{"id":783,"date":"2010-04-09T06:32:52","date_gmt":"2010-04-09T14:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=783"},"modified":"2010-04-09T06:32:52","modified_gmt":"2010-04-09T14:32:52","slug":"your-editorial-errors-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=783","title":{"rendered":"Your Editorial Errors and How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I want to talk about three fairly common problems that I see when editing manuscripts for authors. And these are also three of the problems we will work on in my new online Self-Editing Course<\/strong>. Email me for the course description as my webmaster doesn\u2019t have it posted at my site, yet. PLFry620@yahoo.com.<\/p>\n

Here are some chronic errors that I find in otherwise pretty good manuscripts;<\/p>\n

1: List sentences that contain incorrect elements<\/strong>. I consider a sentence where you list several items, ideas, places or individuals, a list sentence. In fact, the sentence you just read is an example of a list sentence. Some authors, however, present items in their lists that do not fit properly within that particular sentence. Here\u2019s an example: \u201cWhile in this area, you can fish in the lakes, swim in the water holes, wade in the streams, the sun will warm you, hike on the trails and go skiing. Can you identify the \u201citem\u201d that doesn\u2019t belong? Yes, it is \u201cThe sun will warm you.\u201d You can change it to read, \u201cBask in the sun.\u201d Now it works.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another example, \u201cJane purchased a home last August and then, after watering the gardens, coloring her hair, the cat went to the boarder and she filled her car with gas, she drove to her daughter\u2019s house for the rest of the summer.\u201d <\/p>\n

You would never knowingly write a sentence like either of these. But I can tell you that they can appear in your perfect manuscript without you noticing. <\/p>\n

2: Passive sentences<\/strong>. A passive sentence is usually one that is written, in my opinion, backwards. Passive sentences weaken your message or story. Here are a couple of examples of passive sentences. \u201cIn 90 miles, Palm Springs is reached.\u201d I would recommend, instead, \u201cDrive 90 miles to Palm Springs.\u201d Here\u2019s another one: \u201cThe ice cream cone was eaten by Clementine.\u201d And how about this: \u201cA nice, relaxing garden is found outside in the back.\u201d <\/p>\n

Instead, I would recommend, \u201cClementine ate the ice cream cone.\u201d And \u201cRelax in the lovely garden just outside the French doors of the luxury hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, there are instances where a passive sentence works. But authors sometimes try to get so creative in the way they present a concept that they turn a sentence everyway but right and it becomes everything but clear.<\/p>\n

3: Using words that don\u2019t work<\/strong>. Does a lake have an \u201cend?\u201d Can a hillside \u201cdecline?\u201d Will a kitten \u201ccrotch<\/em> under a bush?\u201d Is a dog apt to \u201cbear <\/em>his teeth,\u201d \u201cwalk rather then run\u201d or \u201cperuse it\u2019s <\/em>own trial<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

We all make mistakes as we write, weather (er, I mean, \u201cwhether\u201d) we are writing a book or an email to a fiend (oops, that\u2019s \u201cfriend.\u201d) But we don\u2019t always catch our arrows\u2014I meant to say, \u201cerrors.\u201d And that\u2019s why we must hire an experienced editor before we publish. <\/p>\n

Let me save you money on your editing bill by teaching you how to do a more thorough job of self-editing. Sign up today for my self-editing course. Not only do you get the course, but you get me! I\u2019ll work alongside you while you apply the lessons presented and that could be worth way more than the $200 course fee.<\/p>\n

Contact me for a course description: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Learn more about Patricia Fry at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I want to talk about three fairly common problems that I see when editing manuscripts for authors. And these are also three of the problems we will work on in my new online Self-Editing Course. Email me for the course description as my webmaster doesn\u2019t have it posted at my site, yet. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Here […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t