Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 152

Another Round of Fun with Comment Spam

It's been a while since I last chuckled over funny comment spam. I gave up even looking at spam unless someone emails me about a missing comment. Then I will check spam to see if that's where it landed. Today I was searching for a comment and came across more laugh-inducing spam comments.

We know spammers don't read the posts, but really … the following comments certainly have nothing to do with thanks to commenters, which is where all of them were posted:

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photo credit: Liz Henry

Related Posts:Spam Can Be FunnyA Chuckle from SpamThere's Always a ChoiceSpam Again …Have You Tried Google Desktop and Notebook?Powered by Contextual Related PostsAnother Round of Fun with Comment Spam was first posted on August 12, 2011 at 12:14 am.
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Guest Post from Randall Davidson: Ten Proofreading Tips You Cannot Afford to Ignore

No matter how skilled of a writer you are, it is easy to submit work that is filled with errors. Even the best writers often miss the mark when it comes to proofreading. However, correcting errors in your work can give you the edge over the competition, making the following 10 proofreading tips of the utmost importance:

Use fresh eyes. Proofreading after a break from writing can help you see your work with fresh eyes and catch things that need to be fixed. Try proofreading all the work completed in one day the next morning. If time is of the essence, read something else before returning to your own composition.
Know your weaknesses. Most writers have errors that frequently pop up in their work. Keep a list of the common errors that you are prone to and check specifically for those items when proofreading.
Watch for little things. Small words that are misspelled or misused are commonly missed when proofreading. For example, keep a close eye on words like "it" and "is."
Know the style. Different publications and editors adhere to different style guides. Decide which style you prefer and adjust your writing to meet those guidelines. AP style, for example, may support different punctuation and grammar preferences than the Chicago Manual of Style.
Vocalize your work. Read your piece out loud to yourself. Hearing your writing vocalized can help you access different areas of your brain than writing and reading, making it easier to pick up on the mistakes.
Find a friend. A fresh set of eyes is often one of the best ways to ensure error-free writing. Have someone read the work and point out the errors that they notice. A new reader may also be able to offer new proofreading tips.
Split the tasks. There are numerous types of errors that can be present in your writing. Focus separately on each type of mistake. Use one read-through to look for spelling issues and a separate proofreading session for things like grammar and style mistakes.
Change it up. Reading the text in a way that is not intended can make errors more obvious. For example, read your work from bottom to top or from right to left. This separates each word from the larger context and makes it easier to spot errors.
Watch the lighting. Subtle nuances can impact your success at finding and correcting errors. For example, fluorescent lights make it harder to see small mistakes in your work. It is better to proofread under natural lighting.
Check the obvious. Don't assume that you are infallible to mistakes in any particular area. Overconfidence can hurt your finished product. Double-check headings and boilerplate text, and regularly review grammar rules that you are unsure about.

Using these proofreading tips can improve your writing and help you accomplish your goals as an author.

About the author: Randall Davidson is a cofounder of ProofreadingServices.Us, a proofreading service that offers book proofreading. Randall enjoys discussing proofreading and editing tips and best practices with other writers.

Related Posts:Proofreading and the Printer's DevilTen Tips for Self-EditingThe Recycling Meme: Ten Tips for Self-EditingResources for WritersEditing: Part 2 – What are the different kinds of editing?Powered by Contextual Related PostsGuest Post from Randall Davidson: Ten Proofreading Tips You Cannot Afford to Ignore was first posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:34 am.
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World eBook Fair: Last Day to Download Free eBooks

[image error]The World eBook Fair almost slipped past me this year. It started July 4 and ends today.

According to the event website:

Our goal is to provide Free public access for a month to 6.5 Million eBooks (7/4/11 to 8/4/11).

World eBook Fair is sponsored by the World eBook Library, Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, MyeBook, and Wattpad. Many of these sources offer free ebooks all the time, so even if you miss the World eBook Fair, this page is a good source of finding free ebooks.

Related Posts:World eBook FairWorld eBook FairEPIC's eBook AwardsE-Books, Part 1: I read throughout a four-hour power outageEPIC eBook CompetitionPowered by Contextual Related PostsWorld eBook Fair: Last Day to Download Free eBooks was first posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:05 am.
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Are You an Editing Geek or a Word Nerd?

