The author of the very first book I ever proofread was kind enough to send me a complimentary hard copy after it was published. I keep this book on my desk as a reminder of what I’ve been able to achieve. It’s important to feel good about the work you do, and I’m honored that […]
Inspiration on My Desk Read More »
I haven’t had much time to post lately because I finally got my first big book project of the year. The first two months of 2022 saw lots of small projects coming in sporadically. While grateful for the semi-consistent work, I’ve been itching to sink my teeth into something big, and I’m so glad that’s
Like many individuals in the gaming world, I have been obsessed with Elden Ring, the new FromSoftware game. In the game, you get a spectral steed (it’s kind of a horned horse that reminds me of Ashitaka’s red elk in Princess Mononoke) named Torrent. But do you know the definition of a “torrent”? Merriam-Webster has
Are you familiar with the Latin term “mea culpa”? According to Merriam-Webster, “mea culpa” is a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error.
Let’s Learn a New Word (3/8/22) Read More »
Do you know how to write out internal or unspoken dialogue (like thoughts) in your book? You can actually choose to use either italics or quotations, as long as you remain consistent. I personally prefer italics, as I like how italicizing better differentiates unspoken dialogue from spoken dialogue. Just remember to also italicize the terminal
How to Write Internal (Unspoken) Dialogue Read More »
I’ve got another colon rule today, and it’s short and sweet. A colon can come after a closing parenthesis or quotation mark, but never before.
A Rule Regarding Colons (Pt. 3) Read More »
Yesterday I talked about how the text preceding a colon must constitute a complete sentence. Today I have another colon rule for you. Do you know if you should capitalize or lowercase the first word following a colon? It actually depends. If you’re following the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS), the first word following the
A Rule Regarding Colons (Pt. 2) Read More »
Something a lot of people don’t realize about colons is that the text preceding a colon must stand as a complete independent clause (it must constitute a grammatically complete sentence). Let’s look at these two examples. The following are some Netflix shows we watched last year: Squid Game, Cowboy Bebop, and Hellbound. This text before
A Rule Regarding Colons (Pt. 1) Read More »
Wanna learn a new word today? How about acerbic? According to Merriam-Webster, acerbic is an adjective meaning sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone, such as acerbic commentary or an acerbic reviewer.
Let’s Learn a New Word (2/25/22) Read More »
When I was starting out in this field, I remember reading an interview with a successful editor. They said something that has stuck with me: “If you put yourself out there enough, people will find you.” A common challenge freelancers face is finding clients. But I’ve found that simple advice to be true. Even though
Putting Yourself Out There Read More »