Earlier this week I outed myself about my addiction to romantic comedies over on Novel Spaces. Now I have another secret to divulge — a biggie. I have now been given the official go-ahead to tell people unofficially that my next novel, “A Clash of Innocents,” will be published! I can’t tell you when or by whom yet — there are still minor issues to deal with, like contract signing — but I can tell you it is all real enough that the cover artwork is being discussed and today I started to work seriously on my edits.
Luckily, the edits don’t seem to be too extensive. I’m thrilled to report that my editor is confident that the book is already in good shape. There are two editorial points, though, that she wanted me to consider, and that’s what I want to talk about today. I think it’s true that many, if not most, writers find that there are certain traps, certain clunky habits they fall into time and time again. Whether it’s an overused word or a worn-out turn of phrase, these little buggers settle into our prose and then become invisible. No matter how many times you reread the work, you just don’t see them sitting there, turning your otherwise beautiful sentences into turgid lumpy mush. Well, I am here to divulge to you now that I have two of these. Let’s take them one at a time:
* Starting a sentence with the word But. But of course, you’ll say, there’s nothing grammatically wrong with that, and you’d be correct. But I’m not talking about grammar, I’m talking about relying too much on that one word to express contradiction or comparison. Here’s an example:
There’s nothing grammatically wrong with that. But I’m not talking about grammar.
True, it’s not horrible. Do it over and over and over again, though, and it becomes clunky and boring. It’s not just a failure of the ear. For me, it shows a lack of confidence. I use But all the time because I don’t believe I’ve made my point clearly enough. The But is the hammer that hits my reader over the head with my comparison. If I believed the comparison was clear enough, I wouldn’t need it so often. So Sue, cut it out. If you don’t believe in your prose, why should anyone else? There. That’s the first one.
* This one’s worse. I continually put quotation marks around words as if to highlight their intended sense of irony. It’s like I’ve gone through the entire narrative with a nudge-nudge wink-wink. For example:
He said he got the tickets from one of his “mates.”
Now if I have done my job, then the irony or sarcasm will be evident. I shouldn’t need the damn quotation marks. I’d like to think that this problem isn’t a systemic one. Rather, it is part of my narrator’s personality. She’s lovable and funny, but she’s also particularly snide and sarcastic. Yet, there are much better ways of showing this than tossing annoying punctuation marks all over the page. Again, it shows a lack of confidence. Stop it, Sue. Stop it right now.
Okay. That feels better. But I ask you. What are your “nasty” habits?
button courtesy of zazzle.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS! That’s fantastic news – so pleased for you.
I have a suspicion that “but” might be one of mine too. Or maybe not. I notice it when I do it; become full of fear that it’s not okay and look it up where I find it is considered okay now…
Maybe then, a general neurosis is one of mine?
But, hell, congratulations Sue. I cannot wait to hear more and your narrator sounds great.
Woo HOO! Great news.
Just, really, and people taking deep breaths are three of mine.
Fantastic news!
Like Queenie, ‘really’ is one word I have to look out for.
How fantastic, Sue! Many congratulations!!!!
I am so thrilled for you. Can’t wait to hear more about it. But I’ll have to “wait”.
My editor said read the novel out loud to your self. It was quite amazing the clunk and the errors that showed up.
Glyn
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
See for me what’s so nice about being a serious work in progress is that I make so many common mistakes- they don’t get boring!
Your problem with BUT and ” is you have too few annoying writing habits. My cure – up the game, give those editors a run for their money (by using cliches like a run for their money, for example). HA!!
JJ: Thanks! And let’s hear it for general neuroses!
Queenie: Yes – I do the deep breaths thing too. That ‘s a good one!
Cathy: Really is a really good one, too. It’s all about emphasis, isn’t it, as if we have to scream in their ears to get them to “get it” (oops, there are those “”‘s again)
Eliz: Thanks! And hope you can come to my launch!!
Glyn: Actually, I did read it out loud, over and over. I guess some of it just got planted in my ear…
Lauri: Ha! That’s hysterical. And that would make a good blog, writing something with as many cliches as possible….
Boo yah, mazel tov and congratulations! This is, to state the obvious, quite wonderful.
After your work and vicissitudes of late you have been due for some recognition.
Many congratulations! You must be delighted.
I think I do that ‘but’ thing too. I also use the word ‘now’ too much. I think that word cloud facility is quite good for picking some of these things up.
Is there a ‘word cloud facility’ available in word 2003? Or where can I download it?
Congartulations! This calls for a lunch as soon as possible – just emailed you. Lots of love V
Thanks again all…and “word cloud facility”? Nope, never heard of it. I’ll see if I can suss it out.
Congratulations, Sue! I’m so pleased for you. x
Sue, I’m thrilled for you and can’t wait to read your new novel. I have many bad habits, not all of them related to writing.
Oh well done. Such good news.
How on earth did I manage to miss this post?
I am completely over the moon for you….fantastic news 😀
Ooohh I loved the last one so can’t wait to read this one…especially since I’ve been to Cambodia!!
Make sure you celebrate in style!!
C x
Never mind the buts, I’m just so excited at your news. Please come over to BWBD and share some details.
BTW – word cloud is available here http://www.wordle.net/