Yay! I won another contest, this one from Beth Fred. This is way too awesome. I should do another one myself, maybe after I give the blog a good polish. I'll shop around at the bookstores and see if they have anything good. Any ideas for what would make a good giveaway? I'm thinking another writing book would be a nice idea, but I might add something fictional.
I know what I'll do. I'll add a poll. You guys vote for the genre. See to the left? There it is.
Anyway, in writing news, I'm continuing my quest to shape up my WIP. Do you know what I've noticed is super helpful? Changing the font. Seriously. I switched it from Times New Roman to Calibri and (combined with the read aloud) I'm spotting mistakes I have no idea stayed in there this long. I don't really know why switching fonts helps so much. It's one of those weird ways you can trick your brain.
So, with help from crit partners and beta readers, things are coming along! How are your WIPs going? Do you have any tricks you use to help you spot mistakes?
I love the font-change idea. I've never tried that before, but I will now!
ReplyDeleteWhen I check for mistakes, I read from the end to the beginning, sentence by sentence. It takes my brain off "auto-pilot" and I don't gloss over as many mistakes. This would probably be hard to do for a full length novel, but give it a try on something short sometime!
Erin @ Quitting My Day Job
Changing the font color can help, too. My biggest suggestion, however, is to read it in as many different formats as possible. On the computer screen, printed out, on an ereader (if possible) and, just before you're ready to submit, take the time and the $6 to do a private printing through lulu.com or CreateSpace. It does NOT mean you're self-publishing when you do a private printing. But you get a bound book that feels absolutely awesome to hold - and seeing it in that format helps you catch more typos. Trust me. I know from experience. We had both of mine read so many times in various formats but when we got the bound ARCs, we found more. I know many big-time authors who do this, too, before submitting to editors.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Grats on the awards. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip also. You just get so use to it one way, change can bring things out.
What great ideas! I just kick myself when I keep finding typos and such, but haven't come up with a way to hunt them down. Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought of changing font in order to pick up mistakes. I change font so I don't get bored. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI've won some fiction books in the last two months and really appreciate them - some of the bestsellers have long waiting lists at the library and I don't have a big book budget.
ReplyDeleteGood editing tip!
erica
Ooh, that's a good thing- tricking your brain into catching those things with the different font. I haven't really done anything yet because my crit partners are great at catching my mistakes for me!!
ReplyDeleteChanging the font= genius.
ReplyDeleteWow, changing the font? I am so going to try that.
ReplyDeleteI was skeptical about reading aloud until my instructor made us do in. Wow, it really does work. Another instructor suggested reading it backwards (one sentence at a time, obviously, not completely backwards), which helps you find errors without getting pulled into the content.
I just ask someone else (trusted book readers) to read my draft. They are awesome at spotting those mistakes and letting me know what I may need to change.
ReplyDeletetry it with your local club
with warm regards
http://becomingprince.blogspot.com