Category: editing

word of the manuscript

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This is fun. Check it out…
Recently, as I was working on the second pass of edits for the forthcoming SPEAKING OF LOVE (book #2 in the Perfect Kisses series), about halfway through the manuscript, one of my eagle-eyed editors pointed out that I used the word “something” a bit excessively. Well, that wasn’t a huge shock, since every manuscript of mine she’s seen has at least one word or phrase that I overused. 
We’ll call it a crutch.
But….”something?” 
Who knew that could be so abused? (Except HERE, which is 100% acceptable.)
Before going back to make the changes, I did a search, and am utterly embarrassed to share the number of times that word was used.
I’ve just started writing book #3 in the series, and I’m so excited to find out which will be my magic go-to word this time! I seriously hope it’s fahrvergnügen. Or blerg. How completely awesome would that be?

word of the manuscript

Leave a comment
This is fun. Check it out…
Recently, as I was working on the second pass of edits for the forthcoming SPEAKING OF LOVE (book #2 in the Perfect Kisses series), about halfway through the manuscript, one of my eagle-eyed editors pointed out that I used the word “something” a bit excessively. Well, that wasn’t a huge shock, since every manuscript of mine she’s seen has at least one word or phrase that I overused. 
We’ll call it a crutch.
But….”something?” 
Who knew that could be so abused? (Except HERE, which is 100% acceptable.)
Before going back to make the changes, I did a search, and am utterly embarrassed to share the number of times that word was used.
I’ve just started writing book #3 in the series, and I’m so excited to find out which will be my magic go-to word this time! I seriously hope it’s fahrvergnügen. Or blerg. How completely awesome would that be?

things I’ve learned from the second pass of edits

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(and I’ve had two of them now, which makes four passes in all)

 I use these words too much:
     “continued” (we’re talking 123 times, but I managed to cut it down to 44. No easy task.)
     “scoffed” (I fear I use it incorrectly, as well)
     “paused” (my new go-to is “hesitate.” I might be deleting that one during the third pass.)

I expect people to be mind-readers. They’re not. Not even my editor. Who should be, right? 

I am absolutely rubbish at the proper use of the em-dash.

Speaking of punctuation and over-usages, I also overuse (and misuse) ellipses. We’re all shocked. . . . .

I can’t count – if the way I numbered my chapters is any indication.

Cutting word count is effing hard. I’m much too long-winded for that. Ask anyone.

Evidently, it doesn’t faze this writer when I use the same word four times in one paragraph.

Oh well. Moving on. Here’s to Round Three!

things I’ve learned from the second pass of edits

3 Comments

(and I’ve had two of them now, which makes four passes in all)

 I use these words too much:
     “continued” (we’re talking 123 times, but I managed to cut it down to 44. No easy task.)
     “scoffed” (I fear I use it incorrectly, as well)
     “paused” (my new go-to is “hesitate.” I might be deleting that one during the third pass.)

I expect people to be mind-readers. They’re not. Not even my editor. Who should be, right? 

I am absolutely rubbish at the proper use of the em-dash.

Speaking of punctuation and over-usages, I also overuse (and misuse) ellipses. We’re all shocked. . . . .

I can’t count – if the way I numbered my chapters is any indication.

Cutting word count is effing hard. I’m much too long-winded for that. Ask anyone.

Evidently, it doesn’t faze this writer when I use the same word four times in one paragraph.

Oh well. Moving on. Here’s to Round Three!