tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post8242404060605413610..comments2023-12-09T00:33:24.572-08:00Comments on Novel Matters: Weeding Your ManuscriptBonnie Grovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-34266413965473249972010-07-23T06:10:30.896-07:002010-07-23T06:10:30.896-07:00Like many, I just found your site today and it bro...Like many, I just found your site today and it brought a smile to my lips. I finished my novel what feels like forever ago and I'm stuck editing the manuscript now. I want to do it at least two or three times before I begin to consider query letters. If I don't have an amazing finished product, why bother trying to sell it to the world. Thank you for having a great site and for the reminders. Off to edit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-15291122819367099702010-07-21T06:55:00.160-07:002010-07-21T06:55:00.160-07:00Woohoo! I won! Thank you Patti! Look at all those ...Woohoo! I won! Thank you Patti! Look at all those exclamation marks. LOL!Laura J. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822749971171301648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-42262314341881749142010-07-20T20:17:09.958-07:002010-07-20T20:17:09.958-07:00Patti, what a great idea for a contest,and what a ...Patti, what a great idea for a contest,and what a prize! <br /><br />I actually enjoy the editing process, because it's like polishing furniture - the shine is so rewarding! (Oops. I say "so" too much.)<br /><br />Can you see the marketing tag for a manuscript weed killer? "Fight harmful pleonasms!"Kathleen Popahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682046279211463305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-51480418613976844622010-07-20T17:23:58.914-07:002010-07-20T17:23:58.914-07:00Laura: It's so weird, that exclamation point. ...Laura: It's so weird, that exclamation point. I never use it in my novels. But in correspondence, blog posts, and blog comments, I am the QUEEN of exclamation points!!!Bonnie Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-70460786130080606162010-07-20T14:49:03.678-07:002010-07-20T14:49:03.678-07:00Along with the word "just" I am horrible...Along with the word "just" I am horrible with exclamation points. As I stated previously, I write like I speak and since my life is one big exclamation point, I tend to overuse them. But, lately I have become aware of what I'm doing. It's kind of like breaking a bad habit. Now if I could only find a way to stop biting my nails! (use of exclamation point intentional) :)Laura Davishttp://interviewsandreviews.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-52870455504174167372010-07-20T13:21:59.562-07:002010-07-20T13:21:59.562-07:00Vonilda: (Did I get your name right?) Help is on t...Vonilda: (Did I get your name right?) Help is on the way. Your name is in the hat. I'll be picking at the end of the day.<br /><br />Melinda:Send the little rascals packing. Good work!<br /><br />Jan: The more we weed unnecessary words, the more our love grows for uncluttered prose. But yes, I have my favorites, too.<br /><br />Heather: Absolutely. There is a place for a more "cluttered" language, especially when it suits our characters' speech. It's all about balance.<br /><br />Samantha: My two weed words are "just" and "nearly." I so understand.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-76641798352058879122010-07-20T13:17:54.081-07:002010-07-20T13:17:54.081-07:00Samantha, "just" is high on my list of w...Samantha, "just" is high on my list of words to weed, too. Don't realize how often I use it till I Search and [Replace] Destroy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-4976924968642256722010-07-20T12:55:14.954-07:002010-07-20T12:55:14.954-07:00"Just!" This word is littered throughout..."Just!" This word is littered throughout my first drafts. And Laura, I so relate. Great post, Patti!Samantha Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15712749844855298929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-76258858065752188322010-07-20T12:33:52.013-07:002010-07-20T12:33:52.013-07:00Weeding is never a pleasant task whether it is a g...Weeding is never a pleasant task whether it is a garden or a manuscript. I am pulling weeds right now and find it challenging. I am curious though, is it possible that sometimes a few weeds makes for an interesting read?Heatherhttp://www.xanga.com/wondering04noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-48088986613135898142010-07-20T10:51:30.106-07:002010-07-20T10:51:30.106-07:00I