Barbara McNichol Editorial Services
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by Barbara McNichol
It only takes a moment to inadvertently make a blunder in writing that sets in motion near-disastrous results. Sure, writing “best retards” instead of “best regards” can be embarrassing but some writing blunders can truly hurt.
What catastrophic examples can you cite about communications gone awry? What consequences followed?
Please share your stories here. The person who submits the Biggest Blunder example earns a printed copy of my Word Trippers book.
Being human, we all err. But wouldn’t it be helpful to clearly identify the types of writing mistakes we most commonly make and eradicate them?
I discussed seven common writing errors that authors tend to overlook in a recent webinar sponsored by Book Street Cafe. They have made the replay available to me and I like to share.
Invest one hour and you’ll get a lot of valuable information, especially if you’re writing a nonfiction book.You can request an MP3 file (audio only) or an MP4 file (audio with visuals) by emailing me with 7 Mistakes in the subject line. Please state your preference–MP3 or MP4.
Book Street Cafe
Better yet, you can access a whole community of information and services at Book Street Café, a virtual association created for authors and publishers. This membership site includes periodic meetings, forums for asking questions, and special training events—all from the comfort of your office or home. I highly recommend you join Book Street Café—a $10 monthly investment—and get ongoing access to experts in the publishing world.
When you join now, you’ll become a charter member. And you can listen to the replay of Barbara McNichol: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Book right at www.BookStreetCafe.com
Book Street Café, for publishers, self-publishers, and others interested in publishing, provides a common forum where you can go to ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about publishing. Join here.
by Barbara McNichol
What can editors tell writers about improving their writing before they even begin the editing process? Here’s a summary:
Mistake #1. Being so self-absorbed as a writer that you’re unaware of the reader’s experience. The fix? Know your core message and write to that message, leaving out the experience of writing.
Mistake #2. Addressing readers as readers rather than a single key person whose interest you want to capture with your message. The fix? Keep a single interested person in your target audience top of mind as you write.
Mistake #3. Skimming the surface, not going deep enough. The fix? When describing an experience, explain what you felt, what the other person felt as best you can, and what exact words were spoken. Go deeper with the details.
Mistake #4. Having no rhyme or reason to the order of the paragraphs. The fix? Make a conscious decision about the order based on logic and facilitating your readers’ comprehension.
Mistake #5. Overusing weak verbs and throwing in extraneous phrases and wobbly words. The fix? Rewrite using active verbs; question use of every adjective and adverb; throw out wobbly words: really, very, much, some that. “I Really Think That We Should Not Use Some Words Very Much.”
Mistake #6. Using multiword noun phrases when one active verb will do. The fix? Whenever possible, get an active verb to do the “work.”
Mistake #7. Writing sentences that ramble (on and on and on and on). The fix? Limit sentences to 15-21 words max but vary sentence length.
Bonus mistake: Mixing metaphors and flat-out choosing the wrong word. The fix? Use a word choice guide like Word Trippers to help you select the perfect word when it really matters.
