Hope's Incredibly Nitpicky Editing Techniques for Word, Part One

Sometimes as we're busy getting the words down in a manuscript, little errors can creep in that we don't notice. Most of the time, Word or whatever processor/program we're using will pick up on it, but sometimes, like at the end of sentences, it will sneak past the built-in grammer checker, too.

The problem: spaces

E.g. This is the first sentence. Between this and the first sentence, there are supposed to be two spaces. However, there are three. Visually, you can hardly tell there's an extra space there, but it's there.
E.g. This is the second sentence. Between "the" and "second" there are two spaces, when there should only be one.

These are minor, but attention to detail can put you ahead of the game with editors, who have to look at enough bad grammar and punctuation without having to deal with a manuscript that doesn't look quite right.

The fix: "Find"

The "find" feature (in Word you press alt-E, F) will allow you to find those extra spaces. Enter two spaces in the "find" box and then click on "find next." It will put a small black rectangle between every sentence. If the rectangle moves on to the next sentence, you have exactly two spaces after the period, question mark, or exclamation point. If, however, the rectangle just moves slightly and stays between those two sentences, you have an extra space. You can eliminate that with either backspace or delete.

The same holds true for extra spaces between words. Most times, the internal grammar checker will underline those in green (in Word), alerting you to the problem, but sometimes it doesn't. This will show you where those mistakes are while you're busy checking to make sure you don't have extra spaces at the end of your sentence.

Another good reason for looking for extra spaces: sometimes you can fit more onto a page and avoid "widows and orphans," as Word calls those pages with a single word or sentence at the top and the rest of the page blank. Think of it as one more way you can line edit more easily. Happy editing!

Regular and Irregular Past Tense

Verb past tenses are often confused, sometimes thanks in part to their misuse in the media. Does everyone remember the comedy, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"? How many of you cringed and shouted, "NO! It should be 'Honey, I SHRANK the Kids!'?"

Shrink is actually a regular verb. From present, through past, and past perfect, it is

• shrink
• shrank
• shrunk

Conjugated in the same way, we find

• sink
• sank
• sunk

• drink
• drank
• drunk

• clink
• clank
• clunk

• stink
• stank
• stunk

However, a few other -ink verbs are not regular. That is, it isn't

• think
• thank
• thunk

although it makes perfect sense, and sometimes one encounters "thunk" in dialect or comic writing. The proper conjugation is

• think
• thought
• thought

Similarly, we find

• blink
• blinked
• blinked

• wink
• winked
• winked

and

• link
• linked
• linked

Unless you have delved into verb conjugation while studying another language, you probably don't give verb tenses as much thought as you should. It's easy to get lazy and write in the vernacular. While this is proper in conversation for conveying character (although, in the above film/TV case, a supposedly well-educated scientist should know how to conjugate a verb!), in our descriptions and action beats, we should never let our verbs get the best of us!

Do you have a verb usage question? Feel free to ask in the comment box, or just leave a comment if this series is helpful to you! Thanks!

Pronoun usage

Today, the sticky problem of pronouns. We all know what they are, and we may think we have a good handle on using them. However, as all too many writers know, sometimes we end up with clinkers like “Joan gave the candy to Bill and I.” I’m writing this entry in Word to cut & paste later, and this time, it actually caught the mistake. You can’t always count on your word processing program to have better grammar than you do.

The problem.

The “I or me” problem usually happens because, as a child, the writer misused “me” in sentences like “Jimmy and me went to the store.” After years of hearing “and I,” the child mistakenly thinks (consciously or subconsciously) that “and me” is never correct. That isn't the case, of course. "And me" is always correct when it is part of the object of the sentence.

Determine which of the following is correct.

• Joey and me need some answers.
• Joey and I need some answers.
• Janet gave Bill and I some coffee.
• Janet gave Bill and me some coffee.

The fix.

In order to figure out whether to use "and I" or "and me" in sentences, take out the other party, e.g., Joey and Bill. Since you would never say "Me need some answers" or "Janet gave I some coffee," it's easy to see which ones to use. Your correct sentences are below:

• Joey and I need some answers. (I need some answers.)
• Janet gave Bill and me some coffee. (Janet gave me some coffee.)

The problem.

Who and whom. I have read some published books where the author was unsure about whether to use who or whom in a sentence, and the editor didn't know, either. While I have no objection to their being misused in conversation (after all, proper usage goes to indicate education levels, and you wouldn't expect someone with a third-grade education to use who and whom properly; unfortunately, in real life, I've heard people with doctorates misuse them!), in prose, it just reflects badly on the author and the editor.

• Who did you say was calling?
• Whom did you say was calling?

If the sentences above were:

• Who was calling?
• Whom was calling?

you wouldn't have any trouble picking the right answer, because it's obvious. The two earlier sentences are trickier, because, at a glance, they both look right.

The fix.

In order to determine who or whom, just substitute the proper pronoun for the person who is calling. E.g. the answer to the above question, if keeping to the who/whom subject/object format, comes out like this:

• He was calling (or she was calling).
• Him (or her) was calling.

That makes the answer easy to see!

