tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post5372041977257858307..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Do You Copy? Tips on Copy Editing Your Own WorkJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21691725345123717702015-12-08T08:06:30.235-05:002015-12-08T08:06:30.235-05:00I suppose it stands out more to me as the author :...I suppose it stands out more to me as the author :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32522074673007272702015-12-08T08:04:46.449-05:002015-12-08T08:04:46.449-05:00I was working on two projects at once a few years ...I was working on two projects at once a few years ago (drafting one, edits on the other) and one was in past tense, the other present tense. I can't tell you how often I caught myself using the wrong one and had to backtrack to fix it. Ugh.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84873290362346095342015-11-29T12:58:57.562-05:002015-11-29T12:58:57.562-05:00"His greed had turned to war, and he crushed ..."His greed had turned to war, and he crushed all of us under his boot, racing to get even more power." - Not necessarily a 'goof'. His greed had turned to war at some point in the past and now he was in the process of crushing us under his boot. Anyway, normal advice is to suet he pluperfect sparingly. Once you've taken us to that previous point in the past, it's considered fine, even recommend to carry on with a normal perfect or preterit Gill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13907328485580011762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16552687466063114792015-11-29T07:48:43.997-05:002015-11-29T07:48:43.997-05:00Oh, tenses definitely! I can go back to work on a ...Oh, tenses definitely! I can go back to work on a different day and I want to change all the tenses around. I've lost count of how many times I've changed my chapter and sub headings (restore to restoring and back again etc.). <br /><br />I'm not sure how to master them...Ian Andersonhttp://handycrowd.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-29542454405168411082015-11-05T06:27:09.579-05:002015-11-05T06:27:09.579-05:00Funny! It's such a weird thing, because we all...Funny! It's such a weird thing, because we all do it, and sometimes it works fine, but others it sounds hysterical. I think it all depends on what image it evokes. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79172432470117767232015-11-04T17:31:06.824-05:002015-11-04T17:31:06.824-05:00A reader (and friend thank goodness) made fun of m...A reader (and friend thank goodness) made fun of me mercilessly for a body part mistake - instead of writing "he spun around" I wrote "his feet spun around". I didn't really get the problem at first until she pointed out that feet only "spin" on cartoon characters.Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40765103061489345762015-10-30T10:10:09.636-04:002015-10-30T10:10:09.636-04:00I'm guilty of using they as a neutral pronoun ...I'm guilty of using they as a neutral pronoun (all those "his or her" just sound too formal to me), but I agree with last part. If the gender has been established, they would indeed feel weird.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21419034156515465132015-10-30T09:21:07.921-04:002015-10-30T09:21:07.921-04:00Re: Ambiguous Pronouns I know in this era of poli...Re: Ambiguous Pronouns I know in this era of political correctness, writers like to use "it" and "they" so as to include both sexes in a reference. That being said, what really makes me wince is writing in which a character's gender has been established previously, but who is referred to as "they" later in the narrative.Sheri Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16233086404996394540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-24067700738642523112011-05-23T15:56:32.170-04:002011-05-23T15:56:32.170-04:00Karen: Don't you love when that happens? (well...Karen: Don't you love when that happens? (well, love/hate if you know what I mean) I feel so bad that I missed it but so impressed by those who find it.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31791204658982155862011-05-19T16:46:49.604-04:002011-05-19T16:46:49.604-04:00I'll chime in and say this is a great post, to...I'll chime in and say this is a great post, too. In my last book, my editor noted that I gave 3 characters some of the same facial features. It takes a steady eye to catch inconsistencies.Karen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13425141684712829990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88186473652432167742011-05-19T13:03:53.052-04:002011-05-19T13:03:53.052-04:00JD: And copy editors will love you for that :)JD: And copy editors will love you for that :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-974018972853248332011-05-19T08:32:16.561-04:002011-05-19T08:32:16.561-04:00My Freshman English T.A. really hated it, and woul...My Freshman English T.A. really hated <i>it</i>, and would mercilessly criticize my use of <i>it</i> in my assignments. Now I rarely use <i>it</i> unless I think it's blatantly obvious what <i>it</i> means.JDsghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735390644321868222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17598929813532213642011-05-19T07:51:34.385-04:002011-05-19T07:51:34.385-04:00Angie: Thanks. Me too ;) They're great on thos...Angie: Thanks. Me too ;) They're great on those days when I know I need to write but don't feel creative. I can edit and do the more proofing-type stuff.<br /><br />Stephsco: They really are. The longer I do this the more I see no word is evil. Everything has its place. Hmm...that might make a good post actually. Thanks!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68500262995388678172011-05-18T17:33:04.171-04:002011-05-18T17:33:04.171-04:00I leaned toward all WAS and HAD is evil, but I rea...I leaned toward all WAS and HAD is evil, but I realize now they are sometimes actually needed!Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67703704235421920602011-05-18T14:47:50.711-04:002011-05-18T14:47:50.711-04:00Awesome post, Janice! I love new editing tips.Awesome post, Janice! I love new editing tips.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526875813399934443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83290226901234886862011-05-18T12:48:57.900-04:002011-05-18T12:48:57.900-04:00Steve: LOL oh you just made my day with that blond...Steve: LOL oh you just made my day with that blond hair comment. Thanks!<br /><br />Raelyn: Most welcome. :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32386947594595305652011-05-18T09:34:46.466-04:002011-05-18T09:34:46.466-04:00Love your examples. I'm working on revisions ...Love your examples. I'm working on revisions now so this is great. Thanks!Raelyn Barclayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13663623332561787011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48922659123711647422011-05-18T06:54:44.670-04:002011-05-18T06:54:44.670-04:00One of my goofs was "the waves rolled like th...One of my goofs was "the waves rolled like the serpentine back of a serpent." *headsmack*<br /><br />P.S. I actually order all my blond hair from Geveg.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.com