Category Archives: Life

Edit, Grammar, Life, Manuscript, Writing

Grammar Time

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When one writes so much has to be taken into consideration. Is the plot line working, how is the pace and flow of the story and are we bringing our readers along for the ride or leaving them back at page four? We have to incorporate and weave scenes, characters and drama and make it all work together or else it will go nowhere. When we finally finish a book well that is just the beginning. The cliché that writing is the easy part I feel is dead on.

For once we are done we are now having to revise and edit. To me edit is an evil word but one that is needed and required. Some words we must pay certain attention to for it can change our sentence structure around.

Its vs. It’s: When I have to use either word I tend to pause sounding out the contraction to make sure I am using the right form. Its is possessive while it’s stands for It is.

I vs. me: I truly hate this one. What helps is if you separate the sentence. For example if you are not sure whether it is “Sharon and I will go” vs. “Sharon and me will go”, take them apart. You now have “Sharon will go” and “I will go” which both make sense. “Me will go” does not so hence you need to use the word I.

Another example of this is “Give it to Tom and me” or “Give it to Tom and I”. Separating the two you will have “Give it to Tom” vs. “Give it to me”. Both make sense so the correct word to use is me.

Your vs. You’re: This one does make me pause. Your is used as a modifier before a noun. For example: Your books. You’re means you are which would not make sense if you say you are books.

There vs. Their vs. They’re: There is the possessive form of they. They’re stands for they are. There tends to mean place and position.

This is their car.

Take a note of their names and addresses.

The child is theirs.

Sit over there.

I wouldn’t go there again.

Stop there before you make any more mistakes.

They’re going to the concert.

They’re making bread.

There are other examples that make me mutter such as effect vs. affect, to vs. too and then vs. than.

I won’t even bring up commas. They are the death of me and that is why I have an editor. Editing is not fun and while people have said they love to do it, I doubt those words will ever be uttered by me. So yes writing is the easy part as far as I am concern. The revising and editing are the hoops writers must go through to get their MS ready for the world to enjoy. It is not fun and that is probably while I still have three books to be edited. Instead I continue to write.

Bonding, Emotions, Family, Hugs, Laid back, Life, People, Uncategorized

Hugs

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I seen this video a few years ago and simply loved it. The song is from someone who to me was amazing. Even though we never met, his voice touched me deep inside.

A hug can bring a person up from the pits of despair, loneliness and sorrow. It builds one up and makes your heart smile on the inside. They are free and can say so much more than words do. It is easy and the results for me are amazing.

My son a few years back bought a shirt that had written on it “ Free Hugs” and wore it to school. Needless to say he got a lot of female hugging going on if ya know what I mean. 🙂 Some people are not huggers and that needs to be respected.

There are a variety of hugs.

-The one where two people barely touch as the exchange is done

-The one where the hug is so tight one has to come up for air

-The hug between two people who have not seen each other in years

-The hug between a child and their parent

-The one between a spouse greeting their loved ones after being away on tour, business and the likes.

Each vary in intensity, time and emotion. The faces may change but the emotion stays the same. An action that we as humans use to express ourselves without uttering a single word.

I love hugs.

For Israel, R.I.P

Author, Blog, Book, Characters, children's book, Creative Writing, Electronic submission, Life, Publishers, Publishing House

Traditional Publishing

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The decision had been made for me to try get a publishing house to publish my books. I realized it is a crap shoot with today’s market and houses being more selective in what they decide to pick up.  The official Writer’s Market was purchased and I started tto work on finding those who seem to fit the books.

I have told a few people this but not many. One particular friend of mine does not seem to get it and I wonder how many are like her. When I told her it takes about 30 minutes to get one electronic submission complete she called my bluff. I did not even bother to mention how much time it takes to complete one submission that is submitted by smail.

Did you know that all the editing and revising is a waste of my time? That I should leave that for the publishers? No that is not how it is done- at least to me. If I don’t present the best possible product I can on my first try well that is a sure-fire way to get to the trash can.  Every time she ask me where am I at, the constant reply is editing, revising, submitting and writing. When she ask have I heard from a publisher yet I tell her these things take time.

It finally came to a head when she said have I tried to find publishers in the state, Ah yes I have. When she said well have you goggled it on-line for why she found over 100 publishers. Again ah yes I have.  Finally I had to just lay it out for I was getting just pissed.

In an email I wrote this:

For each publisher that I look at, the following has to be considered:

1-Are they still in business? Just because they are on-line does not mean their doors are open

2-Are they reputable?

3-Do they publish my genre and if so are they accepting submissions?

4-What are the guidelines?

5 This last one is very important. If you see the name Chris, one has to make sure you find out if

Chris is male or female. To put the wrong Mr or Ms is a sure way to get rejected.

All of this takes time and all of it has to be done per company.  I am trying to push two books right now, have two that I am revising and editing while working on three WIP.

This is all time-consuming, frustrating and down right makes one exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically. But realizing I have chosen to try traditional publishing first it has to be accepted this is what has to be done.  I just get really tired of people saying so what are you doing now? Why are you making a mountain out of a mole hole, it is not rocket science. No it is not- its torture that I have willingly inflicted on myself for I believe in my books. After all the work that was consumed in creating them, why not give them a chance?