In conclusion, just determine whether your pronoun is the subject of the sentence or the object of the verb. The subject will be I, you, (thee), he, she, it, we, you, they. Object pronouns are me, you, (thou), him, her, it, us, you, them. So, It and You remain the same whether they are subjects or objects, while the rest of the pronouns are irregular.

May or Might--find out for sure!

I've had such a good response from the Commonly Confused Words page on my website that I've decided to tackle a few more little grammar bugbears that can make writing difficult to understand.

Conditionals.
More people seem to have trouble with conditional verb usage than any other form. May and might are used interchangeably. Lay and lie are likewise confused. There are scores of others, but we'll start with these two samples.

The problem:

May or Might: which one should you use? To find out, try them in sentences.

• You may have been killed!
• You might have been killed!

OK, the response to the second is, "But I wasn't killed. I'm okay."

The response to the first could easily be, "Oh, my goodness! Was I killed?"

In determining which one to use, may or might, first determine the time and intent of the sentence. Is it something that, if it happened, makes the question possible? Does it make sense?

The fix:

When in doubt about whether to use may or might in a sentence, substitute can and could. That translates the above sentences to "You can have been killed" and "You could have been killed." Obviously, unless you're talking to a ghost or a vampire, you wouldn't tell someone that they can have been killed.

The problem:

Lay or Lie: If you've been brought up to believe that to lie is only to prevaricate or tell an untruth, then let me introduce you to a better definition.

• I'm going to lay down.
• I'm going to lie down.

In the second sentence, I realize you're probably tired and want a nap. In the first sentence, I want to know what you're going to lay down.

The fix:

Again, using synonyms for the words in question can get you out of a sticky situation where the reader may misunderstand you. A synonym for lay down is put. A synonym for lie down is recline.

• I'm going to put--- [Famous sample, first line of "Down By the Riverside:" "I'm gonna lay down my burden..."]
• I'm going to recline. [I can almost see the recliner now, can't you?]

The problem:

Set and Sit: often confused because they're similar, short, and sound alike.

• Set down and rest a spell.
• Sit down and rest a spell.

(Yes, I know the examples are Southern. I'm in the South now.)

The fix:

Using synonyms will help you out of the jam. Set=put. Sit=be seated.

• Set down that bag of groceries and rest a spell.
• Be seated and --- no, I'm sorry, folks just don't often use be seated in conjunction with "rest a spell," but you get the idea.

Check back soon for more commonly confused verbs!

And the Winners are---

And the winners are: (drumroll please!)

Pammer
Missy T

CONGRATULATIONS! Please e-mail your mailing address to Cheryl at anavim 4 him [at] gmail [dot] com (removing all spaces and replacing [at] with @ and [dot] with . ). Cheryl says you may have your choice of regular or large print, so please be sure to indicate your preference when you write.

Thank you to all of you who participated in this great experiment in blogging! You are what makes blogging fun!

Something Different: a book giveaway, blog interview, book review and guest blog all rolled into one!

Welcome back to my too-long neglected blog! Some of you may know that my mom fell and broke her hand, which took away all my blogging time. However, I'm back, and with a wonderful combination for you all! I'm going to start it off with the book review of A SOLDIER'S PROMISE, Cheryl's first book for Love Inspired. Exciting news: Cheryl is giving away not one, but two copies of A SOLDIER'S PROMISE, one for each of my blogs, so be sure to enter by either e-mailing me (hope_chastain [at] yahoo.com) or commenting here on this blog or the other blog!

The last thing U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery wants to do is return to his home town of Refuge, Illinois, a place that holds nothing but bad memories for him. When the wish of a sick child, Bradley, to meet him, or someone like him, comes into his possession, it takes every ounce of courage he has to go with his team.

When Bradley's teacher, the lovely Amber Stanton, meets Joel, she has no idea of the challenges he faces, or how entwined their lives will become, all because of one little boy in need of a bone marrow transplant, a home, and a lot of love.

Can Joel come to terms with the deep traumas that drove him away from Refuge, or will more hearts be broken? You'll just have to read it and find out.

This is an excellent beginning for a first-time novelist who has been putting her heart into her writing for years. The story is heartwarming as well as full of excitement. Highly recommended.

HC: Hi, Cheryl, and thanks for agreeing to do an unusual combo review/interview/guest blog today!

CW: Thanks, Hope, for featuring me! What an honor to be on your blog today.

HC: Congratulations on being published! I know you struggled a longtime and have been pursuing this wholeheartedly, especially Steeple Hill. What made you choose the Steeple Hill line of inspirationalromances, rather than another publisher?

CW:Thank you for the congrats. I targeted Steeple Hill for many reasons. One being, I love their books and have read them nearly since close to the inception of Steeple Hill. Secondly, in hanging out on the warm, funny community at the Steeple Hill message boards, I saw the heart of the authors there and so longed to be among them. They were so helpful and encouraging at every stage in the journey. I also feel my stories would fit the Steeple Hill readership. I love to read and write romance, and love category romance in particular. Then upon meeting the editors and talking with them, it seemed like a good fit. I loved their vision for their house and how they talked about their authors in such an uplifting manner. Also, Harlequin markets their authors well in my opinion, which makes it easier to build a readership with their house.

