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What Editors Tell Authors About Improving Their Writing

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by Barbara McNichol

What can editors tell writers and authors about improving their writing? Consider these five common writing mistakes even conscientious writers make:

Mistake #1: Being self-absorbed as a writer. With too much talk about the author’s experience of writing, you risk overlooking the reader’s experience. The fix? Use “you” more than “I” in your sentences and stay close to your core message.

Mistake #2: Addressing readers in plural rather than as a single person whose interest you want to capture. Remember, reading is a solitary pastime. The fix? Keep one person in your target audience in your mind’s eye as you write.

Mistake #3: Using a long noun phrase when an active verb will do. The fix? Whenever possible, get an active verb to do the “work” of the sentence. Instead of “the examination of the report was done by the director,” change the noun phrase to a verb and rewrite the sentence: “The director examined the report.” In this way, passive construction becomes active, reduces the word count, and delivers a more direct message.

Mistake #4: Having no clear order to the paragraphs. The fix? Once you’ve crafted a solid, compelling opening, think through how the organization and flow of your main points will best guide your reader logically to your desired conclusion. If possible, test the result with colleagues or actual readers who will give you honest feedback.

Mistake #5: Writing sentences that ramble (on and on and on and on). The fix? Limit your sentences to 15-21 words maximum. Be sure to vary sentence length to create interest.

Bonus mistake: Flat-out choosing the wrong word. Yes, in English, it’s easy to confuse common words such as “advice” instead of “advise” (among hundreds more). The fix? Use a comprehensive resource such as Word Trippers (print or ebook) to help you select the perfect word when it really matters. Want a free mini-version of Word Trippers (the ebook)? Go to http://www.WordTrippers.com

What common writing mistakes would you add to this list?

Don’t Let the Wrong Words Step on Your Success

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by Barbara McNichol

Words make it possible to say what you mean in writing. But they can step on your success, too.

In your communications, what happens if you use the wrong word in the wrong way—such as ending that important message “with my complements” instead “with my compliments”?

Definitely, you risk raising doubt in the minds of those you want to impress.

Don’t Get Egg on Your Face

You risk embarrassment and a lot more. You can:

  • Cause confusion, even delays, by sending unclear messages
  • Waste precious time revising and rewriting to clarify your meaning
  • Smudge your reputation among co-workers, colleagues, and customers who wonder, “Does she know the difference between ‘compliments’ and ‘complements’—really?”

When pesky pairings (is it “adopt” or “adapt”?) trip you up, you need to know!

Word Trippers Example

Adopt, adapt – “Adopt” means to take as one’s own (e.g., someone else’s child), to choose (e.g., a lifestyle), or to formally accept (e.g., a position or principle). “Adapt” is to adjust to various conditions. “When you adopt a young girl, make it easy for her to adapt to your living environment.”

Turn to Your Ultimate Source for Choosing the Perfect Word When It Really Matters!

Yes, you can find lots of free resources online. But why spend your precious time when you can have a word choice guide at your fingertips—instantly?

No drawn-out searches or wild goose chases. You expedite your time and avoid unknowing mistakes with a subscription to Word Trippers Tips.

Bring a reliable resource into your in-box every week

By knowing the right word to use in the right place, your professionalism moves up a notch. And by receiving a new Word Tripper each week, you can isolate the latest and learn it well.

With Word Trippers Tips, you’ll get a Word Tripper of the Week (text plus graphic plus audio) in your in-box every week for a full year. Plus the minute you register for Word Trippers Tips, you’ll receive an ebook compilation of 390+ Word Trippers.

Plus once a quarter, you’ll receive practical bonuses—tools to improve your punctuation, grammar, and word use—plus a webinar and crossword puzzle.

Make sure you know it’s the right word!

American English language resource

Do You Lie Down or Lay Down?

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by Kathleen Watson (used with permission)

 

Lie vs. lay is one of our most confusing word choices.

You might want to lie down when you finish reading this blog, but I’ll lay it on you lie-vs-lay-on-beach-150x150anyway. I’m counting on my examples to help you make the right choices.

lie: to recline

Nicole can’t wait to lie on the beach in Florida.
Steve thinks he should lie on several mattresses before he decides which one to buy.
Grandpa likes to lie on the couch and take a nap.

