Let’s face it, catching mistakes in our writing is not easy. Our
brains often read our own writing as we intended it to be written, not the way
we wrote it. Critiquing the writing of others is much easier because we don’t
have a mental concept of the text. We’re reading it for the first time, so if
there is an error, it pops. Margaret Atwood says it this way: You can never read your own book with
the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new
book, because you wrote the thing. You’ve been backstage. You’ve seen how the
rabbits were smuggled into the hat. Therefore ask a reading friend or two to
look at it before you give it to anyone in the publishing business. This friend
should not be someone with whom you have a romantic relationship, unless you
want to break up.
Before sending a manuscript out to editors or agents, proofreading
is a must. But if we can’t “see” all the mistakes, what can a writer do?
Of course, a professional proofreader is one option, but probably
not an affordable one for many. So checking our own work is a good place to
start. Here are some techniques I’ve tried with success.
Place the manuscript aside for a
few days, a week, or even better, a month. Don’t look at it. Start another
manuscript, so your mind will focus on the latest work. After a length of time,
refocus on the finished manuscript. By that time your writing palate will be
cleansed and your mind will catch the mistakes more easily.
Keep an error list. If you sometimes confuse the
use of “which” and “that,” make a note so you can double check the manuscript.
Take your time proofreading. It’s a slow process,
so don’t rush it. Read slowly—each word, each sentence.
In my next blog, I’ll provide more proofreading
tips.
Call for
Submissions for Young Writers:
Skipping Stones Magazine. Publishing poems,
stories, articles and photos from both youth and adults for readers ages 8 to
16. A resource in multicultural and global education, ecological and cultural
diversity.
Call for
Submissions for Adult Writers:
Skipping Stones Magazine. Our readers, ages 7 to 17, hail from
diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. We want to make their reading
of Skipping Stones an active experience, relevant to issues confronting
them locally and globally. Writing and artwork by adults should challenge
readers to think, learn, cooperate and create.
We encourage adults
to submit creative informational stories rather than pure fiction. We prefer
submissions focusing on your own culture or experiences. No adult poetry,
please.
Submission guidelines at
https://www.skippingstones.org/wp/adult/
Nancy Kelly Allen has written 40+ children’s
books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK.
Let’s face it, catching mistakes in our writing is not easy. Our
brains often read our own writing as we intended it to be written, not the way
we wrote it. Critiquing the writing of others is much easier because we don’t
have a mental concept of the text. We’re reading it for the first time, so if
there is an error, it pops. Margaret Atwood says it this way: You can never read your own book with
the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new
book, because you wrote the thing. You’ve been backstage. You’ve seen how the
rabbits were smuggled into the hat. Therefore ask a reading friend or two to
look at it before you give it to anyone in the publishing business. This friend
should not be someone with whom you have a romantic relationship, unless you
want to break up.
Before sending a manuscript out to editors or agents, proofreading
is a must. But if we can’t “see” all the mistakes, what can a writer do?
Of course, a professional proofreader is one option, but probably
not an affordable one for many. So checking our own work is a good place to
start. Here are some techniques I’ve tried with success.
Place the manuscript aside for a
few days, weeks, or even better, a month. Don’t look at it. Start another
manuscript, so your mind will focus on the latest work. After a length of time,
refocus on the finished manuscript. By that time your writing palate will be
cleansed and your mind will catch the mistakes more easily.
Keep an error list. If you sometimes confuse the
use of “which” and “that,” make a note so you can double check the manuscript.
Take your time proofreading. It’s a slow process,
so don’t rush it. Read slowly—each word, each sentence.
In my next blog, I’ll provide more proofreading
tips.
Call for
Submissions for Young Writers:
Skipping Stones Magazine. Publishing poems,
stories, articles and photos from both youth and adults for readers ages 8 to
16. A resource in multicultural and global education, ecological and cultural
diversity.
Call for
Submissions for Adult Writers:
Skipping Stones Magazine. Our readers, ages 7 to 17, hail from
diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. We want to make their reading
of Skipping Stones an active experience, relevant to issues confronting
them locally and globally. Writing and artwork by adults should challenge
readers to think, learn, cooperate and create.
We encourage adults
to submit creative informational stories rather than pure fiction. We prefer
submissions focusing on your own culture or experiences. No adult poetry,
please.
Submission guidelines at
https://www.skippingstones.org/wp/adult/
Nancy Kelly Allen has written 40+ children’s
books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK.
Look at publishers’ catalogs. You can find them on their websites. Do the books seem to be similar to the manuscript you wrote, but different enough to not compete with books in the catalog? If you’re going the agent route, study the type of books s/he represents.
