If I Wrote the Program
I regularly work with both Microsoft Word and Corel’s WordPerfect (but more often with Word). Both are fine programs, but neither is perfect. I often dream of having the perfect word-processing program—one that incorporates all of my favorite features and eliminates annoying quirks. My perfect program would include: • Word 2007’s track-changes feature, which I [...]
Fighting for a Hyphen?
I am a National Public Radio geeklet. I used to be a full-fledged NPR geek, but I’ve recently been downgraded because I cannot edit and listen to the radio at the same time, so my total listening hours have dropped dramatically. There is one thing I make sure not to miss—The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison [...]
5 Characteristics of Highly Successful Editors
Do you have what it takes to be a good editor? Obviously you can read, so you’ve met the most basic requirement, but editing is so much more than reading (as I’ve said over and over and over). See if you’ve got these other indispensible attributes. 1. A firm grasp of the rules of grammar. [...]
Where Have All the Hyphens Gone?
Certain things in life just bug me. For example, compounds that are missing their hyphens bug me—a lot. The hyphens are missing from work I’m editing (this does not bother me so much, because I’m the editor and fixing that sort of thing is my job), ads and other promotional materials, instruction manuals (yes, I [...]
Age-appropriate Reading
I never have enjoyed reading books that are considered “appropriate” for my age. In sixth grade I brought Steven King’s The Shining for individual reading time in English class. The teacher was concerned and asked, “Isn’t that a little old for you?” I shrugged my shoulders and kept reading, because I am extremely stubborn and [...]
Neither Writers nor Editors Are Gods
Occasionally I receive a query that goes something like this: I hope u can help me. I already fired 3 other editors since they were messing up my book. The last editor I told her to stop cause she was horrible. My book is 700 pages long, single spaced, and I need it done next [...]
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