Tip: Lie shares three letters — l, i and e — and a similar i sound with recline.

Other forms of lie:

Grandpa lies on the couch every day.
He will lie on the couch tomorrow.
He has lain on the couch every day for a month.
He would have lain there sooner if he’d had the chance.
but: He lay there all yesterday afternoon.*

Tip: You want to recline, to lie, on something soft. The letter d is a hard sound, so laid should never be used when talking about reclining.

lay: to place

Nicole wants me to lay her towel on the sand.
The salesperson asked Steve to lay his shoes on the floor before trying the mattress.
Grandpa asked me to lay his glasses on the nightstand.

Tip: Lay shares two letters‚ l and a — and a similar a sound with place.

And lay requires an object; you have to lay something: a book, a set of keys, a pair of shoes, etc.

Other forms of lay:

I lay Grandpa’s glasses on the nightstand.
I laid them on the nightstand yesterday.
I will lay the glasses there tomorrow.
He often has laid them there himself.
I would not have laid them there if he hadn’t asked me to.
but: Grandpa left his glasses lying on the nightstand.*

Notice the two exceptions:*

The past tense of lie is lay, the verb that also means to place:

He lay there all yesterday afternoon.*

Although you lay objects on something, once they get there, they are described as lying.

Grandpa left his glasses lying on the nightstand.*

I have yet to think of a catchy, easy way to remember the difference between these two uses of lie and lay. In essence:

Lie is to recline. Lay is to place.
The past tense of lie is lay. An object that is placed somewhere is lying there.

Is it any wonder people consider English a complicated language?!

You likely won’t be judged for using lie or lay wrong; few people keep them straight. But as The Ruthless Editor, I need to know the difference and to try to set a good example.

Two more tips:

Avoid laying in all cases; it is nonstandard English.
Don’t count on silly spellcheck to make the right choice for you.

Kathleen Watson is known as the ruthless editor. She has just published an excellent grammar book that clears up questions that have been festering. Lie vs. lay is just one of 60 tips you’ll find in Grammar for People Who Hate Rules: Killer Tips from The Ruthless Editor. At $8.95, that’s just 15 cents a tip!

To buy your copy, click on the link to order now. 

Book Editing: What Critical Steps Come After the Writing?

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Bring Your Questions

Ask Your Questions

Editor’s note: Here’s the recording for this June 10th webinar.

Is it time to take the development of your business book to the next level? In this free webinar featuring Barbara McNichol, you’ll boost your awareness of both the book editing and writing process as you learn to:

  • Use a Planner to improve communication with your editor
  • Whack Wordiness—the most practical technique you’ll ever learn
  • Apply 10 Top Techniques to improve everything you write

Critical Elements for Book Editing

This webinar, hosted by Cathy Fyock, provides a detailed way to spell out the critical elements of your book—at any stage in your manuscript-writing process—so you can communicate clearly with the book editing pro you choose.

Barbara offers expert editing of articles and nonfiction books in the categories of business, spirituality, self-help, how-to, health, relationships, and more. Over the past 20 years, she has placed more than 300 books on her editing “trophy shelf.”

Here’s the recording for this June 10th webinar.

Thanks for listening. Feel free to ask questions here or contact Barbara McNichol at editor@BarbaraMcNichol.com.

You can download the Planner from the Editing Services page at www.BarbaraMcNichol.com

 

 

Mrs. Green Launches “Your Mother Called”

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by Barbara McNichol

What happens when you launch your book in your own backyard?

Author Gina Murphy-Darling is finding out. In addition to book signings around the state, she’s attracting fans at Tucson Festival of Books. This fabulous event attracts 130,000 people over two days to the University of Arizona campus and highlights both famous and local authors.

As Gina’s editor, I’m most proud she was interviewed by the Arizona Daily Star and, amazingly, the reporter interviewed me, too. I had a feeling my 15 minutes of fame would get cut to one sentence–and it did. Still, reporter Johanna Willett captured the essence of Gina’s book and her passionate message about changing habits to save Mother Earth.

I encourage you to read the entire piece. You’ll appreciate her extensive effort to educate people–in creative, humorous ways–on issues that are choking our mother, Mother Earth. Click here: Arizona Daily Star

You can buy Mrs. Green’s book on Amazon for only $11.95 (click here).

