I've been preparing a manuscript to submit to Turtle Magazine for the past few days. I checked the manuscript umpteen times for errors. That got me thinking about my editing versus the computers'.I'm so happy that computers have spell-check! Whatever did I do without it in my other life? Through the years I've learned not to completely depend on it. Oh, it's programed to do a spell-check but it's only a machine. It can't differentiate between their, there or they're. It doesn't know the difference between to, two or too.My computer also is programed to run grammar checks. Occasionally it will disagree with ordinary grammar rules...especially with commas. These are the times I pull out my trusty grammar book (it covers puntuation too) and dictionary. There's a lot to be said for these books.I'm not putting the computer down at all. There's an awful lot to be said for it. It's made a writers' life so much easier! We can organise all our notes, stories and books in folders. Not to mention the cover or query letters for the stories. We can create our own spreadsheets to track our submissions. For me, typing is so much easier than handwriting something. I'm sure it is for many other people too.Yes, there's a lot to be said for the computer. It can't do a persons' job of editing. I doubt if anything will ever come along that can. So, get out your grammar, punctuation books and your dictionaries.Keep on writing!
Several years ago, I visited my brother and his family for Christmas. At the time, I hadn't been published at all. I felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall!On the three hour ride to his home I thought about my writing. How could I get published? Then I started thinking about the Harry Potter book that was out. That gave me an idea.I asked my brother if he would pick me up a Harry Potter book from where he worked. He brought it home the next day. I had no idea that this was the second book in the series. I didn't have a clue that it was a series!The Harry Potter series of books had just came out. I had heard several things both good and bad about it. The author was an unknown who published a bestseller. Not only that but she single handedly got kids reading again. This is so important!How did she do it? I had to read this book and find out. I didn't want to plagiarize her...I wanted to study her.I wound up reading Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets twice. During the first read-through I studied the book. I took note of how she painted pictures with her words. I noticed how you could actually see the action. That's exactly what I've always wanted to do and now I found an example.I got half way through the book and I realized this was a good story! I read it a second time for pure entertainment. You have to love that flying Ford Anglia! From that time on, I've been hooked on Harry. I'm sorry, I digress.After I studied Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets I started getting my own work published. I owe J.K. Rowling a huge debt of gratitude for this!Did I learn anything from this? Yes. Don't be afraid to study another authors work. Make sure that's all you do...don't plagairize them. In fact, it's a great idea to study them if he or she writes in the same market you do.Keep on writing!
When I was in elementary school, I spent a lot of time at my local library.
I left our local library branch with several children's books under my arm. I felt happy about my finds but at the same time I berated myself. I chickened out again.
You see, I knew at that young age that I wanted to be a writer. I also wanted to ask the librarian how to get started. Would she laugh? Would she look at me like I had three heads? I had to get my nerve up before I approached her.
A week or two later, I did. I told my mother where I was going and headed for the library.
The librarian was on the teleohone when I arrived. When she finished I gulped and walked toward her desk.
I told her what I wanted. I also asked her if there were any books on the subject. I don't know what kind of reaction I was expecting but I didn't get it. Instead, she smiled and asked me to follow her. She led me to the back of the adults section and asked me to have a seat. She then took several books from the shelves and placed them on the table in front of me. The librarian told me to stay as long as I wanted. She also told me to leave the books on the table and tell her when I left. Then she left the room.
I looked around. There were a few other people in there...all adults. I never felt so much like a kid as I did in that moment!
As I remember this I realize the librarian was encouraging me in her own way. That's what we should do.
From this experience, I learned to always encourage young writers in the pursuit of their dream. I learned to encourage even if its a passing comment coming from the young writer.
Do you have a memory of when you were just dreaming about writing? Let me know!
Keep on writing!
blogid=2054'>
Years ago, I wrote a Christmas story that I thought was terrific. Boy, was I wrong!I recently took this story out of my filing cabinet and read it. It was awful...very 1950's. No wonder the story has been rejected so much. I haven't read a story like this since I was a kid! Am I dating myself here or what?Needless to say, I realized my story had to be brought into the twenty first century. I also realized my story needs more than being brought into the twenty first century. It needs a major over-haul!I still like the basic idea for the story so I'll re-write it. Wish me luck. I'll need it. I have my work cut out for me!I did learn from the Institute of Children's Literature to keep things current when your writing for magazines. I guess that didn't stick when it came to this story. I focus on writing for magazines and ezines.Have you ever written anything you thought for sure was terrific only to read it again just to find out how awful it is? Let me know!I did learn a lesson from all of this: keep it current.Keep on writing!
