THE AWESOME CO-HOSTS ARE
Megan Morgan, Chris Votey, Viola
Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Rachna Chhabria, & Patricia Lynne!
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:
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
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
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!
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.
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.
Hi, Laura, you're right, of course, it's just still so fresh. :)
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. :)
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!
Hi, Christine, thanks, that means a lot! I have improved and yet sometimes those silly errors just grate on the nerves. :)
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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 :)
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!
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....
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.
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.
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.
Hi, Karen, I hope so! Thanks!
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. :)
Hi, Pat. I use Grammarly too. Priceless. Nope, perfection isn't possible!
Hi, Elizabeth, thanks, I hope there aren't, but I wouldn't be surprised. But I've done the same thing, many times!
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! :)
Hi, Michael, you always lift me up. Thank you!
You make me smile, thanks. I envy you the skill! :)
That's what I need, Judy, truly! An anal editor! Love it! :) No insult, I consider myself anal in a lot of things! LOL
Thanks, Olga, I'll try that. Love the tip!
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.
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