Call Her Back

Call Her Back

Or think big. Mrs. Green is giving away her book as part of a sponsorship that might interest you. Check it out on Mrs. Green’s website.

Why Mrs. Green is Giving Away Her New Book

We really ARE giving away my new book, Your Mother Called (Mother Earth)…You’d Better Call Her Back to every person who becomes a Mrs. Green Sustainer at the $100 level or above. Please read on…

 

Turn Passive Verbs Active to Spruce Up Your Writing

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by Barbara McNichol

Before detecting the “passive” voice and addressing how to change it to “active,” consider why you should care.

Active verbs will improve your writing (most of the time) because:

  • Active verbs declare who or what is (or should be) performing the action; you avoid confusion, guesswork, or dodging responsibility.
  • Active verbs make your writing flow more easily; readers will more quickly get the ideas you want to convey.
  • Sentences constructed in the active voice usually require fewer words; you constantly want to aim to write concisely!

How to Identify “Passive”
As a reader, if you can’t identify the doer of the action—the subject—the sentence has likely been constructed in the passive voice. Even when the subject is clear, two clues help you identify “passive” use: 1) the word “by” and 2) variations of the verb “to be.”

Juicy!

Juicy!

Consider these sentences:
Passive—“The juicy watermelon was eaten by the boy.”
Active—“The boy chomped into the watermelon’s juicy belly.”

Passive—“Employees are seen by their managers as responsive and enthusiastic.”
Active—“Managers see their employees as responsive and enthusiastic.”

In addition, passive verbs can foster weasel-like communication. They might be used to hide who’s responsible for an action, thus evading accountability rather than declaring it. For example, if a contract states “the rules for the homeowners will be enforced” but doesn’t note who will enforce those rules, what’s the result? Ambiguity. Confusion. Inaction.

How to Identify “Active”
The pattern for an active sentence is typically “subject + verb + direct object.” The direct object is the recipient of the action—that is, what or whom the verb affects. Example: The employees (subject) implement (verb) the new strategy (object). Who’s doing the action of implementing the new strategy? The employees. Thus, it’s clear the employees are accountable for the action.

Your Turn
Notice the passive construction in the following sentence and rewrite it, making sure to use an active verb. (Hint: You’ll need to make up a subject.)

Passive: This policy is being implemented in an effort to streamline our process.
Active: ___________________________________

Use the clues I’ve provided to identify passive sentences you’ve written and revise them. Not sure if you rewrote one or more of them correctly? Share them with me via email, and I’ll provide feedback.

Book Review: Word Trippers “a Lifesaver!”

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by Diana DeSpain Schramer, Copy Editor

What a lifesaver for writers and editors alike!

Fellow NAIWE member Barbara McNichol has compiled in one easy-to-navigate manual the most crazy-making words from A-Z that, yes, trip us up. No more scrambling through stacks of reference books, as now the answers we seek are right at our fingertips.

Business Writing Skills Guide

Word Trippers

Who among us hasn’t agonized over “affect” or “effect”? “Lay” or “lie”? “Who” or “whom”? Word Trippers comes to our rescue, but it doesn’t stop there. It also includes homophones that trip us up, like vial/vile and waver/waiver. Excellent!

Personal Word Tripper

My personal word tripper is “comprise” or “compose.” I have sought several sources and have never found an explanation to help keep them straight in my mind. Until now. Thank you, Word Trippers!

Editor’s note: Thanks, Diana. I’m honored you shared this on NAIWE, Amazaon, and Goodreads.

To purchase this book, go to http://tiny.cc/BarbaraMcNichol

Readers: What is YOUR personal word tripper? Comment here!

7 Writing Resolutions for 2015

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By Barbara McNichol

 Are you focused on writing your book and polishing your business plan for the upcoming year?

Let me offer 7 good habits to add to your resolutions for improving your writing life this year. They apply to EVERYTHING you write!