think most of us have a love hate relationship w...I think most of us have a love hate relationship with unnecessary words. Im learning to manage them and divide and conquer! Thanks for the great offer!Jan Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16617976979678082323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-13784847409769705542010-07-20T10:21:18.604-07:002010-07-20T10:21:18.604-07:00Great post. I'm weeding my manuscript this wee...Great post. I'm weeding my manuscript this week. Cut 1000 words so far. Looking for redundancies and "weasel" words from a list. Pleonasm sounds more professsional than wordy. I'll remember it as I ferret out my little rascals.Melinda Evaulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-10210338143731484902010-07-20T09:37:38.707-07:002010-07-20T09:37:38.707-07:00Help! I'm dying of pleonasm!Help! I'm dying of pleonasm!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-52603490186598900192010-07-20T06:45:49.386-07:002010-07-20T06:45:49.386-07:00Some Chick: Don't be fooled by the word "...Some Chick: Don't be fooled by the word "kind." I am kindly brutal. Grr.<br /><br />Henrietta: Yes, you're right. It's impossible to write without adverbs. We focus our attention on the -ly adverbs, but adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.<br />She drove SLOWLY. (verb)<br />She drove a VERY fast car. (adj.)<br />She walked QUITE quickly down the highway. (adverb)Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-15672407777586420782010-07-20T06:45:48.035-07:002010-07-20T06:45:48.035-07:00Some Chick: Don't be fooled by the word "...Some Chick: Don't be fooled by the word "kind." I am kindly brutal. Grr.<br /><br />Henrietta: Yes, you're right. It's impossible to write without adverbs. We focus our attention on the -ly adverbs, but adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.<br />She drove SLOWLY. (verb)<br />She drove a VERY fast car. (adj.)<br />She walked QUITE quickly down the highway. (adverb)Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-59608763158817432042010-07-20T05:53:28.567-07:002010-07-20T05:53:28.567-07:00I love words, which is a temptation to heap them u...I love words, which is a temptation to heap them upon each other. To say something twice, differently as in Hebrew poetry is an intellectual pleasure. On the other hand we must not forget Paul writing from prison knowing every word would be censored by the Roman guards. He was a master of clarity. <br />I was greatly dismayed to read on this website that adverbs are considered sinful. Why shed an entire category of human expression? They add nuance and depth, for instance 'petulantly humble' or 'generously humble' (never 'meekly humble') are human degrees of a divine attribute. Toward this weeding concept adverbs minimize words. I might write, 'her humility was shrouded in petulance' once in a piece but eventually I would want to be more succinct. <br />My personal weakness for wordiness is the little devil 'of'. 'the expression of the exuberance of her joy' rather than 'she exuded joy'. Reading aloud is helpful (I shall try an accent or two!) We love to hear our own voices but sentences with too many 'ofs' tangle the tongue. <br />My favourite redundancy is 'hot water heater' rather than 'hot water sustainer'. (Spell check did not like that word! It is not also an enemy of clarity and brevity? Would it accept 'that which sustains the heat of the water'?)Henrietta Frankenseenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-23646279580667268722010-07-19T18:02:32.021-07:002010-07-19T18:02:32.021-07:00Your inner editor likes chocolate? That's so f...Your inner editor likes chocolate? That's so funny - because mine happens to like margaritas. We're awful close friends now.<br /><br />If Patti is kind and Bonnie is brutal, I would love to see them both take on the same piece! That would be fascinating.some chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221020771189674986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-13252681918839258582010-07-19T12:16:30.159-07:002010-07-19T12:16:30.159-07:00Sharon: You're so right. Becoming aware of unn...Sharon: You're so right. Becoming aware of unnecessary words is the first step toward tighter writing. Every word MUST count! Oh, sorry for shouting.<br /><br />Lynn: Your name is in the hat. Good luck!<br /><br />Katie: Well done! Keep up the good work.<br /><br />Christa: Lard Factor? Ha! Can I audit your class? And thanks for the list of redundant words. I use them daily.