A while back someone sent me an email suggesting I share a blog post with my readers: Word Nerds Rejoice: Top 25 Blogs For Editing Geeks. I reviewed the list and even subscribed to several of the blogs. Some of the listed blogs deal in editing minutiae, but there are several funny ones as well.

I love words, and I love editing words to make the stories or advice or information a pleasure to read. One editor described me as "the pickiest person I know!" I am a fanatic about misspelled or misused words, awkward and convoluted verbiage, and grammar errors that interfere with readers' enjoyment or understanding. However, I don't believe in being a slave to rules. Looking over this list of editing blogs made me think of a post I wrote in November 2006. Since most of you weren't reading my blog back then (actually, I don't think anyone was reading my blog then!), I decided to share it again.

Rules or Artistic License?

I've been following a discussion on a writers e-mail list. Must writers follow all the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation, or do the rules stifle the writer's creativity?

Some writers consider themselves artists who can't be restricted by rules, while others consider themselves craftsmen bound by conventions.

I fall in the middle—as noted in a previous post, a publisher has called me "the pickiest person she knows." As an editor, I have to know and follow grammar rules or I wouldn't have any customers. On the other hand, my writing style is informal and simple, and I usually don't worry about all the rules that may be used in formal writing. For example, I don't mind ending a sentence with preposition. Often it sounds more natural and understandable to do so.

In my view, there are several critical elements to good writing:

The reader must understand it. Using the right word is essential. Using it's when you mean its or using their or they're when you mean there can confuse your meaning. Punctuation to show when sentences start and end is critical. Writers must follow some rules to ensure that their readers know what the writer is saying.
The writing must be consistent. Some style guides call for serial commas (the comma before "and" in a series of three or more: bell, book, and candle). Other style guides say to leave out the last comma if the meaning is clear (bell, book and candle). If you're writing an academic paper or a newspaper article, you need to follow the appropriate style guide. But if you're writing a blog entry or an article for your Web site, you can take your choice of using or not serial commas. But whichever you choose, do it throughout the document. Writing "bell, book, and candle" in the first paragraph and "boys, girls and parents" in the second paragraph won't work.
The style of the writing must be appropriate to the subject and the situation. I've been editing an academic paper for a doctoral student—that paper is more formal and uses more "big" words than I use in my blog posts. An academic paper should demonstrate that the student has the vocabulary and the formal writing skill appropriate to the level of education. Depending on the purpose of the blog, posts should generally convey the message in a way that is easy and enjoyable for the reader.
Dialogue should reflect the education and personality of the character speaking. An uneducated laborer shouldn't sound like a college professor. But even if dialogue contains improper grammar, it should be punctuated correctly so it is easy for the reader to understand what is being said. And if a character speaks in a dialect, just enough of the dialectal spelling should be used to convey the impression without making it difficult for the reader to decipher what the character is saying.

Understanding the rules and knowing when you can break them is one of the hallmarks of a good writer.

Of course, since even good writers (and editors) are human, sometimes we all break the rules without intending to. Most editors say we can find everyone's errors but our own. So if you see me breaking the rules … maybe I did it on purpose, and maybe I just goofed!

Related Posts:Rules or artistic license?Who Needs an Editor?Editing: Part 4 – What are style guides and why do I need them?Seven Editing Tips for Professional and Nonprofessional WritersMemoir and Family History: Part 5—WritingPowered by Contextual Related PostsAre You an Editing Geek or a Word Nerd? was first posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:34 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

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Thanks to June 2011 Commenters

Thank you to the 98 commenters who left 121 comments in June. My apologies for my tardiness in recognizing you. Your comments extended the conversation and added value and interest, and I enjoyed replying to every one of them.


Every month when I post thanks to commenters, I get questions about how I compile this list. I have explained my system in detail in Compiling Thanks to Commenters.


