Category: Editing

Announcement for 2015!

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Ms Edits

Today, on this 15th day of the first month of 2015, I have a few announcements to make that I’m rather excited about.

Announcement #1

I’m taking a sabbatical of sorts from editing until summer 2015.

Part of this is so that I can focus on querying my own novel, which I finished in 2014.

Another part of it is so that I can declutter and minimize our things, since we’d like to downsize to a smaller house this summer.

I’ll still be editing query letters and synopses, but I won’t be taking on additional clients for manuscript critiques, substantial editing, or copyediting until June or July. If you’d like to book me for this summer or fall, please contact me!

Announcement #2

To make sure nobody goes without solid editing services, I’ve assembled a team of talented freelance editors.

Introducing MS Edits:

ms edits header

MS Edits (or Ms Edits) is a team of myself, an associate editor, Elizabeth Buege, and two assistant editors, Megan Ruesink and Kaleigh Walter. Elizabeth, Megan, and Kaleigh graduated from the same English program I did, and have completed the necessary courses in literature, writing, editing, and grammar to make me very confident in their work.

What’s also exciting is that we each have different specialities, so you’re bound to find a good match for your manuscript’s needs.

Find out the services we offer, read our bios (which includes our favorite books, movies, and TV shows), see which fiction genres or nonfiction topics we specialize in, or search our index of all genres and topics A-Z.

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Note that the MS Edits website is a directory, not a company website. Each editor is an independent contractor, and you will contact her individually for a quote.

I’m so excited to introduce these ladies to you all, and I’m excited to see what this new year will begin!

Announcement #3

To celebrate announcements #1 and #2, I’m doing a special on query letter edits:

Through the month of January, query letter edits are only $15! Send your query letter to querylara (at) icloud.com to receive information regarding payment. (You’ll need a PayPal account.)

MSEdits-page

99 problems (in my submission pile)

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These are 99 problems with queries. Read it, and you won’t be one.

Carlie Webber's avatarCK Webber Associates

  1. Query is for a book in a genre I don’t represent.
  2. Query is for a vampire book. Come back in 3-5 years.
  3. Query letter is addressed to “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
  4. Query letter is addressed to “Dear Agent.” My name is not Agent.
  5. Query letter is not addressed at all. It just begins, “Hi!”
  6. Query letter is addressed to Kristin Nelson. (This is not a problem if you’re actually sending your query letter to Kristin Nelson.)
  7. Query letter is 2 pages long.
  8. Query opens with a rhetorical question.
  9. Query opens with a tagline.
  10. Author has spent too much time constructing a one-sentence hook and not enough building the rest of the query.
  11. By the end of the query, I’ve learned more about the author than I have about the book. (Does not apply to nonfiction.)
  12. I can see that you’ve copied 100 other agents…

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Disinformation

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Brilliant post on what nobody ever tells you about being an artist, and why you might possibly want to consider quitting.

Allison K Williams's avatarThe Brevity Blog

Dancing Elephants by Heinrich Kley Dancing Elephants by Heinrich Kley

What nobody tells you as an artist is that every project starts at the beginning. Not just the blank page, the empty stage, but that you have to re-establish your credentials and your quality every time. You can coast on reputation a little, but it doesn’t last long if you don’t deliver.

What nobody tells you is that praise—a standing ovation, a good review, your teacher’s approval—makes you feel good for a day, but one line of internet criticism from a stranger reverberates in your skull forever.

Frankly, I don’t see what all the fuss is about.

(I tried to feel bad when that critic killed himself the next year, but I didn’t.)

What nobody tells your boyfriend is that writing 3000 words in a calm, soothing, supportive environment still leaves you too tired to call home at the end of the day. So does…

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Quick & Easy Guide to Dashes

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dashes

hyphen (-)

A hyphen goes between words or syllables to link them together.

Example: Editors appreciate dash-savvy writers.

All English keyboards: the hyphen is the minus key next to zero.

en dash (–)

An en dash denotes a range between numbers or dates. It is so called because it is the same length as the letter “n.”

Example: The author used multiple dashes on pages 4–90.

Microsoft: alt + 0150

MS Word auto-format: enter [space], [hyphen], [space] between words.

Like this: word – word

Apple: option + hyphen

Smartphone or tablet: hold down the hyphen key until more options appear. The N-dash is probably the middle choice.

em dash (—)

An em dash denotes an interruption. It is so called because it is the same length as the letter “m.”

Example: Authors—even professional ones—often use dashes incorrectly.

Microsoft: alt + 0151

MS Word auto-format: enter [hyphen][hyphen] between words without spaces.

Like this: word–word

Apple: shift + option + hyphen

Smartphone or tablet: hold down the hyphen key until more options appear. The M-dash is the widest choice.