Mark Twain observed, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” And while they can never compete with lightning in dramatic effect, lightning bugs are extraordinarily good at what they do. Also known as fireflies, lightning bugs emit a light, a brief flash of illumination, that lets other fireflies know where they are. It sends a distinct message, succinct and unmistakable. And in the process, they bring delight … [Read more...]
Six Reasons to Show Editors Your Manuscript
You’re thinking about hiring a professional editor for your manuscript, but every potential editor you talk to says, “Sure, send me the manuscript and I’ll quote you a price.” That gives you pause. You hesitate. What if one of these editors steals your story idea? Don’t worry. Legitimate freelance editors are not looking to appropriate your plot or characters for their own novel. Although many editors do also write, it’s a safe bet they aren’t trolling unsuspecting authors in order to harvest … [Read more...]
Are You a Re-reader?
I will read anything you put in front of me. When I was little, I’d read the back of the cereal box at breakfast if that was the only thing at hand. And I’d read the front and the sides, too, if I hadn’t finished my bowl of Cocoa Puffs yet. An overheard conversation shocked me to the core one day. Two women were discussing the next selection for their book club, and one asked the other if she would buy it. The second one said with a shrug, “I’ll just go to the library. I don’t buy books, … [Read more...]
A Second Pair of Eyes
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably seen discussions on social media that argue about the value of editors. Some people (mostly editors) maintain that writers can’t edit their own work; others (mostly writers) steadfastly insist that editing is part of the writing process and they have no need for somebody to clean up their work. So who is right? Oddly, both sides are. Editing is in fact a distinct part of the writing process. When you write something—at least, something less ephemeral than a … [Read more...]
Why Commas Are Like Shrimp (It Isn’t Just the Shape)
Doesn’t it sometimes seem as though punctuation was only designed to befuddle us and give English teachers an excuse to mark down papers? Sure, punctuation has its place, but the so-called rules can be obscure and arbitrary, with no system or logic discernible to the average reader and writer. The humble comma seems especially troublesome, even intractable. A period is firm and decisive: Stop here. The exclamation mark is bold, even flashy: Look at it! A question mark knows what it’s about: … [Read more...]