Top Contributor (7 comments)










Christopher Roberts
Christopher

Roberts

Major Contributors (4 comments)

Mia
SBP


R.J.
Extremely Normal Couponing

Outstanding Contributors (3 comments)

Dominic Faith
PS Public Storage

Significant Contributors (2 comments)

Dawn Colclasure
Dawn Colclasure Blog


Derra
Accent Reduction Now


Jesse
iNLP Center


Karen
fourmotion


Kim
HGH Works


Marius
Poker Online


Sensei Matt Klein
Fun affordable self defence karate for kids


Sherry
Bewitched Accessories


Zara
C'est La Mode

Important Contributors

Alice
Undfind Blog


Aliyah
Scrub Shop Worldwide


Andreas
Artikel Database


Barbara
Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts


ben
Ben Sweet Remax House of Real Estate


Ben
Best Wedding Photographers Sydney


Ben
Plumbers in Sydney


bili osi
Hydroponics Future


Bluestocking
The Bluestocking Guide


Brad
Best Toaster Ovens


Carrie
The Best Dive Job in the World


Chris
Law Leaf


Dale
WPBlogMage


Dan
O'Brien's Moving and Storage


Daniel
Squidoo: Badrumsrenovering


Daniel C. Knight
NewsAndEntertainment.com


Dave
Dema Construction & Waterproofing


Denver
Abney, Garsden, McDonald


Diana
Remi Online


Dick O'Brien
HubPages: Genasante Review


Dominique
4 Walls and a View


Dorothy Beckman
Home Schooling Explained


Ed
Affordable Ohio Health Insurance Plans


Fred
Finally Fast


Gareth Brown
Bentley Walker


George
Exposix


Grant Presol
Rental Comp


Haley
Mike Loansy Blog


Helen
Straight from Hel


Ioana
Reguli Rummy


jack
Flashkhor


Jacob
IDC Direct


jake
Auto Insurance Discounters


James
Flag Day 2011


Jane
Recover Deleted Files Easily


Jason
Verisona Solicitors and Advocates


Jay
Chords for the Piano


Jayson
Return Address


Jim Boyd
Pointless but Cool


Jo Jones
Brilliant Bathrooms


Joel
HGH Information


Joey
Nassau Buyers


Jonathan Dylan
Promotions Warehouse


Jonathan Huie
Jonathan Lockwood Huie


John
Graffiti entfernen


Johnny
Properties of Singapore


Jon
B&D Wholesale Snackback Hats


Julia
Community Insurance Agency Inc


Laura Bennett
11″ Macbook Air


Lauren
NoCuffs.com


Lisa
Classic Books


Lisa
Getting It Write for You


Liza
Dabble Indesign


Lori
n/a


Mark
Fulham Funerals


Mark
LeCopywriting.com


Mark England
Book It 365


Mel
Toyota Lease Return Center


Michael Bitto
NoProblem Plumbing and Heating


Michelle
Fight Your Case


Mike
Address Base


Missy H.
American Diversified Publications


Nevaeh
Ledger & Associates


Patrick
Yarra Web


Polly
Smoke Free City


Princess Zezebel
Princess Zezebel Lair


rachel
Bowen Agency Realtors


Rebecca Williamson
What Color Is Your Dream Home


Renae
Renae Brumbaugh


Rick Daigny
Number of the Beast


Rob
Diving Computer Shop


Rose
My Panic Attacks


Rose
Deducta


Russell
HomeGiggers


Russell Davison
Russell Davison


Sally Ferguson
Sally's Words


Sam
VidaGirl


Simon
Phlebotomy Training And Certification


SK
MBA Crystal Ball


Sonya
What House?


Susan
Learn How to Make Solar Panels


Tammy L. Hensel
Dedicated Writer


Tarik
Freelancing in Bangladesh Perspective


Thomas
PLOA


Winona
Red Dirt Resumes



Related Posts:Thanks to May 2011 CommentersThanks to April 2011 CommentersThanks to March 2011 CommentersThanks to February 2011 CommentersThanks to March 2010 CommentersPowered by Contextual Related PostsThanks to June 2011 Commenters was first posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:28 am.
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Review: A Self-Publisher's Companion by Joel Friedlander

A Self-Publisher's Companion by Joel Friedlander


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been a fan of Joel Friedlander for a long time. As a long-time reader of his blog, The Book Designer, I had read most of the articles in this book, which is a compilation of blog posts organized and edited into a cohesive whole. Even so, I found the re-reading worthwhile.

