Rob Bignell's Blog, page 360
August 21, 2013
Two l’s or not two l’s: Canceled vs. cancelled
Which way 
you spell this word depends upon where you are in the English-speaking world. Americans use “canceled” while Brits and Canadians use “cancelled.”
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 20, 2013
Improve writing by eliminating ambiguities
Sometimes when writing, we unintentionally create ambiguity – that is, we write a sentence that can be interpreted in more than one way. 
You’ve probably ran into this when reading instructions for a do-it-yourself kit or when trying to resolve some technical issue with your computer. For example:
Put one button “at” another button.
Exactly what does that mean? How do you place a button “at” another button? Does one go on top of the other? Is one button moved and then replaced by the other button?
In fiction, usually the result is that one of the interpretations is humorous, which distracts the reader from focusing on the story, as it breaks the suspension of disbelief. For example:
She stood and cleaned up her glass and napkin.
Did she literally take a wash cloth to her glass and napkin or did she bring them to the kitchen sink and trash can?
Often as writers we’re too close to the text to realize that a line is ambiguous. We know in our heads what we’re trying to say and so see only that when reading a line.
To identify ambiguities, look for the couple of common grammar problems often lead to them.
The first is pronoun references. In the sentence Jenny told Sandra that she was mistaken, the reader doesn’t know which one Jenny believes is mistaken – herself or Sandra. It could simply be rewritten as “I’m mistaken,” Jenny told Sandra or “You’re mistaken,” Jenny said.
A second is dangling modifiers. For example, While hiking through the mountains, a boulder rolled in front of Kris suggests that the boulder was hiking through the woods because the modifier When hiking through the woods is misplaced. Instead, restructure the sentence so that it reads While Kris hiked through the mountains, a boulder rolled in front of him.
By eliminating ambiguities, we make our writing more concise.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
August 19, 2013
Descend the mountain with falling action
Though your
story may have reached its climax, the tale isn’t over yet. The author also should briefly describe the effects that the climax has on the characters. This section of the story is known as the “falling action.” It’s what happens to the main character as he descends the mountain that he has spent the entire story climbing.
When Luke Skywalker is given a medal during the celebration held in his and Han Solo’s honor at the end of “Star Wars IV: A New Hope,” we are watching the falling action.
Though the story’s central problem is solved in the climax, without the falling action the tale feels incomplete. The author typically needs to show that there is some payoff for the main character that underwent the change allowing him to emerge victorious during the climax. This payoff needs to be larger than simply defeating the antagonist. Restoration of order and some reward for the main character often needs to be described.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 18, 2013
How to finally finish your languishing novel
Many writers
have unfinished novels and short stories sitting on their hard drives or as printouts in a desk drawer. Often coming up with a story idea isn’t a problem, but finding the time or knowing how to finish the work is.
There are several approaches any writer can use to finish their story:
g Set a deadline – Sometimes nothing works better than the challenge of a deadline. This forces you to avoid waiting for inspiration and to get down to the hard work of writing. Simply set a realistic goal for how many words or pages you will write a day. Figure out how many words /pages you still need to write to finish a work. Then divide those number of words/pages by how many words/pages you can write in a day. That gives you the number of days needed to complete your novel, and that many days out is your deadline. For example, suppose you can write 1,000 words a day. A short novel is about 70,000 words; suppose you’ve written 40,000 so far. That means you’ve got 30,000 words to go. At 1,000 words a day, that means you could finish the novel in 30 days (30,000/1,000). If today is Aug. 18, your deadline is midnight Sept. 18.
g Outline the rest of the book – Often writers get stalled because they’re not certain where their book is going. Plot out the rest of the story, describing beat-by-beat how you want the story to develop and how you want the main character to resolve the tale’s central problem. The more detailed you can be, the easier writing those last chapters will be.
g Find a writing partner – Someone else who also is trying to finish their story can be a great inspiration. He can offer encouragement and critiques of your work. If you meet regularly, ensuring you have text for one another to read can serve as a “deadline.”
Of course, sometimes the story is so poorly done in its opening sections that there really is no good reason to finish it. Despite that the story may be unpublishable, I’d recommend finishing it anyway. Completing one story makes completing the second one all that more easy, in the same way that completing your first 5k run (even if you’re not going to win the race) makes finishing the second 5k run all that more easy. Finishing the story gives you the full experience of writing one, after all, and that may help you avoid pitfalls on the next go.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 17, 2013
Editing client releases adventure/crime novel
A recent 
editing client of mine, Alan Robertson, has released his latest novel, “Sierra Joe 9”. The book tells the tale of aging California grape rancher, Joe Taylor, who searching for adventure sets off alone on a month-long hike of the scenic John Muir Trail. After befriending two strangers in need, he finds himself dragged into a desperate battle to save a woman with a dark past from a bounty hunter willing to kill to uncover her secret. “Sierra Joe 9” is available online.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 16, 2013
Hiking books now on sale at Annz Books
Annz Boutique 
& Books in Chetek, Wis., is carrying two of my hiking books, Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin and Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities. My most recent of the three books, Headin’ to the Cabin describes more than a 100 day hiking trails in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties, including more than two dozen in the Chetek-Cameron-Rice Lake area. Annz Boutique & Books is an independently owned store located at in downtown Chetek.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 15, 2013
Editor appearing at River Falls book event
I’ve added
an 
encore stop to my summer Headin’ to the Cabin book tour: Come on over to Local Authors Day in River Falls, Wis., on Saturday for the final stop. The event runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fox Den Used Books. Headin’ to the Cabin describes more than a 100 day hiking trails in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties. Fox Den Used Books is located at 120 S. Main St. in downtown River Falls. Hope to see you there!
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
Related articles
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August 14, 2013
Editing client releases supernatural thriller
Zac McNabb, 
a summer editing client of my mine has published his first novel, “Quantum: Event Horizon”. When a former orphan and now cynical adult manifests strange, supernatural powers, he finds himself the tipping influence in a titanic struggle between demonic and angelic forces. But our hero wonders if the angels attempting to recruit him really are who they say. Will he make the right decision before the demons reign victorious? “Quantum: Event Horizon” is available online.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 13, 2013
Editor releases fifth ‘Hittin’ the Trail’ book
The next
book in my Hittin’ the Trail hiking guide series, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Burnett County, Wisconsin, went on sale today. The ebook lists dozens of great family-friendly trails in all of your favorite Burnett County communities, including Grantsburg, Siren, Webster and Danbury as well along the St. Croix River in neighboring Minnesota. Included is a primer about day hiking essentials, such as gear, clothing, navigation, and how to avoid various trail dangers. Day Hiking Burnett County, Wisconsin is available as an ebook on Kindle, Nook, iBook/iPad, Kobo, and other formats.
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
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August 11, 2013
First City of Lakes Book Fair successfully held
Special thanks
to Annz Boutique & Books in downtown Chetek, Wis., for hosting the City of Lakes Book Fair on Saturday. Nine authors from west-central Wisconsin, including yours truly, set up tables at the book fair. The book fair wraps up the summer book tour for my last paperback/ebook, Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin. Stops included Menomonie, Hudson, Stillwater, Cumberland, Amery, Rice Lake, Siren, Duluth and Chetek – and one more appearance might yet be in the works!
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
Related articles
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