Wednesday, April 6, 2016

IWSG - GRAMMAR





THE AWESOME CO-HOSTS ARE


INSECURITIES, INSECURITIES,  GRAMMAR

By this time, everyone knows of my Achilles Heel, grammar. If you've read any of my blogs, you also know the plethora of mistakes I can make in one simple post. This grammar affliction has haunted me since high school and several times it's almost derailed my dream of being a published author. I've paid thousands, literally, for editing services. By doing so, I've relied on others to make my work perfect. Despite all the dough, I've failed.
But even now as a published author, the same horror haunts me. I still pay for editing services. I've never sent a book to a publisher without an edit. Yet things have not changed. I'm nowhere near perfection.
This latest book is no exception. Another proof was just sent to me for my approval on Murder & Obsession. Yet when I sent it back – there were still mistakes that the proofreader had missed and I somehow picked up.

So dear readers, what is the solution?



HAPPY A to Z - ing!

31 comments:

L.G. Keltner said...

Grammar can be tricky, and it's even harder to catch your own mistakes than the mistakes of others. Just keep writing and try not to let the grammatical struggles get you down!

@LGKeltner from
Writing Off the Edge
Parallels

Michelle Wallace said...

I suppose that's why we need professional editors.
Remember, grammar is a wide area and we all have our grammar weaknesses...
It makes me wonder how some writers can publish stuff without engaging the services of a proofreader/editor?
Writer In Transit

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You just keep trying. Try to remember the mistakes you continue to make. Hey, took me until my third book to stop making about a dozen mistakes. And I still go overboard with exclamation points!

Christine Rains said...

I agree with Alex. You just have to keep trying. I know I've gotten better over the years, but I always find mistakes in my work even after it's published. Besides, readers don't pay attention to the little mistakes when you have such a great story like yours! :) I'm thoroughly enjoying it, by the way.

Pat Hatt said...

I went back and edited a few of my first ones again, a few mistakes cropped up that I no longer make. Just have to remember each one and then you stop making them as you write the next time. But even with editors, stuff in mine still gets missed too.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Laura, you're right, of course, it's just still so fresh. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Michelle, I don't know how they do it and feel comfortable backing their work. Standing behind the product is so important for me, that's why I take it so personal. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Alex, you're right too, and as I improve in one area I seem to find another short coming. LOL An ongoing story! I love exclamation points!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Christine, thanks, that means a lot! I have improved and yet sometimes those silly errors just grate on the nerves. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Pat, thanks! Honestly, it's good to know I'm not the only one troubled by it! The good thing, I am making progress! LOL

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This is a tough one! Usually excelling in grammar and spelling are things writers do naturally, even from a young age. I really admire your perseverance in overcoming or compensating for your weakness with it. That will serve to make you a much better writer actually.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This is a tough one! Usually excelling in grammar and spelling are things writers do naturally, even from a young age. I really admire your perseverance in overcoming or compensating for your weakness with it. That will serve to make you a much better writer actually.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

As a publisher I say "God bless you for hiring an editor!" I wish all writers did.

Grammar doesn't trip me up now as much as spelling. I will never be a great speller.

Pat Garcia said...

Join the club. My archilles heal is GRAMMAR and if it were not for Grammarly and AutoCrit I would be a terrible loss. I have just finished my last seven chapters and sent them to my writing coach/book editor and I have already made an appointment for her to go through the entire book once I have done the rewrites. For me, it is something that I have learned to accept. I can't be perfect and I'll live with that.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

Elizabeth said...

I know what you mean, it's hard to find the mistakes in your own writing. I will read and reread something, and I will still find mistakes when I read again it months later. I used to do well with grammar, but I think I've been out of school too long! I must say, though, that your story excerpts have been so intriguing that I didn't notice any mistakes if there were any :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

I know what you mean. I actually "know" grammar rules. I teach with them. Despite that, I still make plenty of mistakes on social media, in my books, and everywhere I put words down. I can't seem to see the mistakes when I write them, and once the words are there, I still don't see them. Of course, if one of my students handed me a paper with the same mistake, I would jump up and down with a red pen. Just kidding. I use a blue pen and I don't jump while correcting papers. I keep hoping that with more practice and more than my set of eyes on the page, I'll get better.
Best wishes on writing through the pesky grammar jungle!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Renee,

EEK the dreaded GRAMMAR! It took me YEARS and thousands of hours to overcome my affliction, but I still miss the mark every now and then. We ALL do...and look at how many typos you see in the big FIVE publishers. We are human. No one, not even after dozens of sets of eyes, will have a PERFECT manuscript....

Chemist Ken said...

I've been good at grammar ever since high school, even back when I hated writing. Don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm good at the rules. The hard part for me is dreaming up sentences that aren't clunky or that don't sound like bullet points on a Powerpoint presentation.

F. Stone said...

Commas are my nightmare. Too many and/or not enough. Thank heavens I found an editor who is anal about punctuation. I think finding an editor you can work with and who is worth every penny is the key. Your job is to write an exciting story, which you do so well.

Olga Godim said...

It's hard to see your own mistakes. One of the tricks someone recommended - and it seems to work, to a degree - is to change the font of the file you're editing before going for a second (nth) pass with your grammar comb. For some reason, changing the font allows you to see your text with fresh eyes.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Karen, I hope so! Thanks!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Diane, I've found through experimentation that sending out three document to three different people means three different answers. That's when I feel overwhelmed. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Pat. I use Grammarly too. Priceless. Nope, perfection isn't possible!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Elizabeth, thanks, I hope there aren't, but I wouldn't be surprised. But I've done the same thing, many times!

Yolanda Renée said...

I think it's the rules that throw me, but truthfully, even the little things I manage to overlook. Although, I do know I am much better than before, it's a process, and I am learning. Taking responsibility for it too! Still, to write a perfect sentence every time, priceless! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Michael, you always lift me up. Thank you!

Yolanda Renée said...

You make me smile, thanks. I envy you the skill! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

That's what I need, Judy, truly! An anal editor! Love it! :) No insult, I consider myself anal in a lot of things! LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Olga, I'll try that. Love the tip!

The Happy Whisk said...

Keep at it and don't give up. Although, maybe find better editors and such because it sounds like they are not worth paying, if they are missing that many things but on the bright side, go you for catching the mistakes.

Ercan said...

Japonya yurtdışı kargo
Jamaika yurtdışı kargo
İzlanda yurtdışı kargo
İsveç yurtdışı kargo
İsrail yurtdışı kargo

85AA2