If you're looking for nuts and bolts details on self-publishing, this is not the book for you. You won't find advice on choosing the best font (something Joel is expert at and covers thoroughly on his blog) or on what software to use to layout the interior. What you will find is encouragement, information on what self-publishing is and how it and the perception of it have changed in recent years, advice on why self-publishing might be a good choice for you and your book, and suggestions on marketing your book.

While much of the book is primarily aimed at nonfiction authors, anyone considering self-publishing fiction or nonfiction would benefit from reading it. Anyone who is already self-publishing will likely find encouragement and words of wisdom that will help them become more effective as a self-publisher.

View all my reviews

Disclosure: I purchased this book because I am a fan of the author and his blog. I have had some discussion with Joel regarding a guest post from him, and I hope that happens in the future, but that did not influence my review.

Related Posts:Book Review: The Yellow Rose by Dawn ColclasureBook Review: Halley's Bible HandbookMy Reviews at GoodreadsReview: It's Murder, My SonBook Review: Frugal and Focused Tweeting for RetailersPowered by Contextual Related PostsReview: A Self-Publisher's Companion by Joel Friedlander was first posted on July 27, 2011 at 4:19 pm.
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Why I Love to Read on an E-Reader

I recently got a new, latest generation Kindle, and I really love it. It's the smallest and lightest e-reader I've seen. I've had a Kindle since 2008, but I've been reading on an e-reader since 1999. I bought a Rocket eBook Reader, the very first e-reader, when it first came out, close in time to the time my first book, the contemporary romance Stroke of Luck, was released as an ebook.

I've read very few print books since then, and the last print book I read was years ago. I always hated to read hard cover books, but even paperbacks are difficult for me to hold and the font size in most paperbacks is too small for me to read. I love being able to adjust the font as large as I want it, and holding my light, small Kindle is much easier on arthritic hands than a "real" book. I've never had any particular affinity for the "smell" of a book or the "feel" of a book, so I don't miss those esoteric features that many readers seem to find as exciting as what they read.

I have several paperbacks that I bought at booksignings with every intention of reading them, but I've finally admitted that I will probably never again read in print.

I realize not everyone has the physical limitations that make an e-reader better for me, but there are other advantages as well.

I can buy several ebooks for every print book because of the difference in price, unless I'm buying from the clueless Big 6 publishers who grossly overcharge for their ebooks. Ebooks from indie author/publishers and small e-publishers are usually priced much less than paperbacks.
I can carry a whole library with me. I don't travel much, but when I did, I loved carrying all the books I wanted to read on a trip in the palm of my hand. Now I just like having instant access to a variety of reading material at home or in the doctor's waiting room or wherever I go. I have 100+ books to read on my Kindle, and it's easier to stick in the side pocket of my purse and carry with me than a single paperback.
Searching for a place in the book is easier electronically than flipping through pages trying to find it. The notes I take are neater and easier to read than handwritten notes, and I can electronically highlight and bookmark as much as I want.
I can store all the books I want without taking up any shelf space—and without having to dust them.

I encourage my clients to make their books available in both print and electronic formats. If you prefer print, I want you to be able to read and enjoy my books and my client's books. If I prefer ebooks, I want to be able to read and enjoy all the books I choose. We should each be able to read the way we prefer.

Disclosure: I bought both of my Kindles. The Amazon.com links are affiliate links.

Related Posts:Review: Thumbing Through ThoreauRead an E-Book Week Next WeekThe Growing E-Book MarketMy E-Publishing JourneyE-Readers Read MorePowered by Contextual Related PostsWhy I Love to Read on an E-Reader was first posted on July 22, 2011 at 4:20 am.
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Book Review: The Yellow Rose by Dawn Colclasure

The Yellow Rose by Dawn Colclasure

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is delightful little story for children that adults will enjoy as well. It also teaches a valuable lesson about love and beauty.

