tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post5387373297325306099..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: Back to the EditsTerry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-23091359324685504442011-03-02T20:09:51.670-07:002011-03-02T20:09:51.670-07:00Shannon - that seems to be just the way things go!...Shannon - that seems to be just the way things go! :-)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-44073580959333948172011-03-02T17:57:27.038-07:002011-03-02T17:57:27.038-07:00It's funny, 'just' is the word I over-...It's funny, 'just' is the word I over-use as well.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00456068019298922261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-78150494433556632182011-03-02T17:08:23.420-07:002011-03-02T17:08:23.420-07:00Maryann - I use a LOT of hyphens. And ellipses.Maryann - I use a LOT of hyphens. And ellipses.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-79596190376180817432011-03-02T15:10:11.140-07:002011-03-02T15:10:11.140-07:00Great reminders and examples, Terry. Since I am su...Great reminders and examples, Terry. Since I am such a slow learner, I always like the before and after examples. In finishing my latest book I had to do a search for hyphens and replace them with em-dashes. I was amazed at how many hyphens I had. Some needed to stay, but wow, a whole lot could go. I have no idea why I got so hyphen crazy. LOLMaryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-80878435692869127252011-03-02T12:05:06.361-07:002011-03-02T12:05:06.361-07:00Wynter - yes, I seem to hobble along far too often...Wynter - yes, I seem to hobble along far too often.<br /><br />Delany - "that" is another word that doesn't need to be there as often as it seems to turn up. I try reading the sentence without it, and if it works ... ZAP!Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-61244329550229595782011-03-02T09:47:03.162-07:002011-03-02T09:47:03.162-07:00One of the last things I do before I turn over my ...One of the last things I do before I turn over my ms to my critique partner is do a Find/Replace for the word "that." Despite making a conscious effort to limit the word's use, I'm always amazed at how many I find. <br /><br />Great post!Delaney Diamondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703253397603304388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-327364463914044852011-03-02T09:39:30.586-07:002011-03-02T09:39:30.586-07:00There's a reason we call them crutch words;-) ...There's a reason we call them crutch words;-) It's so easy to rely on some lazy techniques!Wynterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13611293420659353094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-62389933735622242862011-03-02T08:43:22.306-07:002011-03-02T08:43:22.306-07:00Vonnie - even changing the font on screen can help...Vonnie - even changing the font on screen can help, although I like the hard copy because it means you can physically move to a different reading environment. Step away from the computer!<br /><br />Kristi - yes, dialogue has different rules.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-87838351386481731702011-03-02T08:17:17.587-07:002011-03-02T08:17:17.587-07:00I love the idea of printing the ms in two columns ...I love the idea of printing the ms in two columns and different fonts. In terms of over-used words, I've taken out many a 'just,' but found the place I tend to keep it is in the dialogue. Great points!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-44337015022833727032011-03-02T08:03:42.208-07:002011-03-02T08:03:42.208-07:00I like your idea of printing the manuscript in a d...I like your idea of printing the manuscript in a different font. I think after a while, we tend to have parts of our WIP memorized. This trick makes it appear new to our eyes. Great post! Oh, and I ramble, too. ;)Vonnie Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04636934830795471572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-36091287581503142292011-03-02T07:56:04.305-07:002011-03-02T07:56:04.305-07:00Alison - I tend to ramble on my first drafts, and ...Alison - I tend to ramble on my first drafts, and even though I try to tighten as I go, I don't see a lot of these things until I tackle the overall monster.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-25381380549199323892011-03-02T07:39:24.310-07:002011-03-02T07:39:24.310-07:00Great post, Terry. I particularly like the "...Great post, Terry. I particularly like the "quivering chin" re-write.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-6666466711481994122011-03-02T07:28:38.121-07:002011-03-02T07:28:38.121-07:00Kim, thanks - I agree with both your points. :-)Kim, thanks - I agree with both your points. :-)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-72322532532226992772011-03-02T07:21:26.459-07:002011-03-02T07:21:26.459-07:00Great post, great point. To me, it's like the ...Great post, great point. To me, it's like the dreaded "LY" words. Used for emphasis it makes the story stronger, overused it weakens the writer's voice. I'd definitely keep the Just in your example.Kim Bowman Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345036157361641830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-59310270424777230932011-03-02T07:04:07.306-07:002011-03-02T07:04:07.306-07:00Yes - I tend to do a lot of cutting when I find t...Yes - I tend to do a lot of cutting when I find those rascals. The tighter the better.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-75398071530896925582011-03-02T06:03:59.091-07:002011-03-02T06:03:59.091-07:00I've found much the same thing, Terry--my crut...I've found much the same thing, Terry--my crutch words are frequently at locations where I need to make my sentence/scene stronger anyway. Nice post!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com