to a publisher, you should sit down and write the description you would most pray to find on the completed book- who, what, where, when, why or some combination of the five W's and maybe HOW you pull it off. Use main character names, name of setting, time period and use this as your pitch which has lately become replaced by this loose cannon term of Platform....Platform in my definition is what makes your romance or your detective tale unique and unto itself as in a blind half Asian, half Irish detective with a sixteen year old daughter who dives her crazy.<br /><br />I read through all the questions, so am going to touch on the few I might help with. I believe someone was concerned with signing a contract, Jackie -- it helps if you get paid something on signing. Frankly, the BEST money right now, seventy percent of all sales going to you, the author, is in ebooks on Amazon.com Kindle, so this is a tough question....go with a publisher or become your own publisher. For me, of late, I am self publishing and enjoying both the money and the freedom of being responsible for it all, good, bad, ugly and otherwise.<br /><br />To add a word on the question of verb tenses....it helps to realize that present tense to past part. etc is easiest seen as three gears you crank into.... Present tense, simple and easy to get into as in<br />I see, We see, They see, Tom Sees, Jack and Jill see. Get into gear simply by putting a noun or pronoun before the verb. Second gear just as easy to crank into by putting a name or pronoun before it. That is to say Jack saw...Jill saw, Jack and Jill saw (no change of S's due to single/plural in second gear. Now to crank into third gear is not so simple as it requires not only a name/pronoun before the verb but a helping verb before the verb to support it. Example going with see/saw/seen is Jack has seen....Jill was seen...he had seen....they have seen...we have seen. Do the same with the verb DO/Did/Done - Jack and Jill do their best, Jack does his best/ Jack did his best, Jack and Jill did their best/ Jack had DONE his best. So it takes a bit more clutch to crank into third gear. Try it with go/goes.<br /><br />As to who vs. that....I love the use of WHO for people and reserve that for objects and animals other than people. Which as I recall requires a comma as it is a separate dependent clause not defining or equating to the subject as who and that do.<br /><br />Hope these remarks help. I learned by studying closely the works of classic authors from Twain to Dumas and current authors I love from Richard Matheson to Michael Crichton.<br /><br />For samples of my work, Free downloads found at my website - www.robertwalkerbooks.comRobert W. Walkerhttp://www.robertwalkerbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24655733681950741622010-08-03T17:31:31.031-06:002010-08-03T17:31:31.031-06:00Is there an independent group or association that ...Is there an independent group or association that tests and certifies manuscript editors? And is there an accepted publishing industry standard for a “clean” manuscript?<br /><br />I ask these questions based on personal experience. When death claimed the person who had served as my long-time editor, I turned to authors I knew who had been published by traditional houses, asked for recommendations, and built a list of names.<br /><br />As I went through the first “edit” received from an east coast based editor, two things became apparent. Errors had been overlooked and some corrections were dead wrong. I then went to a second name on the recommended list; a west coast based editor. Editor number two identified “errors,” which were not considered such by either editor number one, or myself.<br /><br />It was at this point I began to seek an answer to the questions asked above. One of the things I started asking for, beyond the issue of being independently certified, was a list of published books, which he or she had edited.<br /><br />The response was both consistent and mixed. No one claimed any type of independent certification. Some provided a list of published books; some did not. It was after reading three published books, and making note of the number of errors found, that I went back and asked the editors involved what they considered to be an acceptable rate for finding errors and making corrections. <br /><br />The one response I received was that a ninety-five percent error correction rate was the acceptable publishing industry standard. The results, to me, were very disturbing when I did the math on a 75,000-word manuscript.<br /><br />Hiring a manuscript editor is easy. Finding one that provides an acceptable return on investment is not; or has not proven to be so to date.Bo Parkerhttp://www.cobbledstones.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67813189797741683662010-08-03T15:08:08.313-06:002010-08-03T15:08:08.313-06:00I hesitate to ask anything as I'm definitely n...I hesitate to ask anything as I'm definitely not in the same league as the majority of those asking you questions - I'm not a published author! <br /><br />However, I have always enjoyed writing( I do have an outline for a novel I started awhile back) and would be interested in your suggestions/insights on how to find the guidance and help needed when one wants to pursue writing. There seems to be a "catch 22" waiting for every direction one takes when seeking guidance; as mentioned in the comment from Conny.<br /><br />Thanks for this great open forum!<br /><br />Peppy<br /><br />http://peppywrites.blogspot.comPepTalkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17072687797179616823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9458027647194193462010-08-03T14:51:23.618-06:002010-08-03T14:51:23.618-06:00<>
I've been away all day and am so hap...<><br /><br />I've been away all day and am so happy to see that most of the questions have been answered, which is a good thing for all the writers who joined us today.<br /><br />Virginia, do you see the different use of that and which in the sentence?<br /><br />Another example:<br /><br /> That girl took the donut.<br /> Which girl took the donut?<br /><br />I don't know the exact rule for usage, but you might check Strunk & White Online and Grammar Girl. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37470108592675063552010-08-03T14:22:20.249-06:002010-08-03T14:22:20.249-06:00How about a brief tutorial on when to use "th...How about a brief tutorial on when to use "that" and when to use "which"? Thanks in advance.Virginia Walton Pilegardhttp://www.virginiapilegard.comnoreply@blogger.com