Once any writing is completed, it remains a rough draft, which means it is full of mistakes. It needs
editing and revision. Editing is important on both a personal and professional basis
for good communication. Mistakes happen. It’s good to have a sound foundation in how
grammar and writing mechanics work, but some new digital programs (MS Word for
sure) can help with this during the rough draft process for a manuscript... yet I’ve
found they make mistakes with their advice, too.
I think there is a mind-finger-eye connection when writing. My vision knows what my mind was thinking and what my fingers were typing, so my brain knows everything is right. Until that connection is broken, I won't see the obvious mistakes I made. For me, twenty-four hours usually works. What I think I’ve written, and what is contained within a document are two different realities.
I think there is a mind-finger-eye connection when writing. My vision knows what my mind was thinking and what my fingers were typing, so my brain knows everything is right. Until that connection is broken, I won't see the obvious mistakes I made. For me, twenty-four hours usually works. What I think I’ve written, and what is contained within a document are two different realities.
The first novel I sent out was rejected, and once I
started rereading it, I was embarrassed by my mistakes. Now I reread and edit every completed manuscript up to
four times. The longest was twelve times, but it still had mistakes. Why? With the mind-finger-eye connection mentioned above, a time delay is necessary between the writing and the editing to break that connection. Plus, I'm a terrible speller. If I edit immediately after completing a writing my mind knows
what I thought when writing and my vision refuses to notice my mistakes. After at least a day’s time, that eye-mind connection breaks and reality returns. Now I can see the misspelling, punctuation
mistakes, and incorrect wording. Another problem is in the editing process. With digital documents cut and paste happens a lot. It can cause many mistakes. Again, my vision misses them because my mind is telling me I did it correctly.
Spell check is great, especially for a confirmed misspeller
like me, but it can make mistakes, too, especially if the misspelled word
spells another word correctly. And all those homonyms -- which to use! Now grammar check often catches those mistakes, but not always. I also keep a list of words I tend to overuse in writing and go through the list at different times in the process; words like before, just, like, remained, seem, then, there, and the to be verbs.
These numerous re-readings also help me find a plot,
the setting, and character mistakes, which helps polish the manuscript before I
send it anywhere.
Once a manuscript is accepted, it usually goes through two more edits. I still find mistakes in my published manuscripts. How did I miss those mistakes? They always make me feel unprofessional and I wonder if the reader thinks the same thing. I had a new book accepted in January for August publication. I received the content editor's copy. I went through that twice before returning it and the mistakes I found surprised me. I look at wording because concise wording and stronger verbs move the story forward in a better way. I also look for repetitious wording. Then I received the line edit copy. I thought my first time through caught everything but decided I had time to go through it again. I found more mistakes, mostly clarity issues and wrong character names... I hope I have found everything needing correcting.
These grammar mechanics skills are not only necessary for fiction writers, but for anyone who writes for school, business, or just personal communications.
Visit these other sites for the author's insights on this topic:
Skye Taylor
Diane Bator
Beverley Bateman
Connie Vines
Anne Stenhouse
A.J. Maguire
Dr. Bob Rich
Victoria Chatham
Helena Fairfax
Judith Copek
Visit these other sites for the author's insights on this topic:
Skye Taylor
Diane Bator
Beverley Bateman
Connie Vines
Anne Stenhouse
A.J. Maguire
Dr. Bob Rich
Victoria Chatham
Helena Fairfax
Judith Copek