My only qualm is that it may inadvertently teach another less desirable lesson: that making money is evil. I'm not sure that is what the author intended, and a short book for children can't be too nuanced. However, that's what I came away with based on the portrayals of the gardener and the salesmen.

It's still a good read.

View all my reviews

Disclosure: I received an electronic advance reading copy of the book from the author. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The link to Amazon.com is an affiliate link.

Related Posts:Book Review: Halley's Bible HandbookReview: It's Murder, My SonMy Reviews at GoodreadsReview: Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly MaguiresBook Review: With God There Is Hope for HumanityPowered by Contextual Related PostsBook Review: The Yellow Rose by Dawn Colclasure was first posted on July 20, 2011 at 2:04 am.
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Would You Perform Surgery on Yourself?

Someone left a comment on one my posts about freelance editing rates basically saying he didn't need to know about editing rates because he would never pay anyone for editing—he does his own editing.

Of course, everyone should self-edit his or her own work. I've written several articles on self-editing, including Ten Tips for Self-Editing, Editing: Turning Dreck into Prose, and a seven-part series on editing that is focused on editing your own work.

If it's not critically important that your work reflect a level of excellence, editing yourself is fine. I edit my own casual writing, including blog posts. No one needs to hire an editor to edit an email—unless the email is important to closing a sale or resolving a problem for an angry client or preventing adverse consequences in a critical situation.

Self-editing alone is not enough when it is important that your work be the very best it can be. For books or important articles, I use an outside editor. Even though I am a professional editor myself (and a very good one, if I say so myself!), I don't catch my own mistakes as effectively as I catch the errors of others.

There are several reasons most of us find it difficult to be the sole editor on our own work:

As writers, we know what we meant, and we tend to read what we meant, not what we actually wrote. I'm notorious for leaving out the words "no" and "not," saying exactly the opposite of what I mean. When I read my own work, though, I tend to read the words that aren't there—because I know they're supposed to be there.
None of us knows everything, so we will miss errors that we don't know are errors. Perhaps we have a wrong understanding of what a word means or how it should be used, or maybe we're confused on when to use an ellipsis and when to use an em dash.
We read from the perspective of someone who is an expert in the subject matter, not from the point of view of our target audience, who may not be familiar with jargon we use or who may not understand what we write because they lack background knowledge.
The way we express ourselves makes perfect sense to us, but sometimes what we're saying is not so clear to others. Our sentence structure may be awkward or our word usage confusing to others, but we will never recognize those problems.

A professional editor can give you a different perspective that can make the difference between a mediocre article and a great one. Even asking someone else who isn't a professional editor to read and give you feedback is better than trusting your own editing.

There's a saying among editors, "I can catch everyone's mistakes but my own." Editing yourself on a major work is like being your own doctor when you need surgery.

photo credit: Sutherland85.

Related Posts:Who Needs an Editor?Editing: Part 7 – Do I need an outside editor?Editing: Part 1 – What is editing?Editing: Part 3 – When should I start editing?Ten Tips for Self-EditingPowered by Contextual Related PostsWould You Perform Surgery on Yourself? was first posted on July 15, 2011 at 3:20 am.
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Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sales

[image error]Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world, celebrate the season with free and discounted ebooks from Smashwords.

Smashwords says:

It's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter on the southern end of the globe, so what better excuse than to have a sale for beach reads and fireplace reads. There will be four coupon categories: free, 25%-off, 50%-off and 75%-off.

You'll find hundreds of great bargains that are also great reads during the sale, including (she said modestly) a novel and several how-to books from yours truly:

Fern's Fancies —5-star rated contemporary romance described by readers as both touching and humorous
The Secrets of Fantastic Houseplants
Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History
Finding the Information You Need: Research Tips for Your Family, Business, or Personal Pursuits

And while you're there, don't forget my always-free novelette, 5-star rated Trapped by Love, which readers have described as entertaining with surprising emotional depth.

Related Posts:Smashwords Summer/Winter SaleRead an E-Book Week 2011Read an E-Book Week Coming to an EndThe Growing E-Book MarketMore Free E-BooksPowered by Contextual Related PostsSmashwords July Summer/Winter Sales was first posted on July 12, 2011 at 7:41 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

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