Well, we are almost to the time of year for celebrations of all kinds. However you celebrate this season, I wish you all of the warmth and love your heart can hold. I'm so thankful to all who have chosen me as their editor. I never lose sight of why I do what I do. It is because of you that I keep pursuing the best I can be to help you be the best you can be. In a recent correspondence from a client upon return of an edited manuscript, I read these words and my heart was so full. "I appreciate all the care and time you take, not only with improving each story but helping me learn and grow as well You are awesome!" That is how I want each client to feel--like they are the only client, like they are special because of what they've written, like I truly and sincerely care about them and their art. Because I do. Each of you write in such different ways, different stories, different genres. It is such a joy to read how your minds calculate characters and story lines. Thank you for trusting me with your works of art. I look forward to 2023 and the new stories you will be sending my way. And to those of you who need an editor, please reach out. I have references who would be more than willing to visit with you, and I would be, too. Until next time...Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year on the horizon. May it be filled with health, love, and many sales!
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Recently a client and I were discussing the use of business names and songs in writing. After doing a lot of research, here is an article that speaks to the latter. A reminder from me...I love my clients--current and prospective--and do not want to see you sued for use of copyrighted material. Please make sure to check before you use!
medium.com/swlh/how-to-legally-quote-song-lyrics-in-your-stories-books-and-articles-b0e62510ed55 Strains of autumn are in the air...falling leaves, bright colors, a different feel to the air, and I know in some places even snow. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I am inbetween edits at the moment, so am focusing on making and freezing foods. My project for this week is to make Russian Tea and instant cappuccino, both good for those cold mornings. I have 2 openings in December if you are needing to book an edit. Also I am accepting manuscripts for January, February and March of 2023. Hardly seems possible that this year is almost at a close. Here's wishing you many words as you advance your stories and to those doing NaNoWriMo, best wishes for a completed manuscript by November's end. Happy writing. Passing on something that may help some of you writers as a check before you send your manuscript to your editors, proofreaders or beta readers. These 11 tips by Richard Nordquist should help all of us sharpen up our writing skills.
June came and went, as did July, August, and September. And, here we are to the last week of October. This time I had valid reasons for not posting. I fell in mid-July and fractured the ischium portion of my left pelvic area. It has been slow going with the walker. I am improving, but not as quickly as I would like. In August, my son came home not feeling well and it turned into Covid-19. A couple days after he presented symptoms, I did. I am just now digging out of the brain fog that so many are left with. October, so far, has seen the loss of two very special people in my life. The old adage "it comes in threes" must hold true.
I read an article recently (thanks to the Firefox home page) posted on Popdust.com with the headline "Why Grammarly is Key for Young Professionals" and it brought thoughts to mind. Bear with me while I wax on this a bit. I, thankfully, grew up in an era when phonics was taught. Cursive was taught. And...novel idea...grammar and composition was taught. They were all part of the English classes from 6th through 12th grades. That is what spurred my love of words. In today's instant society, there is no grammar, there is no cursive (and kids get in trouble for using it), and there is no phonics. People turn to computer applications to check their writing, to make sure it is proper. While programs are not 100% at catching errors, I realize people aren't either. But I would rather have two or three sets of eyes on my writing than a computer program. (personal choice) Back to my cursive comment. I was discussing school subjects with the mother of a college employee who trains teachers. She told me a story that her daughter related from one of her teachers. The student wrote his assignment in cursive instead of typing it. I get that he went against instructions, but I thought it was pretty impressive. The teacher failed him because SHE COULDN'T READ IT. She asked the student what language he wrote his paper in and when he told her it was cursive writing like his grandma wrote, she shook her head and said "this is not English. It's a foreign language and unacceptable." That broke my heart. It saddens me that there is an entire generation who will never know the satisfaction of dotting "i's" and crossing "t's" and learning how to make curly-cues on the ends of letters that fall below the middle line on a cursive sheet. Times have changed, and I realize the computer is how things are now done, not only in schools, but in most communicative places. I guess the moral to this is, do your homework. If you write, find a few beta readers to go through your piece first, then hire an editor to polish it to perfection. I cannot believe it's been 2 years since I last posted to this blog! I ask your forgiveness. 2020 as we all know threw all of us for loops we never thought possible. Here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa we not only had the virus and all it entailed, but in August we had an inland hurricane and we were ground zero. It was scary watching out the sliding glass door as trees flew over houses and shingles and everything that wasn't attached to something blew through the air and down the road. So much devastation and clean up is still happening! My city lost 75% of the trees. Think of that 75% of trees that had stood for hundreds of years gone in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, loss of life was minimal, but we grieved those who passed.
