Iapetus puts us number 1! (And please don't say "in no particular order." #1 is #1. :)
Alicia
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Romance University Now Features Theresa in a Monthly Column! Click the Picture for Details
Got Editing Questions?
If you have an editing question you'd like us to address, feel free to send it to rasley at gmail dot com. We like reader questions because they save us from having to think up post topics on our own. ;)
Readers' Choice for Top Ten Blog Posts
- 1. Top Ten Reasons the Editor Doesn't Love What Your Critique Group Loves
- 2. How to Put It Together Into One Neat Tweet
- 3. Marks of the Amateur - Starting a List
- 4. When Unnamed Characters Speak
- 5. Character-Driven/Plot-Driven
- 6. The Words Not Spoken, the Steps Not Taken
- 7. This Was in the Comments, But It's a Great Question, So Let's Discuss--
- 8. Dialogue Tags
- 9. Enjambment in Fiction
- 10. Thoughts on Pacing - Nothing Brilliant
Readers' Choice for Best Series by Alicia
Readers' Choice for Best Series by Theresa
Readers' Choice for Best Series by Both Editors
Ask An Editor
Romance University Now Features Theresa in a Monthly Column! Click the Picture for Details
Our Promise to Authors
Every day we work with writers to shape their manuscripts for publication. We also evaluate submissions, read our friends’ pages, give second opinions to other editors -- in short, we confront a whole lot of manuscript pages for a whole lot of reasons. But here’s what we don’t do. We don’t -- and we never will -- pull examples directly from any of these manuscripts. The editor-author relationship depends on mutual trust and respect, and we won’t ever compromise that. We might get ideas for blog posts in the course of our interaction with writers and manuscripts, but all examples are ours, with the occasional exception of literary sources.
Theresa's Dubious Honor
Useful Sites for Writers
- AAR
- Alicia's Writer's Corner
- Brian's Common Errors Site
- Internet-Resources (Killer Collection of Links for Writers)
- Merriam Webster Online
- Poets & Writers Online
- Purdue's OWL Grammar Handouts
- Schoolhouse Rock Grammar Rock Lyrics
- The Chicago Manual of Style online
- Theresa Stevens, Editor
- U. of Chicago's Excellent Collection of Grammar References
- Vision Index: A Review Site for Books About Writing
Blog Archive
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2009
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December
(33)
- Housekeeping and a Question
- These are a few of our favorite things...
- 25 and Holding!
- Alicia, Here it is--
- We're #1!
- Quotation marks, rah!
- Emotion postponement
- Sentence simplification
- Spotted in the Wild
- Happy Holidays!
- Elmo Says
- From the Mailbag
- Another IT factor -- "As It"
- Another mark of the amateur
- Sequence with "like"
- Two Years, Two Editors, Two Ways to Win
- Gettin' Fierce
- When Unnamed Characters Speak
- Who is teaching this stuff?
- Fragments redux
- A Quick Sentence Revision Tip: Subordinate "IT"
- Let's Talk About Men
- This was posted on J's site, but I need to record it
- Guest Post: "The Wise of Being Funny"
- Fun things
- Foreblogging the comment
- Event sequence in scenes
- Vanity "Experience"
- Ah, Poetry
- Fakery and Fuckery
- Endings and Anarchy
- How Did Your NaNo Go?
- Computer Tricks
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▼
December
(33)
When Theresa's not reading manuscripts, she's reading:
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Posts
25 comments:
It was a combination of quality and quantity that put you up at #1.
I read a post today where the agent(editor?) stated: "I'll no longer be providing detailed reasons why I'm rejecting a partial or full manuscript. The fact is that it's simply not my job to make a writer's work better."
(she's not on my lists BTW)
That's why I like sites like yours--you want people to make better submissions. Thanks for keeping it up and I look forward to more in MMX!
I think you and Theresa are GREAT, Alicia, and you have been #1 on my Google homepage for almost all of 09 - since I first stumbled on the blog.
Mostly, I lurk on all the blogs I read (which is unusual because I am very outspoken IRL). I don't know if blogger.com lets you track how many read without commenting but I suspect I am not alone in that activity. :)
Happy New Year to both of you and THANK YOU so much again, for all you give to writers!
Skeptic
Skeptic, I confess I check the blog stats once a year, whether I need to or not. ;) You are far from alone. Thanks for coming out of lurkdom, and please do so whenever the mood strikes! We love comments!
Andrew, I thanked you on your blog, but will repeat it here -- thank you. It means a lot to us to know that we're reaching the people we hope to help.
Theresa,
Who knows it actually *is* her job to make a writer's work better
Theresa, can you find out what countries commenters come from? Any exotic ones?
Alicia
Just for you, Alicia, I dug up the password and checked the stats. :) Today alone, we've had readers from America, Canada, England, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, the Philippines, Portugal, France, Italy (quite a few Italians today, actually -- ciao, scriventi!), the United Arab Emirates, and Argentina.
If I could remember how to use this software, I might be able to tell you more than that, like annual stats or something. Alas, my brain is not with me today, so that sort of exploration will have to wait for another day.
Fun, though, ain't it?