HC: What does it feel like to get "The Call?"

CW:Honestly, the feeling is out of this world. It's the kind of super-charged giddy feeling and so surreal that words can't even touch it. There is such relief and excitement. You understand the true meaning of stunned for sure. LOL! It's almost like you can't believe it and hope, really, really hope they haven't called you by mistake. LOL!

HC: Did your editor give you a list of revisions, and if so, how manyand what did it feel like?

CW:My post sale revisions were about two and a half pages of things. A couple paragraphs of general type stuff, then a couple pages of specific stuff where they mention the page and line numbers. There are basically scenes that need stuff taken out and scenes that need to be built up or maybe even added. There are usually character issues to deal with as well as plot...like how I always seem to have Scooby Doo endings. I'm trying to get better about that though. LOL!

HC: What is your working style when you're writing?

CW:Depends on what I'm writing. Research and character charts are relaxed. So is layering. BUT, when I go to do the mess draft, it is INTENSE and I can't stand to be interrupted because it really throws me off. LOL! And synopsis writing makes me very grumpy....but I push through it.

HC: What does your faith mean to you, and how does it affect yourlife, including your writing?

CW:Faith is vitally important to me. God means everything to me, and faith is attached to Him....anything attached to Him is of utmost importance. I consider my writing a gift from Him and one that I can also give back to Him so it's all interconnected. I'm thankful for the ability to make people laugh and cry. LOL! I get great enjoyment out of that. Welll, making them cry in a happy, poignant sense.

HC: Thank you so much for answering all my nosy questions! And now, I turn the blog over to you, on the subject of perseverance in writingand seeking publication.

CW: Thank you Hope! It's been fun!

Thoughts on Perseverance.

One thing I heard consistently while pursuing publication was the "P" word. For those of us who want instant gratification for our efforts, it's not a word or even a concept we like to hear or embrace. I know plenty of authors who've been published a couple of years after starting to write fiction. But I also know some absolutely phenomenal writers, many of them here http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/ who have been pursuing publication for a decade or more. I heard someone in the industry (a publishing professional) say once that it takes 5-8 years on average to be published.

Problem was, I heard this when I'd only been trying for a couple of years. Very disheartening yet it also made me realize a person has to be in this for the long haul. And they have to be serious about pursuing publication. It takes work and lots of it and sometimes it takes way longer than we anticipated. The good thing is, that I think most people who stick with it and don't give up, will eventually be published. And certainly if it is something God has created them to do.

The hope in the waiting is that we have a God who fashions us with hopes and dreams. No, not all of them will come to pass, but I think He is more concerned with the process than the achievement. How we respond in the waiting. Does our integrity hold up? Do we have to battle jealousy when that writer gets a contract who has only been writing for a couple of years, and we've been trying for eight? The road to publication isn't easy for anyone that I'm aware of. It takes git-er-done grit and dependence on God to not let us lose sight of our dreams.

For me, I had to know that God was calling me to this, or I don't think I'd have chosen to persevere. It took way more of my time, way more of my heart, way more money for conferences, etc than I ever dreamed it would. But now those time and money investments have begun to pay off. Not so much that I've FINALLY sold a book, but the reassurance and affirmation from my heavenly father that I've been faithful during the process. There are so many perseverance scriptures in the Bible that are encouraging to study. Persevere in prayer and practice abiding in His presence is the best advice I can offer. When we spend time with Him, He gives us everything we need. He directs us to resources that will enable us to learn all we can about the craft as we keep God first and don't neglect things that are more important than the end product of our perseverance..which for most writers is publication.

I think each writer needs to seek God about their journey. I'm not speaking out against self-publication, or downing those who go that route. But I can't help wonder how many writers sell themselves short by taking that route instead of persevering the traditional route a little bit longer. No matter the route God intends, it is so important for us to take time to listen to God about what He wants from us. What is our part. And then be willing to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. The only reason people miss out on their "promise land" is if they give up and quit before they reach it. Hang in there. Praying for every person reading this, that God would grace you with the determination and the grit and the perseverance to make it.

Hugs,

Cheryl

NaNoWriMo is Over, and December almost is!

Where has December gone? Am I the only one who woke up today and realized it's only a week till Christmas? Of course, I've spent the last ten days being really sick with a rotten cold...so maybe I have some excuse.

Somehow or other, I managed to get the Christmas decorations up. And today, I found my favorite Christmas record. That's right: record. Read vinyl... 33 1/3 RPM, monaural..... For some reason, it just never quite seems like Christmas until I play this record. I know that I should transfer it to a CD, especially now that it's seen a few years and has started to stick toward the end... Maybe one of these days I will. I just wonder if it would seem the same if I saved it as a CD, or made it into an MP3...

Still, today, I played my favorite Christmas record. Today, it feels like Christmas. The decorations have been up since the beginning of the month. I've played all kinds of Christmas music on the CD player as well as my own guitar... Is there one special piece of music that says Christmas to you? If there is, I hope you've been playing it. Merry Christmas, and remember the real meaning of the season: God wanted to save us from ourselves, and He had to send Himself to do it!