Annette Lyon's Blog, page 26
September 8, 2010
WNW: Department of Redundancy Department
Sometimes when I go over a first draft, I run into hilarious problems like dangling modifiers, inconsistencies, and repetition.
One common repitition problem in first drafts is writers repeating themselves by trying too hard to abide by the adage of "show, not tell."
So they do both: they tell something, then show it. Or vice versa: show it, then recap it by telling what we just saw. I'm guilty of this myself and must weed out repetition from early drafts.
An example:
Sue cried. Plump tears...
One common repitition problem in first drafts is writers repeating themselves by trying too hard to abide by the adage of "show, not tell."
So they do both: they tell something, then show it. Or vice versa: show it, then recap it by telling what we just saw. I'm guilty of this myself and must weed out repetition from early drafts.
An example:
Sue cried. Plump tears...
September 6, 2010
List Time
Therefore, it must be a Monday. Or a holiday. Or both.
With my colleagues over at Precision Editing Group, I'm speaking at The League of Utah Writers Roundup. The five of us are teaching an all-day workshop on writing, plotting, and editing on Friday, September 17. The other instructors are H. B. (Heather) Moore, Josi Kilpack, Julie Wright, and Lu Ann Staheli. It's gonna be awesome.I'm also teaching several classes at the Writers Conference sponsored by the American Fork Arts Council. They'll...
With my colleagues over at Precision Editing Group, I'm speaking at The League of Utah Writers Roundup. The five of us are teaching an all-day workshop on writing, plotting, and editing on Friday, September 17. The other instructors are H. B. (Heather) Moore, Josi Kilpack, Julie Wright, and Lu Ann Staheli. It's gonna be awesome.I'm also teaching several classes at the Writers Conference sponsored by the American Fork Arts Council. They'll...
September 3, 2010
Top 5 Writers I Admire & Why
Continuing my Top 5 series I started HERE (based loosely on WD's Top 10 in the current issue):
Top 5 Writers I Admire, and Why
1) Barbara KingsolverShe is a true word smith, an artist. Her characters are deep and layered. Her plots are complex. And her language . . . dang, there are times reading The Poisonwood Bible where I reread paragraphs just to experience the beauty again, to roll the words around in my head. After finishing it, I put the book down half elated, half depressed because it...
Top 5 Writers I Admire, and Why
1) Barbara KingsolverShe is a true word smith, an artist. Her characters are deep and layered. Her plots are complex. And her language . . . dang, there are times reading The Poisonwood Bible where I reread paragraphs just to experience the beauty again, to roll the words around in my head. After finishing it, I put the book down half elated, half depressed because it...
September 1, 2010
WNW: A Rant: Could NOT Care Less
Hearing (or reading) I could care less is one of my eye-twitching peeves, because it states the exact opposite of what the person means.
I could care less means that the speaker/writer could conceivably care less than they do at this moment.
So . . . they DO care. At least a little. Because they COULD care less.
So it's possible for them to care less than they do right now.
Yeah, not even ALMOST what they mean.
Try again:
What they mean is that they care so little that there is no way for them...
I could care less means that the speaker/writer could conceivably care less than they do at this moment.
So . . . they DO care. At least a little. Because they COULD care less.
So it's possible for them to care less than they do right now.
Yeah, not even ALMOST what they mean.
Try again:
What they mean is that they care so little that there is no way for them...
August 31, 2010
Cut to the Chase
Our house has a pretty miserable excuse for a tooth fairy.
Like one of the last times #4, thrilled over her latest lost tooth, put it under her pillow. I fully meant to engage the tooth fairy on her job before I went to bed. I really did. But I was tired. And I forgot.
In the morning, #4 came to me with a sad little furrow on her brow. "The tooth fairy didn't come."
#3, who is older and wiser and knows a bit about the ways of the world, helped distract #4 while I ran around the house for change...
Like one of the last times #4, thrilled over her latest lost tooth, put it under her pillow. I fully meant to engage the tooth fairy on her job before I went to bed. I really did. But I was tired. And I forgot.
In the morning, #4 came to me with a sad little furrow on her brow. "The tooth fairy didn't come."