Theresa
Congrats! We keep telling you your the greatest :)
I'd say I was surprised, but I'm not. This blog is amazing and the advice (and the people who post their comments) always amazing. I'm forever pointing writing friends here and telling them they *have* to read here. Not only unending ways to learn and grow and get glimpses into the business of publishing, but several generous opportunities for hands on feedback that I don't think you'll find anywhere else. Generousity & wisdom all in one place. :)
JT
There is no contest!! Your blog gives the best advice and coaching to wannabe writers of any. Please don't stop.
And lurkers, please come out. Give us the benefit of your thoughts. It's a friendly group. Nobody gets attacked except me by Murphy.
"....I read a post today where the agent(editor?) stated: "I'll no longer be providing detailed reasons why I'm rejecting a partial or full manuscript. The fact is that it's simply not my job to make a writer's work better."...." This floors me. There are so many comments that could be made I don't know where to start. As a businessman when I'm wearing my sales hat and I don't make a sale, I appreciate the prospect telling me why. By the same token, when I'm purchasing from vendors, I feel it is my duty to tell the unsuccessful bidders why they didn't get the business if they want to know. Why should publishing be different?
Totally awesome! Well done on your pick lapetus999! Theresa and Alicia deserve the spot! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Edittorrent's professional generosity is unparalleled! A mitten full of gold stars for both of you!!! ;)
And, on an entirely different note...
(insert me clearing my throat loudly here)
Wes, Wes, Wes! Here I am, minding my own business (actually I've been stuck in Holiday hell for the last 10 days or so) and what do I find on the very day I feel recovered enough to face the world again, but your flippant little dig? Now, I ask anyone out there, lurkers or regulars alike - who is attacking whom?
I pick on you? Wes! Sheesh! I'd be crushed if I didn't suspect that this notion was driven by the onset of dementia - or maybe you've been double dipping in the ensure punch bowl this holiday season? Either way, I forgive you. :D
Murphy
You failed to capitalize Ensure.
Ha! Interesting that you knew exactly what I was referring to - humm, did I forget to capitalize, or was it perhaps a clever test? You be the judge, but I'd hurry up if I were you, it's nearly past your bedtime! :D
Murphy
You guys! (eye roll)
Today's only the 4th day of Christmas, you know. We should still be doing the 'Peace on Earth, good will toward other writers' bit. ;-)
Dave:
It's here in black and white! I didn't start it, Wes did! That being said, Dave, you're absolutely right. How neglectful of me. Did you have a wonderful holiday? Are you enjoying the 'Peace on Earth', good will toward other writers' bit this season? I only ask because, um, I can't say I'm feeling it. Truth be told, I'm not feeling much right now, I'm kind of numb from the neck up - Christmas (regardless of the day) has a tendency to do that to me.
Theresa! I was thinking about you over the holiday. Yes siree! When my neighbor delivered a nice Christmas yule log to our door you can bet your ‘sweet bippy’ I was thinking of you! Thanks for that! :D
Murphy (who just realized she didn't catch poor Wes in time. He must have shuffled off to bed...oh, dear).
Yeah, Wes, she doesn't only pick on you :P Besides, she's right, you started this one LOL
Murphy, he's in bed cuz he's a youngin' and still needs his beauty sleep.
On a more somber note, I'm not feeling the days of Christmas much either. We're getting ready to go back to WA and my MIL and daughter are here. They had only been here few hours when we got a call that MIL's uncle died in a house fire. Luckily we were already planning a trip. We spent the extra money and are sending MIL and my daughter back early on the plane and leaving two days earlier ourselves.
Maybe you all can send some of those happy Christmas wishes our way. Peace on Earth would be good right now.
Reading this blog is keeping me sane :D
Leona:
I'm sorry things are tough for you right now. All good thoughts coming your way! All the best for you and yours!
Murphy :D
Leona, my deepest condolences for your loss. I know what a shock it is to lose someone unexpectedly.
Murphy, yes, me and mine had a good Christmas. I'm sorry yours left you so numb.
Murphy, we thought you were sick and now we find out you were only hiding?:( Does this mean you'll be answering your emails?;)
Leona, sorry for your loss and I hope things get better for you soon.
Leona,
I send my best wishes during your time of loss. You are a good person with many trials. Bless you.
But never forget, Murphy has a mean streak. She may look cute and everything, but she has an evil twin.
Yes, Em, check your inbox. ;)
A mean streak? An evil twin? Boy do I wish that were true! Both would have come in handy over the last week or so. :D
Geez Wes, it's a little early for you to be so cranky. Are you okay? I'm worried about you.
Leona, so sorry for your loss.
Theresa
Theresa & Alicia: Congratulations!
Leona: I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Know that I'm thinking of you.
Wes: Sorry, but you did start it this time. :)
Murphy: I'm glad to see you back online. And you wore your fireproof jacket - good thinking! :)
Jami G.
(off to check out Iapetus's list...)
Thank you everyone for your support :)
See, this is why this blog is number one, We all stick together!
Wes, I thought Murray choked on a green olive :P I thought her evil twin was gone forever. **sigh
Choked on an olive? I was more concerned that she got caught in one of Murray's schemes. (Does that name 'Murray' make anyone else here think of Teal'c from Stargate SG-1?)
I may be biased, but edittorent is the best blog about writing I have read. namaste
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