tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post5961742601102390304..comments2024-01-05T15:42:46.899-05:00Comments on Katie O'Sullivan ~ Read, Write, Repeat: Writing Wednesday: Self-Editing, or "Words We Love to Overuse"Katie O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-19357793816114077582017-11-09T09:29:21.094-05:002017-11-09T09:29:21.094-05:00"That" and "just" are biggies ..."That" and "just" are biggies for me. I tend to have to remove a lot during edits. This year, I'm not editing them out until AFTER NaNo!! LOLDebra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-15360175360239640162017-11-09T06:10:08.047-05:002017-11-09T06:10:08.047-05:00It's not a binoculars "feature" per ...It's not a binoculars "feature" per se, it's the icon on your Word toolbar that looks like a pair of binoculars. It's the find/replace tool in your edits box (also control F, if you prefer F keys)- you click the binoculars and the sidebar pops up on the left side of your page (at least on mine it does) - it's also where the headings are, if you use the style feature on your toolbar to format the chapter headings so you can click through the doc faster (not scroll the whole doc.)<br /><br />Happy Writing, Judy!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-32412315924502588652017-11-09T06:05:15.087-05:002017-11-09T06:05:15.087-05:00Thanks for chiming in, Hebby. (now I need to do a ...Thanks for chiming in, Hebby. (now I need to do a search for so...) (and there's that "now" again. can't get away from it.)<br /><br />Happy Writing!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-60491811795615734102017-11-09T06:03:54.347-05:002017-11-09T06:03:54.347-05:00Claire, I so totally agree. I've put down book...Claire, I so totally agree. I've put down books with those multiple exclamation marks, and maybe I'm showing my age, but why? why is it necessary to emphasize the point? It always seems to me if the author felt that strongly, she/he should've found stronger words to express the idea.<br /><br />I was told early on that you should only have a max of 2 semi-colons in a work of fiction as well. I have no idea why, but that comment stuck with me too. Like there's a playbook for how many of each punctuation mark you should optimally use, lol. (but no, I don't go over the limit, just in case.)Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-81891587817306544452017-11-09T06:00:28.977-05:002017-11-09T06:00:28.977-05:00Thanks, Claire! I know these posts aren't revo...Thanks, Claire! I know these posts aren't revolutionary for most, but I love it when you all chime in with your comments and experiences with the same/similar issues that I'm ranting about - it helps me feel like I'm not alone with these problems, they're things that we all struggle with.<br /><br />Best of luck with your NaNo project!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-2676943859018539042017-11-08T22:33:23.178-05:002017-11-08T22:33:23.178-05:00Another issue--I've heard over and over that y...Another issue--I've heard over and over that you shouldn't have many exclamation points in an entire book. Like 10 max. I started to read a book the other day that's receiving all kinds of acclaim from places like Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly and I couldn't get through the first two chapters because almost every sentence ended with !!!! It drove me insane!!!! I search for those too. Rant over.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09053502831615206034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-68487090668948318492017-11-08T22:31:42.383-05:002017-11-08T22:31:42.383-05:00I love your Wednesday posts Katie! So helpful. The...I love your Wednesday posts Katie! So helpful. There's one of mine: "so." I also tend to use "just" as well. I'm now a lunatic with "that" and I always check for it. I tend to use a few to describe my heroes--smoking hot, rock hard abs, gorgeous...fun to find replacements there. Time to NaNo...Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09053502831615206034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-67872731592990107472017-11-08T20:23:52.999-05:002017-11-08T20:23:52.999-05:00Going to... smile... feel/felt... think/thought......Going to... smile... feel/felt... think/thought... Well I have a list somewhere, with about 20 words on it, but I won't take time to look because I'm writing, not editing. Checking for these words comes at the end. What's the binoculars feature?<br />Judy Meadows<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465676067298712433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-38073369851308428342017-11-08T20:21:01.234-05:002017-11-08T20:21:01.234-05:00Katie, I use that, so, then, way too much. Probabl...Katie, I use that, so, then, way too much. Probably there are others, too, but I know I overuse those.<br />Hebby Romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15358048827480613517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-9599187970395773672017-11-08T15:37:35.623-05:002017-11-08T15:37:35.623-05:00Great idea! I've heard a lot of authors do tha...Great idea! I've heard a lot of authors do that with their own "favorite" crutch words - a sticky note somewhere to remind them to search those particular words. Thanks for sharing that tidbit!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-47778014668075489862017-11-08T15:36:26.857-05:002017-11-08T15:36:26.857-05:00In my first manuscript, everyone always nodded. My...In my first manuscript, everyone always nodded. My editor kindly noted that my characters all seemed like bobbleheads, always nodding. I try to be conscious of giving them stronger necks now.<br /><br />And there's that "now" word again. Jeez....Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-38325918382367015302017-11-08T15:34:40.315-05:002017-11-08T15:34:40.315-05:00ALways a good start :-)ALways a good start :-)Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-42535386850174843942017-11-08T15:34:20.421-05:002017-11-08T15:34:20.421-05:00SHouldn't you be NaNo writing, Peggy? Hands on...SHouldn't you be NaNo writing, Peggy? Hands on keyboard, lady!<br /><br />(thanks for stopping by!)Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-29963136208250358412017-11-08T13:20:05.098-05:002017-11-08T13:20:05.098-05:00I have a list of those words that I run through be...I have a list of those words that I run through before I submit any manuscript. Kills me every time!JENNIFER WILCKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16218241106543538422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-46881424285737692342017-11-08T13:07:27.073-05:002017-11-08T13:07:27.073-05:00Always good to keep this in mind. Once story I ove...Always good to keep this in mind. Once story I overused the word pursed. I never noticed until my editor pointed it out to me.CB Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365788411598009246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-46601876074446698022017-11-08T12:55:07.871-05:002017-11-08T12:55:07.871-05:00Binoculars feature on. Check. Binoculars feature on. Check. Charlotteoshayauthor.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17994548860606367251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-25159997809488861112017-11-08T12:46:39.187-05:002017-11-08T12:46:39.187-05:00excellent advice. as always!!excellent advice. as always!!peggy jaegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09767089116387597036noreply@blogger.com