Celebrating Newsletters as Resources, Perseverance, and Great Networking

Dawn Colclasure and Carolyn Celebrate Three Years of SPARREW

with the newsletter’s  Gift Sample Collection.

Celebrating Four Years of Tricky Edits

 

Celebrating Newsletters as Resources for Indie-Minded Authors

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

If you’re reading this because you subscribed after following my “Tricky Edits” column in Dawn Colclasure’s SPARREW Newsletter, you might find it familiar. Well, here’s the thing. Birthday celebrations are forever. You might have last read about this helpful book in 2025 when Dawn and I celebrated our third year together. Here is that story: 

 When Dawn and I realized she had been doing her SPARREW newsletter for three years and I had been writing a column for it from the get-go, we decided to celebrate. The “we” part disappeared in the difficulties presented by Los Angeles’ fires and the mandatory evacuation from my husband’s and my home. That required tearing apart my office to get all essentials into our trunk to get them out of danger. As it happens, our home survived with a little wind damage, but my office is still suffering a bit. 

 Dawn proceeded to work on our plans using past columns for her newsletter and one of my booklets now published in its second edition by Modern History Press to glean our material most needed by authors.  By the time the smoke cleared, she had The SPARREW Newsletter Gift Sample Collection up and ready for you to benefit from the best-of-the-best from those years in 2025. Help us celebrate. Gift it to a fellow author. Find it on Amazon. 

So, it’s birthday time again. And here is a little something I promised in SPARREW’s April newsletter as part of a short list of important edits to consider in final edits, the ones that too many authors don’t know about or bother with.  We’re concentrating on only the last suggestion--number eight on the 2025 list that promises a list of  "What you might be missing if you don’t read Appendices in books that have them:"

Read appendices--mostly found in nonfiction books but not always. And when you read them, don’t skim. Think about the details, the ones you can begin to apply for the needs of your own books.  

1. Sometimes you’ll find near-equivalents to appendices in other genres masquerading under other names, glossaries for instance. It’s a mistake not to take that observation as a lesson. You might use this same approach to helping your reader. 

2. Don’t just read for information. Watch the way segments are worded and the layout for the sections. Is there anything there that can be used to help your readers for your next book? 

2. Does recommended reading offer something that will help you delve deeper into topics you now realize you know too little about? 

3. Watch for examples or samples--sometimes set out visually--that will support what you learned in the book you just read, some that you can use as templates.

4. You might find a summary or organizational chart of the book you just read that will make you think twice about what you just read.

5. A list of experts the author interviewed or were otherwise instrumental for quotes or information--even beyond acknowledgements which will probably be used elsewhere.  My The Frugal Editor includes a list of agents who offered their query letter pet peeves and permission to print them. 

6. Sometimes you’ll find a whole new how-to section written by the author or some other expert for something the author knows you’ll need but doesn’t quite fit in the book.  

7. You might find resources other than recommended readers (like those agents mentioned above!) 

 

MORE ABOUT CAROLYN

Once a month Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares something writer-related she hopes might save some author from embarrassment (or make the task of writing more fun or creative.) The third edition of The Frugal Editor from Modern History Press includes a chapter on some of the words most misused by the very people whose business it is to know them. It is the second multi award-winning book in her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. The Frugal Editor has been fully updated including a chapter on how backmatter can be extended to help readers and nudge book sales.

 Carolyn blogs sporadically on editing here at http://www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com and at her SharingwithWriters blog on other aspects of the publishing world and welcomes guest posts with ample author credit lines and links. She also tweets writers' resources and tips at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo using the #FrugalBookPromoterTips hashtag.

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG and Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second edition of "The Frugal Book Promoter" and "The Frugal Editor." Her "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically" will soon be published by Modern History Press in its second edition. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and "The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published.” 

 Carolyn has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. The first in that series is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques.” 

She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com absolutely free along with her associate Lois W. Stern. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at right here "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com) and plans to work on it harder in 2025.  

Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

 

A “Tricky Edit” That Turns Out to Be the Easiest One of All

A New Year Warning

 

A Great Deal of Knowledge Can Be a Dangerous Thing

By Your Blogger Carolyn Howard-Johnson, 
author of the award-winningest book 
in her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books,  The Frugal Editor

So you’re a whiz at Latin!  No? Maybe you’re a whiz at words borrowed from Latin because you pay attention to the dictionary when it lists the parts of words English has greedily borrowed from that language (many others?) I’ll admit, I think I am, too. So for this New Year column I’m going to leave you with a very short warning: 

The word Octopus isn’t Latin. It’s Greek. 