Your Writing Resolutions for the New Year

Your Writing Resolutions for the New Year

  1. Write your message with the readers’ needs in mind, not your own.
  2. Tap into the power of three for more powerful prose.
  3. Use no more than 21 words in a sentence for better readability.
  4. Say exactly what you want to convey before sending it to others.
  5.  Read and reread your writing with fresh eyes:
    • take a break and come back
    • ask at least two others to read your work
    • print it out and read it on paper
  6. Keep agreements (grammatically speaking). If you’re not sure, look up grammar rules or ask!
  7. Brush up on correct punctuation. (Request my Punctuation Guide at editor@BarbaraMcNichol.com.)

 Bonus: Match the word with the meaning. Don’t get tripped up using the wrong word (like “affect” instead of “effect”). Word Trippers can help!

What additional resolutions would you add? Put your favorites in the comments section below.

Best of Word Trippers 2014

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by Barbara McNichol

If you don’t subscribe to my ezine Word Tripper of the Week, you’re missing out on a regular opportunity to sharpen your word use skills. You’ll find easy explanations of confusng word pairings such as “accept vs. except” and “affect vs. effect.”

Last year’s Word Trippers ezine included the pairs that follow, but that’s only a start! For the complete “Best of 2014” List, email me at editor@BarbaraMcNichol.com and I’ll send you the full PDF list of 25 pesky pairings featured in 2014.

Abstruse, obtuse – “Abstruse” means hard to understand, complex, or highly abstract. It stems from a Latin word meaning concealed or hidden and typically describes texts or arguments. “Obtuse” describes someone who is (or seems to be, based on behavior) not sharp in thinking, perception, or feeling; it can also refer to a remark, argument, or object that is dull or blunt.

“The teacher lost his students’ attention while describing abstruse philosophical topics to his class. He was too obtuse to notice their lack of participation.”

***

Afflict, inflict – Both words mean to cause pain, suffering, distress, or discomfort. “Afflict” with the preposition “with” usually describes an illness or condition. “Inflict” with the preposition “on” concentrates on the force with which the pain, suffering, distress, or discomfort is administered.

“He did not intend to inflict shame on his friend with his calloused remark. It would later afflict him with a deep sense of remorse.”

***

Anticipate, predict – “Anticipate” means to think of something that could happen in the future; to expect or look ahead to something with pleasure. “Predict” means to declare or indicate in advance; to foretell based on observation, experience, or scientific reason.

“It’s easy to predict the youngsters will have a tough time sleeping as they anticipate their trip to Disneyland.”

***

Archetype, prototype – Derived from the Latin term “typus” meaning image, the nouns “archetype” and “prototype” both relate to an original pattern or model. Each prefix establishes the distinction. “Arch” refers to the most accomplished or high ranking of something; “proto” primarily refers to a standard configuration, or an initial model or version of something. Thus, “archetype” has come to mean an ideal example while “prototype” is an unrefined version of something that’s expected to evolve.

“With her perfect GPA, inspiring extracurricular activity, and impressive athletic accomplishments, she’s the archetype of a great student and possibly a prototype for a successful entrepreneur.”

***

Request the whole list with Best of Word Trippers in subject line. When you do, I’ll automatically subscribe you to the bimonthly ezine so you won’t miss out in the future. Enjoy!

Then tell me which ones were most helpful or most surprising to you. Comment here.

P.S. You can order the print version of Word Trippers 2nd edition by clicking on this link. http://bit.ly/WordTrippers

Authors and Editors: Save Time and Money with These Writing Techniques

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by Barbara McNichol

Authors and editors, how  can you employ critical techniques that copyeditors use in your own work?

Recently, I did a teleclass with slides to follow. It was hosted by Janice Campbell for members of NAIWE*.

In this teleclass, I shared tricks of my trade that can save writers time and money in the editing process.  As a way to sharpen their skills, editors will benefit from listening to the class and viewing the instructional slides, too!

Download the slides here: http://tinyurl.com/kpt7coh

Note: If you have problems, email me to request the slides

Listen to the teleclass: http://tinyurl.com/o3wo8fs

* What is NAIWE?NAIWE logo

The National Association of Independent Writers and editors is a professional association for writers, editors, and anyone who works with words.

Open to writers/editors in any country, NAIWE helps its members create multiple streams of writing income.

I am a charter member of this organization. Check out my page at http://barbaramcnichol.naiwe.com/

Authors and Editors: Consider joining yourself. Details at this link:

Would you like to build your writing or editing career? Join the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors for success and support!

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