tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post3187195110447316787..comments2024-03-26T22:40:30.265-07:00Comments on Dishin' It Out: Writing is a Learning JourneyConnie Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17835205487088200480noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-87911107070034558802011-08-18T05:55:38.938-07:002011-08-18T05:55:38.938-07:00Hi Ginger, Thanks for the tips. I've only rece...Hi Ginger, Thanks for the tips. I've only recently become brave enough to start putting some of my writing out in a blog, (http://wanderings-tonymurphy.blogspot.com/), even though I've been writing and dreaming for years. I've only recently realised that the 'build it and they will come' approach doesn't really work when it comes to having your writing published. You have to actually take it out of the drawer and do something with it. Anyway, it's always great to get some advice from more established writers so thanks again. <br />Cheers<br />TonyTMurphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085590618170523244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-72701742899163357352011-08-14T18:13:37.201-07:002011-08-14T18:13:37.201-07:00I just gave this workshop Saturday.
One of my cha...I just gave this workshop Saturday.<br /><br />One of my chapter members posted a link to your blog. When I clicked through I found it was yours, Ginger.<br /><br />Hope you're well, sweetie.Cheryl St.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00947267011326863581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-73104767411854898332011-08-13T14:27:24.970-07:002011-08-13T14:27:24.970-07:00Except for one editor in the distant past, I'v...Except for one editor in the distant past, I've always been able to work with my editors so that we come up with an amicable solution. I believe that's the secret. They're there to point out what they believe is wrong, but they're still willing to listen to you until you both feel you've got it right. Marie, I don't think I could have kept quiet about "red", it's so obvious that "red" is wrong.Sue Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07107183899727714199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-9835047510680837032011-08-13T14:00:16.431-07:002011-08-13T14:00:16.431-07:00I might be slightly 'off topic' with this ...I might be slightly 'off topic' with this but anyway ...!<br /><br />I've been lucky enough to have one work published, and because I'm a "local patriot" I was pleased to be taken on by a local small publisher.<br />I made a small profit from the deal, and learnt a lot in the process.<br /><br />I take pride in my work. I know for an absolute FACT that the MS I delivered was 250% fault free (spellings, grammar, syntax all the "boooo-ring stuff"). I as therefore very unhappy to see in the final published book that a significant number of errors had crept in which I KNOW were NOT mine. <br />I was encouraged by 'happy parents' to write further adventures (I should have said,the book was a Childrens' book!!) but perhaps it was no real surprise when the 'small publisher' concerned went BUST ...Paul McDermottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-70719189928980623732011-08-13T10:02:23.210-07:002011-08-13T10:02:23.210-07:00I totally understand you, Ginger. Why can't I ...I totally understand you, Ginger. Why can't I see it in my own writing, too? lol<br /><br />With my first three books with this editor, I let most of it slip. What's funny is when I wrote my American historical (to try and find an agent), I wrote with my editor's edits in mind, thinking that this must be the way Inspy publishers want their stories - short, sweet, and to the boring point. When I landed an agent, she told me what things she wanted me to fix...and she ABHORRED that way of writing. She told me she wanted my story like the first one she'd read - which was done the way like to write. I was so happy! lol<br /><br />Anyway, with my first three books, I didn't say anything to my editor. I'm turning in my fourth book now. This time I WILL NOT stand for her way of editing. She either likes the way I write, or I'm taking my story elsewhere. <br /><br />~Marie~Marie Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798408733684974308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-26697338817105073332011-08-13T09:47:28.918-07:002011-08-13T09:47:28.918-07:00P.S. Just wish I could be so alert in my own writ...P.S. Just wish I could be so alert in my own writing. Why is it easier to see the obvious in another's work? *lol*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683064637626718318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-24586029970748952022011-08-13T09:46:45.623-07:002011-08-13T09:46:45.623-07:00Marie,
My point exactly. Just because an editor i...Marie,<br />My point exactly. Just because an editor is hired to edit doesn't mean they know as much or more than those who have been around and doing this a while. The problem now becomes weeding out the right instructions from the wrong, and trust me, like you, I've been steered down the wrong path more than once. <br /><br />Weren't we instructed more than once about the "red" face? I know I was, and it you want the reader to visualize a character, it was to be through someone else's POV or else have that person looking into a mirror. <br /><br />I'm not knocking editors. Their job is not easy...been there, tried it and ran screaming in the other direction, but I still think I'd do a better job at catching obvious boo boos than some I've seen recently. lol*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683064637626718318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-17851227810538299752011-08-13T09:37:45.005-07:002011-08-13T09:37:45.005-07:00Ginger, your examples were perfect! I do find when...Ginger, your examples were perfect! I do find when I'm reading books from my publisher that I'll see things that make me cringe, too. Even when my editor sends me back edits, I cringe. In my first story with this publisher, editor changed this line - "Heat crept up her neck to her face as embarrassment washed over her." My editor changed it to. "Her face turned red." Well...it works, but NOT if it's in HER pov!! I tried to point this out, telling my editor I had a problem with this because my heroine can't see her face (unless looking in a mirror, of course) but she can feel what her face is doing. My editor argued that when we blush, we KNOW our face is turning red without seeing it happen. Hmm... She has a point, but I still wanted it written my way. lol<br /><br />Another thing my editor did a lot was take out my descriptive sentences like this one - "He scanned over her attire from the top of her ringlet hair, over her silk lavender ball gown, to her slippered feet." My editor changed it to - "He looked at her." WHAT??? Yeah, I had a fit with that out. I don't know how to tell my editor - who has been through college and got a degree doing this, and who has been and editor with one major publisher already - that she's changing my voice! I love my editor dearly, but I could teach her a thing or two about writing romance. SHEESH! But I don't dare because I'm afraid she'll label me as one of those difficult authors, and I've NEVER been one of those! lol<br /><br />~Marie~Marie Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798408733684974308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-67588753053942213232011-08-13T09:35:17.782-07:002011-08-13T09:35:17.782-07:00Roseanne, Your books are definitely enjoyable beca...Roseanne, Your books are definitely enjoyable because you write without the flaws I'm mentioned. Like you, I hate italicized thoughts...even more when people use italics and "she/he thought" together. :) Totally agree on the tag things. Nothing bores me more than constant, he said, she said, he said, she said...crap, we get it. *lol*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683064637626718318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-63323356007702251342011-08-13T09:19:40.823-07:002011-08-13T09:19:40.823-07:00Ah, Ginger, everything you described is showing ra...Ah, Ginger, everything you described is showing rather than telling the story. Your examples are excellent. I was taught early on to eliminate, watched, saw, felt etc. As you describe eliminate them and the sentence still makes sense. In fact better sense. I completely agree with you on getting rid of the "I" thoughts. What you did was paraphrase, which is what I like to do. Besides eliminating an awkward sentence, it eliminates those horrible italics that take me right out of a story. I despise them. I believe it was a book by Donald Maass that says DO NO USE ITALICS, they're distracting. And we never want to use anything that distracts the reader. Another distraction and One of my pet peeves is the use of words other than said. Said is an invisible. Words like replied, responded etc. are all distracting. Better to use said or nothing at all.It's not always necessary to use a tag. Sometimes an action tag works better - shows more. Okay, those are a few of my pet peeves.Roseanne Dowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15473329969019245459noreply@blogger.com