Monday, June 23, 2008
It's been a while
Yes, okay, it has been a while since I posted. It's a time thing. Lack of it, that is.
Currently, I'm prejudging a short story contest, and it is giving me more of an appreciation for what editors have to go through.
There are some good ones and not so good ones. The ones that I find frustrating are the ones that might be good, but are marred by incorrect spelling, punctuation and/or grammar; that have several typos; that are in a non-standard font; or that have not been photocopied properly.
I'm distracted by these silly little mistakes and that makes my job harder. Send out your best quality, no matter where it's going, folks; anything that makes fewer headaches for a reader or editor is going to get a better review. The mistakes, especially the ones that could so easily have been corrected, mean that I can't give the story my full attention.
In other news, I had a marrrrvelous time at the Strawberry Creek Retreat this year, where I worked on a young adult novel. Brenda and Eleanor are fabulous cooks and the place was a writer's dream. Maybe I shouldn't sing loud the praises; it's a very popular retreat. Maybe if I said it was rotten, fewer people would try to get in, and that would leave it open for me next year . . . but I can't do that. It was just too wonderful.
The novel? It's a mystery/science fiction/adventure/boy book. That's all I can say for now.
Oh -- a plug: I went to my friend Mary Resek's CD launch on Saturday night. Terrific time, and a great CD! Mary sings country and western, and has a truly beautiful voice. You can check it out at http://www.maryresek.com/
Currently, I'm prejudging a short story contest, and it is giving me more of an appreciation for what editors have to go through.
There are some good ones and not so good ones. The ones that I find frustrating are the ones that might be good, but are marred by incorrect spelling, punctuation and/or grammar; that have several typos; that are in a non-standard font; or that have not been photocopied properly.
I'm distracted by these silly little mistakes and that makes my job harder. Send out your best quality, no matter where it's going, folks; anything that makes fewer headaches for a reader or editor is going to get a better review. The mistakes, especially the ones that could so easily have been corrected, mean that I can't give the story my full attention.
In other news, I had a marrrrvelous time at the Strawberry Creek Retreat this year, where I worked on a young adult novel. Brenda and Eleanor are fabulous cooks and the place was a writer's dream. Maybe I shouldn't sing loud the praises; it's a very popular retreat. Maybe if I said it was rotten, fewer people would try to get in, and that would leave it open for me next year . . . but I can't do that. It was just too wonderful.
The novel? It's a mystery/science fiction/adventure/boy book. That's all I can say for now.
Oh -- a plug: I went to my friend Mary Resek's CD launch on Saturday night. Terrific time, and a great CD! Mary sings country and western, and has a truly beautiful voice. You can check it out at http://www.maryresek.com/
Labels: manuscript format, Mary Resek, novel, Strawberry Creek
