A Good Editor Can Get You Read...Plus Take Our Word Quiz

Kendra Bonnett--Getting Read #12

Getting read…it’s what most writers want. Oh there are a few who write only for themselves. But most of us want someone—even if it’s just family—to read our stories, our thoughts, our legacy. In my columns I generally focus on what it takes to get published and how to market and sell one’s book going forward.

Writers in the 21^st century have a useful tool in the Internet. But today I want to suggest something a little more traditional and low tech. It's editing, and good editing can make a big difference in your ability to get read.

If you like words and good writing--even simple sentences--you may be acutely aware of the sloppy writing, incorrect word usage and nonexistent grammar that passes for communication on the Internet. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t see someone confuse then/than, their/there, and your/you’re. Most of it carelessness, but not entirely. The mistakes are repeated too often to be simply silly mistakes.

I thought it would be fun to include a little quiz. It's just for fun, and your challenge is to determine what (if anything) is wrong with each example. At least one is correct. You'll find the answers at the bottom of this post.

1. Black gold brings effluence.
2. All three of my children work in the emergency room. This winter, I worry that anyone of my children may be the first person in Reno to get swine flu.
3. Sludge from the broken sewer pipe contaminats the city beach.
4. Tom is a voracious reader.
5. Whenever Jane didn’t get her way, she skulked around the house for hours, hoping her parents would give in.
6. Some would say that the town was suffering from a general decline in morales.
7. Anthony yearned to be Acme’s vice president of marketing; he purposely set the wheels in motion to achieve his dream.

So how did you do? Pretty well, I expect. But before you check your answers, I'd like to direct you to our first Author Conversation for 2010 over on Women's Memoirs. Matilda Butler and I had the pleasure recently to talk with Jid Lee. Jid is the author of To Kill a Tiger: A Memoir of Korea. It's a fascinating memoir--well written and interesting for its technique. Jid is most effective for the way she entwines her history and memories with those of her family and homeland.

Jid tells us that she used three editors before she was finished. She wasn't so much in need of a grammarian as someone to help her with structure...someone who could help her turn 230,000 words into a marketable book of just 130,000 words. I think you'll enjoy our conversation.

And while we're on the subject of editing...When you're ready, I hope you will consider the talented editors we have assembled for the Story Circle Network Editorial Service. These women represent a diverse range of editing skills. This year, we'll begin showcasing their talents by having them take turns blogging here on Telling HerStories. So you'll want to watch for that.

Now, why don't you check your answers to the quiz above.

1. Black gold is an effluence, meaning it flows out, but to the person who owns the oil well, black gold brings affluence.
2. When anyone refers to anybody, it’s one word. But when it refers to any single individual, we use two words—any one.
3.  Actually,  the problem is with a single letter: The sludge is full of contaminants, and these contaminate our rivers and streams.
4. Yes, it is true. Tom is a voracious reader. That’s a veracious statement.
5. In truth, Jane’s little sister skulks around, looking for her opportunity to slip into her older sister’s room so she can go through Jane’s stuff. Her best chance usually comes when Jane is busy sulking.
6. I have to admit that morale is low all over town thanks to the behavior and moral decrepitude of a handful of people.
7. While it’s true that Anthony’s efforts were deliberate and not by accident, he acted with a single purpose…he acted purposefully.