And there are lots of other words—especially scientific ones—that seem to be tricksters, too. So when you absolutely must get the plural right—say you’re writing a book where little booboos can live in infamy for a verrrry long time!—it takes but a minute or two to use your fave search engine. For now, the plural for “octopus” is 

Octopodes (Greek)
                Not octopi (Latin)

But for once, English has taken the easy road. We’ve anglicized it and the preferred plural is octopuses.

So your tricky edits tip isn’t so tricky. The word you’re sure of may be rooted in Latin—or maybe German because English—after all is rooted it’s a Germanic language. Or….well, you get the idea. Make it your New Year resolution to “Trust in an English that specializes in our American idiosyncrasies, especially when you think you “know it all.

More About Carolyn

Once a month Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares something writer-related she hopes might save some author from embarrassment (or make the task of writing more fun or creative.) The third edition of The Frugal Editor from Modern History Press includes a chapter on some of the words most misused by the very people whose business it is to know them. It is the second multi award-winning book in her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. Find it on Amazon’s new buy-page offered in paper, hard cover, or as an e-book. (The availability of that new page for book series is another of her #FrugalBookPromoterTips which she liberally posts across Twitter when she isn’t editing a book of her own!) Find her there @frugalbookpromo. 

Until then, The Frugal Editor has been fully updated including a chapter on how backmatter can be extended to help readers and nudge book sales. And an e-copy is available for your reading device for only $8.95. Modern History Press. You’re invited to partake of my most difficult book of all time, primarily because of the necessity for handling artificial intelligence in the new the getting reviews process. It is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically—hopefully early in the New Year in time for you to start 2025 on a writing-positive note.

Note: This article was originally published in Dawn Colclasure’s SPARREW newsletter where I have had a regular “Tricky Edits” column since its inception. You might want to subscribe. It is full of resources you might find useful for your genre or even your review-getting campaign.  

 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER and EDITOR 

       Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically will soon be published by Modern History Press in its second edition. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. 

       Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published. 

      Carolyn has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. The first in that series is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at right here The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com) and plans to work on it harder in 2025.  Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

“Are You Simplifying with “NonCount” Nouns?

A New Name to Make Communication Easier? 

By your editing blogger, Carolyn Howard-Johnson,
book and marketing consultant, writer and, 
when my life needs a dose of joy, a poet, too!

The title of his “Vocabulary Habit” puzzles you, well, that’s why it’s here. One of my frequent vocabulary builders that comes to my mailbox unbidden maybe once a day (Word Smart) told me that they about “noncount nouns.” Well, do tell. Yep, there are all kinds of easy endings for most nouns. “-es,”, just plain -s,” and some  harder ones “-ies” for words like “babies” that can be counted. Some nouns  like “man” are loners and require have their own needs that must be followed (just like “men!”) Ya just gotta know. (That’s where a good teach or model comes in handy!) 

Some belong to categories like “games.” We hardly notice them because they need no change. “Hockey.” “Chess.” “Baseball” become something else if we try to make it a plural with an Sand somehow we just know it!

But what if we tutor English as a second language, teach, happened to be an immigrant or a second generation speaker of two or more languages. (Lucky them!)

We also know there are a few things that can’t be counted; they don’t tend to give most of us or our associates much trouble. Some are loners that obey the rules the “e” and “es” type rules and some belong to categories like “games.” We won’t find plurals available for “hockey” or “chess.” The students we tutor might barely notice., either. Yep, they are noncount nouns. 

Some give us trouble and when it comes time to discuss explain, it helps to have the vocabulary to help with that, a term that helps delineate them all because we’ll need to tell them about the helper word  that with our fellow writers, our students, our clients, it’s kind of nice to be equipped with a word that deliniates them. When we find nouns we know can be counted we go to words like "enough,"  "some," "any," “much,” "plenty of," and "no." 

But even they can be tricky. Word Smart gives us this example:

"’There aren’t many coffee left,’ since "coffee" is a noncount noun. (You might order ‘three coffees,’ but that’s actually an abbreviated form of ‘cups of coffee’ as "cups" can be counted.) The informal modifier ‘a little bit of’ also should be used only with noncount nouns, as in, "We got a little bit of rain today.’

And, that fellow writers, is why it helps to have a simple, straightforward word to describe them as we explain our crazy home-grown language to them. Hooray for “noncount.” 

