GRAMMATICAL CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED

GRAMMATICAL CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED
(The importance of editing and paying attention to detail)
By Flora Reigada, journalist & novelist



I rubbed my eyes and re-read the sentence. Did I really see it in a published book? I couldn't believe the errors.
She was quick as a march hair.
I almost blushed for the writer.
First, unless she was referring to march as in a parade, the month of March is capitalized.
Second, a hair is not quick unless it is falling from one's head. But a h-a-r-e is a large rabbit--and it is quick.
Then there was that nasty cliché, which the writer got wrong. It is actually mad as a March hare.
In "writing 101" we were instructed to avoid cliches like the plague--pun intended.
Editors are no fans of them. One dubbed a writer-friend, The Cliche Queen, because she frequently included them in her writing.
I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't, because that same editor nicknamed me, The Comma Queen.
"Using too many commas is the mark of an amateur," she told me, frowning over her eyeglasses.
I have also made my share of grammatical errors. Many were found by my husband/editor, Dan, whom I call Ol' Eagle Eye, because he can spot an error like an eagle its prey.
Here are some examples from my books and newspaper stories.
 
As Dan and I reviewed "Elizabeth's Secret," Book 1 in my "Castle in the Sun" romantic-suspense series, he marveled at a character's strength.
"Wow! I can't believe Rosa wrestled a bear into her car."
At least that is how the following passage sounded to him.
"I did bring my rifle after you told me about this latest bear. It's in the car."
In context, Rosa is speaking to best friend, Liz, about Liz's narrow escape from a bear. Another had been sighted.
Dan and I had a good laugh, then rewrote the passage as follows: "After you told me about this latest bear, I brought my rifle. It's in the car."
In "Lovers and Secrets," Book 3 in the series, I wrote the following: "Carlos returned to his room, immaculately cleaned by hotel workers."
Dan asked me if they had scrubbed him with a big brush.
We re-wrote as follows: "Carlos returned to his hotel room, finding it immaculately cleaned by hotel workers."
Beware those typos! In one of my newspaper stories, I quoted someone named Violet.  To my horror, I saw my slip of the finger had "renamed" her Violent. Thankfully, this was caught before the story went to press.
In a query letter to a publisher,  I wrote "A 100 word blub follows, instead of "100 word blurb."  Dan caught this one in time.
Sending a manuscript to a publisher, I addressed the envelope to Strange Publishing instead of Strang Publishing.  Naturally the manuscript was rejected and returned. That is when I saw the error, to my horror.
How about "light streaming in through tall widows?" That's what I wrote in my Messianic novel, "The Face Behind the Veil." This was changed to, "Light streaming in through tall windows."

In "When Love Becomes Obsession." I wrote, “Carlos slit open his eyes.” Dan said that sounded painful. I changed it to, “Carlos cracked open his eyes.”
Another time while editing, Dan scratched his head."What is a lethargical dancer?"  This was supposed to be a liturgical dancer.
While writing a story about how a local historian became acquainted with area history, when she thought Florida was a new state with little or none, I wrote"A move to Titusville and the historic, LaGrange Cemetery would challenge that perception."  Dan asked, "How did she like living in the cemetery?"The sentence was re-written as follows: "A move to Titusville and a visit to the historic, LaGrange Cemetery would challenge that perception."
Somehow, Pocahontas was inserted at the end of a Bible verse in a devotion,  from my devotional, "Where Your Heart Meets God's." 
"But knowing these things and knowing His fate, Jesus still told his disciples, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you." Pocahontas. (Luke 22:15, TLB) I suspect this was in the clipboard, because at time I was writing about The Titusville Follies for a newspaper. Songs from shows such as, "Colors of the Wind," from the movie Pocahontas, were included in the Follies.
Now for "The Granddaddy of all errors." And yes, pardon the cliche.Jesus, Mary--and Stanley? 
One click of my computer’s mouse and I was headed toward disaster.
As I put the final touches on my inspirational thriller, "The Face Behind the Veil," and about to e-mail it to my publisher, I decided to change a character’s name from Joseph to Stanley.In an instant, this global change was made throughout the 600 page, three-part document, which traces the legend of the birth veil through three generations.
That was the only alteration I made after the book underwent extensive editing. Confident it was error-free, I clicked the mouse and off it went. It wasn’t long before I received the galley proof to review and approve, so the printing process could begin.
Weary of the seven-year project and the tedious historical research that had gone into it, I almost didn’t review the galley. But something in me couldn’t let it go until I did. That must have been Providential.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered how that last minute name change affected a scene where the Christmas story is told. In horror, I read the following.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Marywas espoused to Stanley, before they came together, she was found withchild of the Holy Ghost. Then Stanley her husband, being a just man, andnot willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her awayprivily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of theLord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Stanley, thou son of David,fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived inher is of the Holy Ghost . . .. Then Stanley being raised from sleep didas the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:"(Matthew 1:18-20, 24).
After getting over my initial shock, I made the necessary changes.However, rather than globally, I did this the old-fashioned way, one at a time. ___________________________________
Some people never learn. I made this mistake again in the same book, when changing a character's name from Peter to Cedric. That's when the Biblical book of 1 Peter was changed to 1 Cedric. Thankfully, this too was found and changed.


Flora invites you to check out her books on Amazon.

In "Elizabeth's Secret: Left for Dead in the Forest," first in the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series, Liz's husband has left and she has vowed to never trust another man. But when Liz discovers a hidden locket filled with romantic secrets, it sends Liz and best friend, Rosa (a young widow) on the trail of mystery, romance and new life. https://www.amazon.com/dp/170760942X

In "When Love Becomes Obsession," second in the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series, even as Liz revels in her engagement to Carlos and celebrates Christmas with him, she can feel her ex-husband's cold, blue eyes watching her every move. How far will he go? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZS2Q274


Coming Soon: "Lovers and Secrets," third in the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series. Unaware of what awaits them, Liz and Carlos are living their dream. They built a lavish new home with a pool, a baby is on the way and they are deeply in love. All seems perfect until a salacious secret leaks out about Carlos' womanizing past.  In "Lovers and Secrets, find out what happens when secrets unlock our past.
Might that dream you had mean something? What about that stranger who came to help at the right moment? A devotional, "Where Your Heart Meets God's" explores the many expressions of God's voice and loving care and how we might recognize them in our lives. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K18VT33