Comments for Be Your Own Editor

Comment on Track Changes: Don’t Let It Fall into the Wrong Hands by Computer News

Computer News — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:00:19 +0000

My brother in law would appreciate this blog post. We were just talking about this. lol

Comment on Query Letters: Ten Ways to Hook a Literary Agent by Matthieu

Matthieu — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:09:22 +0000

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Comment on Query Letters: Ten Ways to Hook a Literary Agent by Ainhoa

Ainhoa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:15:04 +0000

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Comment on Writers’ Journal Magazine: A Resource for Newbies by Oscar K.

Oscar K. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:47:54 +0000

Nice write up…usually I never reply to these thing but this time I will,Thanks for the great info.

Comment on Query Letters For Short Stories by Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:26:19 +0000

Debbie,

In the case of this article, the terms “query letter” and “cover letter” are used interchangeably, because it refers to the submission of short stories to literary magazines, etc., and they don’t generally require a synopsis for such short works. If you were sending a query to a publisher or an agent regarding a full-length manuscript, then yes, it would normally include a synopsis.

Comment on Query Letters For Short Stories by Debbie Wheeland

Debbie Wheeland — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:08:22 +0000

thanks for the info very helpful,, but I am confused, isn’t a query letter and a cover letter to separate things?

Would a query letter contain information about the manuscript?
for example

thank you for considering my unpublished manuscript, An Adoption Miracle. for publication. My story involves the lives of three people, the birth mother and the adoptive couple. A series of events happened which challenged the adoptive parents faith. I believe you will find this story heartwarming.

Is that not necessary to say in a query letter, to give some details about the story?

I appreciate your reply thank you
debsfive@hotmail.com

Comment on Query Letters For Short Stories by Stresspersonalities.com

Stresspersonalities.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:59:58 +0000

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Comment on Google Defines the Writer by Don Chatfield

Don Chatfield — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:54:17 +0000

Thanks. To get the online dictionaries included, I just type the word I want followd by a space and then the word “define, e.g.,

Comment on A Word on “Actually” by Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:11:55 +0000

I do think the word “actually” carries meaning in the example I gave, though the sentence could be improved upon by removing “actually” and changing “gaze” to a different verb. (Since when does “gaze” convey surprise?) Thanks for providing a better example.

Also, there’s a big difference in tone between a period and an exclamation point. I try to avoid the use of exclamation points in fiction, but that’s just a personal preference.

Comment on A Word on “Actually” by Brian Pearce

Brian Pearce — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:04:20 +0000

“Actually” is four of the emptiest syllables in the English language. It is the adult “like.” Almost always vapid in speech, it is even less defensible in writing. Your example is a game try, but a good writer doesn’t need this filler word. Nor does your example–”gaze” already conveys surprise. If that’s not enough emphasis, why not save seven keystrokes with an exclamation point?! Here is a rare context in which “actually” carries meaning:

“How was your weekend?”
“Great! I played with some virtual reality software and went on a date with Tyra Banks.”
“Wait–you actually dated her, or only virtually?”