PS: You’ll also want to touch on group words like when the infamous “goose” becomes “gaggle” of “geese.” You’ll find a list of them on “Google” and, yes, that might present a problem of its own. Ahem! 

“Careers that are not fed die as readily

                                                     as any living organism given no 

                                                              sustenance.” ~ CHJ

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER and EDITOR

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second edition of "The Frugal Book Promoter" and "The Frugal Editor." Her "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically" will soon be published by Modern History Press in its second edition. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and "The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published.” 

 Carolyn has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. The first in that series is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques.” 

Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com absolutely free along with her associate Lois W. Stern. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at right here "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com) and plans to work on it harder in 2025. Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

Editing and Writing Alert: Humanizing the Word “Mummy”

As someone once said in a sci-fi move, "I'm ba-a-a-ck!"  The third edition of my The Frugal Book Promoter was just released and I found a new tip for the "politically correct" section of the book, but it's too late!  It occurs to me that this is the place I should share new editing ideas and additions to the world of editing (which these days come faster than they ever have before!) with my subscribers and visitors to this blog and, of course, those who read my book in any one of its editions.  Mind you, they are all award-winners, but my publisher (Modern History Press) tells me this one has 50% new information in it, so you might want to jump on Amazon and get the new edition for yourself.  Those of you who have copies remember I always give my readers detailed indexes in my how-to books so that readers can find what they need immediately.

So, what is this new news?  You'll love it!  

NBC Reported the new research on Egypt’s  golden boy mummy and the reporting included new suggestions the writers (and many others)  interested in politically correct (more humanizing language) are have now decided to refer to mummies...yes, mummies!...should be referenced to. 

They say: 

“The new study comes as museums in the U.K. reckon with whether the term "mummy"... is appropriate to describe mummified remains because “dehumanizing” connotation  [of the word standing on its own]. 

“Where we know the name of an individual we use that, otherwise we use the term ‘mummified man, woman, boy, girl or person’ on our labels, because we are referring to people, not objects,” a spokesperson for National Museums Scotland said in an email.

“The word ‘mummy’ is not incorrect, but it is dehumanizing, whereas using the term ‘mummified person’ encourages the visitors [to our museums]  to think of the individual.” 

This report comes from Charlene Gubash reporting from Cairo and Aina J. Khan from London.

As an amateur (very amateur !) archeologist/anthropologist, I believe this is a pretty good approach to showing respect to mummified remains not withstanding what a writer's personal attitude about being politically correct is. In either case, I find this a fascinating addition to my chapter on the subject and hope that many of you check it out in The Frugal Editor, 3rd Edition, along with my brand new chapter on using back matter to better served your readers and nudge your own book sales. 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning third  editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor published by Modern History Press. Her How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically is also part of the series. Learn more on her Amazon Author Page,  http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile  and, if you follow her there, Amazon will notify you of new releases in the series.

 Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and her The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet also available in Audio, helps writers who want to be traditionally published. 

Carolyn has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews free at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more-- right here and promises to do more of that in the future. ( Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

Your Best Writing May Not Be What You Think

Your Best Writing May Not Be What You Think  

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson 

One of the biggest writing problems I see among people in my mentoring program, and others who hire me to improve their writing, is that they're afraid to write like they talk. Perhaps they fear “wordiness”, but sometimes writing like you talk is less wordy. 

For instance, they never use one-word sentences. Or fragments. Those, for sure, are not wordy!

They refuse to start sentences with words such as "and" and "but" because an elementary teacher way back when told them not to.

They try to sound important when they write. So they use long words in long sentences that make up long paragraphs.

They remove all slang from their writing so it's clean and pure. And often, boring.

Business coach Michael Angier agrees.

"Too many times, I see people who are good verbal communicators try to put
on a different air in their writing," he says. "It doesn't work. It's much
better to be conversational."

Writing like you talk is one of thirteen tips Michael offers for writing clearly and convincingly. It was one of the lead articles in an issue of Joan Stewart’s free subscription newsletter, The Publicity Hound.

 

Lisa Cron’s book, Wired for Story (http://bit.ly/Wired4Story), shows us how humans were storytellers long before they were writers and how the processes in their lives wired us for story. Story and anecdote. It works for articles like this. It works for novels—great novels. And you’ll see it appearing more and more often as part of news stories. Another book I recommend is Tom Chiarella’s Writing Dialogue (http://bit.ly/Chiarella) published by Writer’s Digest. You may find it inexpensively on Amazon’s New and Used feature. 

