SquawkRadio Comments

Wow, those are some really great answers. <BR><BR>I don’t know about the editting like a reader..because truth be told, I’m really easy to please on grammar. Just so long as I understand it, I’m good. I don’t know exactly what that says about my own writing but I’m about to give it a go, as I’ve just finished my chapter for the contest. Doing some edits and then sumit time, baby!<BR><BR>I have a quick question that doesn’t have anything to do with the contest. As an editor, do you prefer slush pile vs agent submits.<BR><BR>I personally, *would think* I’d enjoy the slush pile. Mostly because you never know what treasure might be found there. Where as with an agent submission, they know what you like, so that’s basically all they send. Anyhow, thats just my thoughts.

I guess everyone is busy writing their submissions.  I have had the distinct honor of having Carrie Feron give me feedback on the first three chapters of my WIP (okay, four...I snuck in the Prologue) as part of a fundraiser sponsored by Jenna Petersen.  Carrie is spot on when she says she reads an MS with a reader’s eye.  She asked me those same questions and she was right on every count.  It’s made my writing so much better.<BR><BR>And her handwriting isn’t too bad.  There was only one comment I couldn’t read but, with the help of Tessa, was able to figure out!<BR><BR>Thanks again, Carrie.  And I hope you make many wonderful discoveries over at AvonFanLit!

Wow.  I was really surprised by the message that haven rich left so I wanted to write a response.<BR><BR>As both a writer and former editorial intern at a huge romance imprint, I thought I should let it be known that spelling and grammar are huge parts of the writing and publishing process.  When I was interning, I was always begging to be allowed to read and line-edit submissions.  Here was a commom scenario: an editorial assistant would be reading a submission and then suddenly she would throw it down in disgust.  “I can’t READ this!” she would cry. But somebody had to...so she would give it to the intern.  Why couldn’t she read it?  The submission would be so full of mistakes--improper use of quotation marks, tags, commas--that my eyes would tear.  And when the intern declares it unreadable, guess where that submission goes?<BR><BR>This is really not meant to be mean or discouraging, but rather I’m hoping it provides some insight to what is acceptable and what is not.  You wouldn’t go to a big job interview dressed in flip-flops and ripped jeans.  So you should take it upon yourself to perfect the presentation of your writing out of respect for those who will be taking the time to read it, and, let’s face it, have the power to decide your fate.<BR><BR>And finally, here’s a bit of trivia about editors (well most editors I’ve met).  They majored in either English or Humanities at college.  Grammar and spelling and syntax thrills them like it thrills no one else.  A perfect sentence excites them more than a clearance rack at Macy*s.  Why else would they edit and publish books for a living? <BR><BR>So good luck to you.  I do hope you were able to get something out of my stern lecture!

santa - CARRIE’S HANDWRITING ISN’T TOO BAD?!? IN WHAT UNIVERSE!?!

wow anon - interesting comments! And I agree. When I am judging a writing contest, or doing a critique, bad grammer and incorrect punctuation drives me nuts! And don’t get me started on “its” and “it’s”! ARGH!<BR><BR>Arkansas Cyndi

oops - double subject with singular verb! We need an “edit” button!

Hey Santa I am busy Waiting to read everyone’s submissions. I can hardly wait to Read all of those chapters!  Heck, I’m excited and I’m not even writing anything.<BR>Avon This is Very Cool. <BR><BR>Oh Anonymous, I had to smile when I read your “stern lecture”. You said “Grammar and spelling and syntax thrills them like it thrills no one else. A perfect sentence excites them more than a clearance rack at Macys.” No kidding! One of the degrees my Dad has is in English. When I first went to college I would send letters home once a week…But it wasn’t long before I ditched the writing and made the telephone my main mode of communication. Yah, talking on the phone was much easier. And my Dad couldn’t mail a phone conversation back to me…like he did with my letters...after he had corrected the spelling and grammar mistakes in red ink! Try explaining That to your roommate.

I did not mean to offend anyone with my statement above. Only meant that, I have been online for a long time and have chatted with a great many people who all use pc-slang on message boards, chatrooms and in emails. I can only hope that my writing skills are a bit better than any message board slang I might post.

Thanks so much for answering questions, Carrie!  I’ve been on the edge of my seat all week to get started...and now I’m realizing writing historical for the first time is nerve-wracking!!<BR><BR>Thanks for the game, can’t wait to get elbow-deep.

Carrie’s “editing like a reader” is one of her best qualities because she really picks up on the things that would make a reader go, “Whoa!  Why would the heroine say that?” or “Where did that mysterious second cousin twice removed suddenly come from?” I love that about her editing!

Oh my gosh, have any of you read Elizabeth Boyle’s story of how she won her first writing contest?  Wasn’t it awesome!<BR><BR>http://www.elizabethboyle.com/fave-hero.htm