#3, who is older and wiser and knows a bit about the ways of the world, helped distract #4 while I ran around the house for change...
August 27, 2010
Top 5 Essentials to a Writer's Life
Totally stealing this idea from the current (Sept '10) Writer's Digest. It's their "Big 10" issue, where every article and department has a theme of 10.
One section has ten best-selling writers, each given a question with their top 10 answers. I'm going to answer some of those myself, only keep the answers to five instead of ten. (I'm no Jodi Piccoult.)
Top 5 Essentials to a Writer's Life
1) The Right ToolsThis definitely includes a computer, because you simply cannot function in the modern...
One section has ten best-selling writers, each given a question with their top 10 answers. I'm going to answer some of those myself, only keep the answers to five instead of ten. (I'm no Jodi Piccoult.)
Top 5 Essentials to a Writer's Life
1) The Right ToolsThis definitely includes a computer, because you simply cannot function in the modern...
August 25, 2010
WNW: Rules? Who Says?
Several people have asked me recently about the rules of grammar and usage. Who makes them? What determines what a rule is? When and why and can we break them?
To answer that, first, we have to back up a bit.
Language evolves; we all know that. Take a look at the opening line of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the original, and your eyes will glaze over. (That is English? What the . . . )
My dad has the first paragraph memorized, and when he recites it, it sounds stinkin' cool . . . but nothing...
To answer that, first, we have to back up a bit.
Language evolves; we all know that. Take a look at the opening line of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the original, and your eyes will glaze over. (That is English? What the . . . )
My dad has the first paragraph memorized, and when he recites it, it sounds stinkin' cool . . . but nothing...
August 23, 2010
NOT an Anne Freak
I'll be back with my regular schedule soon. For today, here's a favorite post of mine from waaaay back, from March 12, 2007.
NOT an Anne Freak
I know this may come as a shock to many people. To many of my close friends, in fact.
But I am not an Anne of Green Gables freak.
Sure, I have every single one of the Anne books. They're all dog-eared and nearly memorized. I own all the movies except for the last one, which is a vile thing that should never have been made. (Any self-respecting fan knows...
NOT an Anne Freak
I know this may come as a shock to many people. To many of my close friends, in fact.
But I am not an Anne of Green Gables freak.
Sure, I have every single one of the Anne books. They're all dog-eared and nearly memorized. I own all the movies except for the last one, which is a vile thing that should never have been made. (Any self-respecting fan knows...
August 18, 2010
Listocity
It's the end of summer, which, for a couple of weeks, has meant being very busy.
These weeks have included things like spending several days at various events for the LDS Booksellers Convention, where I got to handle the one existing copy of Chocolate Never Faileth (with strong instructions that I MUST return it . . . very hard to do!).
Also had a family camp-out with Grandpa during which we played silly games, fished, and had a great time (yay for my parents being HOME!). Then came a Lyon...
These weeks have included things like spending several days at various events for the LDS Booksellers Convention, where I got to handle the one existing copy of Chocolate Never Faileth (with strong instructions that I MUST return it . . . very hard to do!).
Also had a family camp-out with Grandpa during which we played silly games, fished, and had a great time (yay for my parents being HOME!). Then came a Lyon...
August 4, 2010
WNW: It Bugs Me Anymore
Some time ago, Erin asked whether any words were particular peeves of mine.
I could easily list of a bunch of broken rules that are peeves (many I've discussed here at Word Nerd Wednesday), but while I knew I had word peeves, I couldn't think of any offhand.
Then I heard one misuse over and over. That's it, I decided. Time to post that one. It's just one word, but a word that is constantly misused and has therefore become a hated one for me:
ANYMORE
I know, random, right?
But it's used...
I could easily list of a bunch of broken rules that are peeves (many I've discussed here at Word Nerd Wednesday), but while I knew I had word peeves, I couldn't think of any offhand.
Then I heard one misuse over and over. That's it, I decided. Time to post that one. It's just one word, but a word that is constantly misused and has therefore become a hated one for me:
ANYMORE
I know, random, right?
But it's used...