 

In the newest book in my multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writing, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically, I remind authors that the best blurbs and endorsements come from people who compliment their books and their style in off-the-cuff conversations. When asked to write a blurb or endorsement, the same people may use language that is stiff, official—and unconvincing. I tell them to ask their contacts (or reader) if they can use what their reader just said to them rather than having them back up and make it into a brittle, lifeless twig. 

And in the second edition of my Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips, to be released September 1 and now in pre-sale mode on Amazon, I talk about how fear of breaking grammar rules (that often, by the way, aren’t really “rules” at all!) leads to unnatural dialogue. This little book also contains some of the word trippers I see most frequently in my clients’ work, and that is where there is no room wiggle room for making the wrong choice. 

 

Readers probably spent many years reading staid textbooks. They may now prefer to learn what they need quickly. When authors make their point with stories (and do it colloquially), they find their readers more easily bond to them. It’s about connection. Think loyalty.

 

Have you ever wondered why many are turning to the Web for information even at the risk of fake news and unprofessional advice. They are in a hurry. They’re after easily absorbed information (retention). You can provide both. Sure. Watch for wordiness. But don’t skip the story your readers’ brains crave. They’ll love you for it. 

-----

Carolyn Howard-Johnson writes fiction, poetry; and the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning third edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; . and the second edition of The Great First Impression Book Proposal. The newest in the series is the second edition of her Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers. Her blog  TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, lets authors recycle their favorite reviews absolutely free. Find submission guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page.

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart,and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

Writer-Artist Deborah Lyn Stanley Offers Unsolicited Review of The Frugal Editor

Today's post comes with special thanks for a surprise review from an associate at another blog, WritersontheMove.  As many of my subscribers and visitors know, I believe in thank yous and reviews as a way to pass it forward to the publishing industry and those important cogs--authors--that make it what it is.  Thus this review of my The Frugal Editor comes to you as a reminder.


Title: The Frugal Editor
Subtitle: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets for Authors:
From Your Query Letter to Final Manuscript to the Marketing of Your New Bestseller
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Series: The HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers
Edition: 2nd Edition
Publisher: HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
Cover: DeSimonDesign.com
Available: Paper and Ebook
ISBN: 9781505712117
Purchase on Amazon:

Reviewed by Deborah Lyn Stanley, originally for Amazon, Goodreads and her own websites

Today I am sharing my favorite self-editing book. Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a friend and co-contributor to Writer’s On The Move (WOTM).  She is a consistent source of encouragement for the writer’s journey!

Carolyn’s delivery style is down to earth, illuminating, and frugal in its time saving, headache preventing approach.

My favorite aspect of her book includes the basics required for an effective writer’s practice, and the seven thorough Appendices. Appendix One, “Editing At A Glance”, is followed by Recommended Reading and Resources, Generous Agents List, Sample Cover and Sample Query Letters, and Formatting for Kindle Made Easy.

The Goal of the book is to equip aspiring and accomplished authors with the best self-editing skills and tips for successful publishing.

I highly recommend this book. It’s refreshing, informative, and empowers our writers' journey.

Thank you Carolyn Howard-Johnson!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been promoting her own books and helping clients promote theirs for more than a decade. Her marketing plan for the second book in the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor, won the Next Generation Millennium Award for Marketing. The just-released third edition of The Frugal Book Promoter, published by Modern History Press, is New, Expanded, and Updated. Her poetry, fiction and nonfiction books have been honored by the likes of Writer’s Digest, USA Book News Award, the Irwin award, Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards and more. Learn more about Carolyn and her books of fiction and poetry. Each of them helped her learn more about maximizing marketing efforts for different writers, different titles. Learn more at www.howtodoitfrugally.com

Links:

https://howtodoitfrugally.com/

http://www.writersonthemove.com/

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Deborah Lyn Stanley is a writer, artist, and contributor to Karen Cioffi Ventrice's WritersontheMove blog. Learn more about her writing at on her websites at  https://lynstanleyart.com,  My Writer’s Life: https://deborahlynwriter.com/, and The Caregiver’s Retreat: https://deborahlyncaregiver.com/. 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and The Great First Impression Book Proposal another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at this spot, The Frugal, Smart,and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

Midwest Book Review Editor Shares Review of Funny Grammar Book!

Once in a while I can't resist posting a review of a book I think will be especially valuable to editors and editing authors.  This is one of them. 