It's 2021 now and there is hope. Hope of returning to a normalcy that we've never had, a new normalcy in which we need to acclimate our lives if we stand a chance of moving forward. I've been blessed with edits each month throughout the social self-distancing. Thank you to my clients for your wonderful, creative stories. I look forward to working with you throughout the rest of this year and beyond. Speaking of that, I do have a few openings left from August through December. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you. You know my motto...Perfection one word at a time. And that is literally how I edit: one word at a time. One sentence at a time. One paragraph at a time. One thought at a time. I promise it won't be 2 years until I post again. Have a wonderful rest of May. Will post again in June unless there is something big you have to know. October is my favorite month of the year: colder weather that sets the colors in the beauty of our surroundings. It's the end of summer flowers and the beginning of fall mums and asters, the smells of lit fireplaces, and pumpkin everything!
This time of year also brings thoughts of the holidays...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas...and holiday book releases! Now is the time to book your Beta readers, proofreaders, and editors for your late November and December releases. Speaking of that...I have a couple spots available in December and scheduling manuscripts for January February, and beyond. Spaces fill up quickly, so please contact me and let me help perfect your manuscript. My normal ritual for the end of April, first part of May is to put away all of the fall/winter clothing, any decorations that are left out and bring out spring/summer. I've yet to do that. For some reason in the back of my mind, I'm thinking there may be just one more cold snap before we hit 80 degrees! My planting date is the same every year...the second Sunday of May...Mother's Day. I container plant because, as much as I'd like to get down on the ground and be part of the earth, there is no way I can do that. Container planting allows me to still get my hands in dirt without the discomfort of knowing if I got down on the ground, I may not get back up! Spring and summer are busy times for book events and signings, conventions, and parties. If you have a new story you're working on, I'd love to be a part of it by helping you make it your best. My editing rates are very reasonable, and I'd love to visit with you about how we can make your manuscript the very best it can be. Don't be shy, contact me today and let's get something scheduled. I have a couple dates open in May and several throughout the rest of the year. They do fill up quickly, though. Wishing you a beautiful spring! We have 361 days ahead of us to change the world...one word at a time, one smile at a time, one moment at a time.
I know that seems daunting to think of, but seriously, we can do all three. Writing gives us the chance to not only express our thoughts and feelings, but it gives us the opportunities to change others with the words their eyes see. I've declared for this year that my word is PERSISTENCE...persistence in my personal life to overcome disability obstacles, persistence with my writing by planting myself firmly in a chair and typing every day...and persistence in making my world a better place--through a kind word, smile or small gesture of caring. As an editor, I also have the ability to make your manuscripts better, to bring out the best in you as an author. I do have openings and would love to discuss with you how to perfect your work of art. Let me know how I can help. Today is the day before the day before the day. How's that for a sentence that makes no sense and breaks every literary rule? In the midst of the craziness at the malls, in the midst of the honking horns and traffic, in the midst of squabbles and unrest... I hope you can find some humor in your family time, if that is how you celebrate. If you celebrate in quiet reflection, may your heart and soul be refreshed. If you celebrate the birth of Jesus, then I pray you allow the wonder of that day so long ago to infiltrate your being. It's been an incredible year as an editor. Thank you so much for your faith in me to make your manuscripts the best they can be. I look forward to working with you in 2019 on more projects. From my home to yours...a very Merry Christmas and bountiful New Year. |
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