5 writing habits to avoid All writers strew less-than-perfect turns of phrase in their first draft—unnecessary words and phrases that slow down the writing. Here are five stylistic flaws that can be eliminated in revision. 1. Unnecessary prepositional phrases EXAMPLE: After all my hard work, the superintendent’s compliment was gratifying to me. BETTER: After all my hard work, the superintendent’s compliment was gratifying. The “to me” can be inferred by the reader. 2. Adverbs that are weak substitutes for a vivid verb EXAMPLE: The stranger walked threateningly toward us BETTER: The stranger stalked toward us. Steven King said, “The adverb is not your friend.” Replace them with an evocative verb as much as possible. Examples: walked slowly = ambled, strolled, sauntered ran = bolted, raced (and many more) spoke softly = whispered spoke loudly = shouted 3. Stalling phrases such as tried to, seemed to, began to, started to EXAMPLE: The sun’s reflection seemed to glisten and waver on the water. BETTER: The sun’s reflection glistened and wavered on the water. EXAMPLE: I took a detour down two short flights of stone stairs and started looking for the Last Chance Saloon. BETTER: I took a detour down two short flights of stone stairs and looked for the Last Chance Saloon. In most cases, these expressions merely stall the narrative. 4. Meaningless just EXAMPLE: He just climbed to the top and fell asleep. BETTER: He climbed to the top and fell asleep. EXAMPLE: She just wished the rain would stop. BETTER: She wished the rain would stop. When the adverb just conveys the meaning at that moment or means “merely,” it has a function: I had just opened the letter when the phone rang. I have just enough flour to make this recipe. When just adds neither of these meanings, leave it out. 5. It was as a sentence opener EXAMPLE: It was the comment about the dog that enabled the detective to solve the case. BETTER: The comment about the dog enabled the detective to solve the case. EXAMPLE: It was her lack of skill with small talk that held her back. BETTER: Lack of skill with small talk held her back. Replacing the vague sentence opener It was with a noun strengthens a sentence.
PROFESSIONAL BOOK EDITOR
写作与编辑
Sarasota，Florida 232 位关注者
Helping serious writers to achieve their goals since 1999
关于我们
My name is Paul Thayer, the founder of Thayer Literary Services. I am a full-time professional book editor with more than 35 years of experience. During that time I worked in the trenches of the real world of writers, editors, and publishers. Now I use my extensive knowledge to help writers achieve their goals. My services include manuscript evaluation, critique-writing, line editing, and proofreading. I started Thayer Literary Services in 1997. Since then I have helped many writers at all skill levels improve their book. I come highly recommended by all the writers I have helped and by other professional book editors. I work on a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books, but I specialize in genre fiction, including action/adventure, mystery/detective, suspense/thrillers, horror, and crime. I also edit historical, young adult, and literary fiction, plus nonfiction books of various kinds. I have a B.A. in English and an M.A. in English Education. I’m proud to say that I was never thrown out of an English class. I live in the Sarasota, Florida, area with my two cats. Neither of them is a good editor, but they do proofread my critiques. They have left their marks on many manuscripts. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ One of my many positive reviews: “Paul Thayer is that rare combination of talent and soul. His editorial skills go far beyond basic copy, content and critique; he provides his writers with in-depth analysis and caring commitment.” — Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag, Phoenix, AZ, author of the best-selling hardcovers THE DANCING HEALERS: A Doctor’s Journey of Healing with Native Americans(HarperCollins) and THE THEFT OF THE SPIRIT: A Journey to Spiritual Healing (Simon and Schuster/Fireside), plus (with Howard D. Silverman, M.D.) HEALING CEREMONIES: Creating Personal Rituals for Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Mental Health (Berkley/Perigee). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “Thank you again for the wonderful comments. Your critique was terrific. I’m 50 percent through the rewrite, and I’m learning all the time from your much-thumbed critique. I feel very fortunate to have found someone with your knowledge, talent, and commitment.” — Brent Ghelfi, Phoenix, AZ, author of the hardcover thrillers VOLK’S GAME, VOLK’S SHADOW, THE VENONA CABLE, and THE BURNING LAKE (Henry Holt & Co.).
- 网站
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https://paulthayerbookeditor.com
PROFESSIONAL BOOK EDITOR的外部链接
- 所属行业
- 写作与编辑
- 规模
- 1 人
- 总部
- Sarasota，Florida
- 类型
- 自有
- 创立
- 1997
- 领域
- Book editing、Book critiques、Manuscript evaluation、Copyediting、Line editing和Proofreading
地点
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主要
获取路线
123 Main St
US，Florida，Sarasota