Title: Nobody Knows How to Write a Grammar Book Better Than Me

Subtitle: Amazing Examples from Donald Trump
Author: Jane Hanser,
Illustrator: J. C. Duffy
Publisher: Ivy Books

ISBN: 9780991514946

$29.95, Hard Copy, 160pp, 

Purchase on Amazon. www.amazon.com

Review by Jim Cox originally for the Writing/Publishing Shelf 

and his Midwest Book Review newsletter

SYNOPSIS:

"Nobody Knows How to Write a Grammar Book Better Than Me: With Amazing Examples from Donald Trump" raises the bar for an English grammar book as it transports us through the great English language and the topsy-turvy world of Donald Trump's policies and predilections. With memorable (and occasionally embarrassing) examples of Donald Trump's use of English this unique book of grammar entertianingly guides the reader through grammar's complexities and makes them relevant and easy to understand using Donald Trump's distinctive verbal and twitter communication style.

"Nobody Knows How to Write a Grammar Book Better Than Me" provides accessible introduction to American English grammar for English users regardless of their skill levels: both native and ESL speakers. Every grammar principle is accompanied by several examples of Donald Trump -- both how to do it and how not to do it! In addition, exercises allow the reader to try the grammar principals themselves, which often means correcting Donald Trump's grammar, sentence structure and punctuation

CRITIQUE: 

Donald Trump is the perfect and very public example of the kind of functional illiteracy that emerges when someone who can read actually and chronically prefers not to. This is reflected in a seemingly limited vocabulary with which to describe things, people and events -- as well as the kinds of grammatical errors that, if in school, would result in very low grades on English exams.

Also available in a paperback edition (9780991514939, $26.95) and especially recommended as a unique addition to personal and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, "Nobody Knows How to Write a Grammar Book Better Than Me: With Amazing Examples from Donald Trump" is both instructively educational and inherently entertaining. It is in fact and substance a thoroughly 'learner friendly' textbook with a wealth of humourous examples reflected in the actual statements, both spoken and written, by Donald Trump. While controversial with respect to the subject used for illustrative and educational purposes, the grammar lessons and exercises comprising "Nobody Knows How to Write a Grammar Book Better Than Me: With Amazing Examples from Donald Trump" are sound, germane, pertinent and relevant for anyone with an interest in learning about the use of proper English grammar for the purpose of enhancing and facilitating their spoken and written communications

Editorial Note; Jane Hanser's roots as a teacher of English and English as a Second Language, and the developer of the popular software application Easy Writer: Interactive Software for Learners of English, and as a story-teller in her award-winning book Dogs Don't Look Both Ways come together in this funny, helpful and relevant guide through English grammar.

The renowned cartoonist, J.C. Duffy, whose works can be regularly seen in The New Yorker and whose comic strip The Fusco Brothers is nationally syndicated, contributes additional rewards for the reader through his satirical illustrations of Donald Trump quotes.

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published.

Carolyn  also has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques.

The multi award winning writer of fiction and poetry also helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. And, of course, blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more right here at The Frugal, Smart,and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.

Self-editing Writing Pieces with Flair

I have a special treat today for subscribers and visitors to The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor blog!

I asked Carolyn Wilhelm (see more about her in the the little bio I added at the end of this blog), to expand on one of her Facebook posts about group words for different species of birds. I found it fascinating and noticed there were enough Facebook shares to convince me I was not alone.

Knowing how I am about editing, my "other Carolyn" wrapped some of those group words (you know the words that describe groups but are treated as singular like "a pride of lions") into a kind of review of my editing book.  I bet she has some group words you've never heard and some ideas for editing gleaned from my book that will inspire you to do one more edit before you submit your manuscript to a publisher or an agent.

Self-editing Writing Pieces with Flair

By Carolyn Wilhelm

Is it almost time to turn in a manuscript? Need some down to earth advice? Self-editing can be a daunting task as it is very difficult to see your own work with fresh eyes. You might not notice a mistake through several re-reads. When you finally notice you think, "How did I miss that? I've read this a hundred times. And how did my proofreaders miss it?"

Because the more familiar our brains are with the content in print, the less we are able to focus on details.

If you and your proofreaders know the about the story you are writing, you may not be enlisting enough help for publication. Word will not offer enough support. Grammarly and other programs alone won't find every error. The publisher will notice, though, and there are several important things to know. 

Here are some creative ideas for adding flair to your writing piece when editing. 