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-33846663949255740792010-07-19T11:36:56.828-07:002010-07-19T11:36:56.828-07:00I use the "Lard Factor Formula" when I&#...I use the "Lard Factor Formula" when I'm teaching revision to my students, which means they have to reduce their writing my 30%. <br /><br />Of course, I can always count on the lovely who just arbitrarily deletes three out of every ten words. Eventually, they "get" the idea. <br /><br />One of my students' favorites: "I was thinking in my head..." Unfortunately, I do know that some of them are thinking in places they shouldn't be.<br /><br />Others: free gift, stood up, dropped down, 2 am in the morning, the month of March, empty hole, brief moment...Christa Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12620389675433700944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-33411862767599586552010-07-19T11:20:21.041-07:002010-07-19T11:20:21.041-07:00I do a ton of weeding when I revise. Usually, I...I do a ton of weeding when I revise. Usually, I'll go from a rough draft of 100,000+ words to a final draft of 85 - 95K. I'm not stranger to the delete key! Great post - very helpful. :)Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-72071072743397782772010-07-19T11:00:02.035-07:002010-07-19T11:00:02.035-07:00Thank you for the post, Patti. It is very enlighte...Thank you for the post, Patti. It is very enlightening. I need help with weeding and would love to have your help with the process.<br />Lynn McCallumLynn McCallumhttp://www.musingsbylynn.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-50636217700428456682010-07-19T10:21:59.536-07:002010-07-19T10:21:59.536-07:00Patti, another excellent post! A [definite] keeper...Patti, another excellent post! A [definite] keeper. Love all the comments.<br /><br />I've begun making my own list [of words], either redundant or unnecessary, [particularly] adverbs, then I do a word search on each when I finish the manuscript. In almost every case I delete the word. That's made me [more] cautious about putting it in in the first place. In that way, I'm learning to tighten my manuscript as I write. It saves time in the end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-42079005732270294222010-07-19T10:09:11.574-07:002010-07-19T10:09:11.574-07:00Cindy: I would try Mandy's idea. It's bril...Cindy: I would try Mandy's idea. It's brilliant. I taught my fourth-grade students to read sentences backward to look for spelling errors. A new perspective works!<br /><br />Some Chick: All right, girlfriend. Let's go in with our red pencils cocked and loaded!<br /><br />Bonnie: Sure! Bring on the yakkity yak about redundancy. As you can see, I could use it.<br /><br />Accidental Poet: Do whatever works for you. When I garden, I'm forever stooping to pluck a weed. It's the same with my writing. I cannot silence the editor in my head, so I've decided to befriend her. She likes chocolate, too.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-27499463965102396632010-07-19T09:46:12.015-07:002010-07-19T09:46:12.015-07:00I try not to weed as I go, but I came to prose thr...I try not to weed as I go, but I came to prose through several years of poetry, and is difficult to force myself to get it done and then fix it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-87902126570223472212010-07-19T09:21:56.888-07:002010-07-19T09:21:56.888-07:00Patti: This is so wonderful of you to hold this ki...Patti: This is so wonderful of you to hold this kind of contest! Come on, everyone! Get a comment in here. What Patti can teach you using your own manuscript will open your eyes to a new level of excellence.<br /><br />And you're sooooooo lucky it's Patti. She is a master. And she's kind. (Me? Not so much. I'm brutal.)<br /><br />Hey! If they comment more than once, does it count as more than one entry?????Bonnie Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-88697423899246033622010-07-19T09:05:59.758-07:002010-07-19T09:05:59.758-07:00Patti - I'm game! Sounds like fun.
Mandy - I...Patti - I'm game! Sounds like fun. <br /><br />Mandy - I won NaNo last year as well, though unfortunately, don't have a workable novel (though I've discovered a lot of ways to kill people off -I'm sure my search history would make any FBI agent cringe!). NaNo was great for getting in the habit of writing for me and I'm now on to other WIPs. Cheers!some chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221020771189674986noreply@blogger.com