Carolyn Howard-Johnson says that many writers who are not poets occasionally find alliteration, assonance, and rhyme useful tools for leads, headlines, titles, and copywriting. She has more specific information about how to use poetic language in manuscripts in her The Frugal Editor. Scroll down for more information on that book from her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. 

1. Bepoetic 

Recently, I was reading about collective nouns for birds. The earliest use of collective nouns stems from the Book of St. Albans, published in 1486. As a teacher, I found children loved the terms like "gaggle of geese." Supposedly such terms were supposed to be poetic as well as scientific in describing the birds. Two for one. Here is link to that resource.  And here is an example. 

"...an exaltation of larks is a poetic comment on the climb of the skylark high into the sky while uttering its twittering song." 

We could say larks and that could be that, but how nice to say there was an exaltation of larks. Or we could adapt the word "exaltation" to describe the way they behave in a group. Where else could some poetic language replace plain language? Yes, we want to tell our stories, but it's good to give our readers the ability to form images in their minds. We can keep that in mind as we edit. 

2. Use Figurative Language

My writing group enjoys passing out little items to help us when we are back at home and writing. I have a bookmark with figurative language definitions. Of course, we know that when we are writing that first draft (ignoring mistakes as we work, very tough for many people) we might not include such language. When we go back, we might wonder how to improve a sentence, but might forget to add similes or  metaphor to help create more relatable imagery. 

Howard-Johnson has suggestions in this area, also. She shares a tip on  how using our search for adverbs can yield metaphors or similes, the kinds of associations that allow you to find and insert flecks of solid gold into your copy. Who knew? 

When I taught elementary school classes, I would tell the children to check with their ten fingers as they proofread. While reading, they put down a finger on the left hand if one of the five senses was included (sight, smell, sound, taste, or texture). OK, for the right hand, they checked for capital letters, punctuation, spelling, paragraph breaks, and neatness. A similar approach might be used by anyone to help check for what you need to add to strengthen your own writing. Make your own strategy for editing your own areas that need strengthening. You know yourself best. 

3. Prepare Different Versions

Howard-Johnson says and guidelines for print and the Web are galaxies apart. She says to think of them as different genres. Be prepared to provide copy for print as well as possible requests from your publisher or own self-publishing efforts to ensure the best version to meet different guidelines. Be ready so you don't have to scramble later. She says this is especially true for rules surrounding dashes, hyphens, em dashes, and en dashes. If you don't know what these are, it is time to learn. The explanations are in her book. The Web is not the place to try to learn this information since it is different from print requirements. She provides many helpful examples. 

4. Editing your idiosyncratic adverbs

One of my writing friends uses no adverbs at all in her books. That is certainly one way around this problematic area. Mainly, writing pieces need to be checked for overused words. If you have favorites, first make a list of the words and find possible substitutions before you even edit. Use Control-A  on your computer's keyboard to select all. Use that function to search for the words you you know you overuse. Ask friends to read and notice repeated words. Then as you encounter such words, you will have a ready list of substitutions. This requires thinking, considering, creativity. You won't want to auto replace, of course. 

5. Make an Index

Carolyn Howard-Johnson states: "Ask your publisher who is responsible for making the index. Today, nonfiction authors are often asked to put them together even when their books are published traditionally. Anything that will help your reader is worth the time and effort. If you decide to build your own index, expect to spend time reading up on how to do it right; do not rely entirely on the index function of your word processor." That is so clearly stated her own words are best. Now here's a thought. As you make the index, better word choices might occur to you, so it is actually a help in self-editing. What would you like in your index? Maybe you would like some sparkly and interesting words? This is another time to consider word choice. 

Thank you for reading,
Carolyn Wilhelm, UDEMY Self-Publishing from the Very, Very Beginning Instructor

MORE ABOUT THE GUEST BLOGGER

Carolyn Wilhelm is the author of several books for children including Alex Asks About Auntie's Airplane Day, an adoption day story, and an educator who runs Wise Owl Factory that offers teaching aids--including many that are free--on Pinterest ( https://www.pinterest.com/wiseowlfactory/) and some that cover editing-related topics like writing and grammar.

Carolyn Wilhelm Curriculum Writer and Author, Wise Owl Factory LLC cwilhelm@thewiseowlfactory.com The Wise Owl Factory

MORE ABOUT THE FRUGAL, SMART, AND TUNED-IN BLOGGER

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and The Great First Impression Book Proposal, another booklet, helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart,and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Her SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com blog focuses on the writing life and book marketing and promotion. It is a Writers' Digest 101 Best blogs pick.