Posts tagged protips
JavaScript Tips and Tricks, Part 1
CHRIS – As a developer working for a big consulting firm (and as the owner of a web startup), I’m constantly learning new tricks to make my job go more smoothly. When it comes to JavaScript, some of these tricks have proven particularly useful time and time again, so I’m offering them up to you with the hope that they can serve you as they have served me. These tips are by no means a strict guideline, but using the techniques outlined here will help us all write better JavaScript code. That’s a good thing.
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Using terse syntax
Instead of using the OOP standard way to instantiate an object (the “Class object = new Class()” syntax):
you can just do this:
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Strict vs. type-converting equality
In JavaScript the triple equals sign means “equality without type coercion” meaning that the values must be equal in type in addition to value. For example:
The only time you should use == over === is when checking against null (see next section). For further reading on equality, check out Mozilla Developers.
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Undefined and null
When checking if a variable is null or undefined, developers will often check both like this:
However, since undefined == null, we can simply write this:
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Specifying default values
When specifying default values for variables, you can use the C# way of thinking (checking if it is null or empty) like this:
or be much more concise like this:
In the latter example, the default value of “bar” is used when the left side is “falsey” (empty string, null, undefined, 0, false).
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Look Inside liloQui // Presenting Christopher Miller
Five Confusing Phrases
RYAN - Some words are just difficult to spell. I have my verbal kryptonite (doesn’t everybody?), and every time I attempt to write the words “privilege” and “traveling” and “recommendation,” I get them wrong the first time. I couldn’t care less how many times I’ve actually looked these words up. These are fairly common words, but for whatever reason, I’ve got a mental block against them. Maybe its because these are words that I have far more experience speaking as opposed to writing.
In the same vein, there are some phrases we use quite commonly in everyday speech that rarely make their way into written texts. It’s not until we have to write them ourselves, or until we see the way that someone else has written them, that realize that we have a deep-seated ignorance of what it is we are actually trying to say. Sometimes this is a simple matter of how things sound - I think that what I’m saying is right (and, for all intents and purposes, it means what I’m trying to say), but that’s just because it contains a homophone or just sounds the same as the correct phrasing. Other times, it’s a matter of habit that terms lose their original sarcastic meaning.
Regardless of why we can’t get them right, we’d be well-served by a primer on how to correctly use these everyday (albeit confusing as all get-out) phrases:
1. “All intents and purposes” - Chalk this one up to the right and wrong wording sounding pretty much exactly the same. Sometimes, people who want to employ this phrase think that they are saying “all intensive purposes.” When you say both of them out loud, they are nearly indistinguishable, at least to the point where no one is confident enough to correct another person when they might be doing it wrong. This phrase was originally found in English law enacted during the reign of Henry VIII and simply means “in every practical sense.”
2. “Deep-seated” - There is absolutely no difference to the common ear between the correct form of this phrase and its incorrect cousin, “deep-seeded.” Even from a word-meaning perspective, deep-seeded makes just as much sense as deep-seated, or possibly even more sense. When we use the term to describe something that is deeply rooted or firmly ingrained, both terms could logically apply. At the end of the day, remember which is correct by reminding yourself that when something is deep-seeded, it doesn’t mean that the roots have taken hold. Deep-seated, or set deeply inside, is always correct.
3. “I couldn’t care less” - This one is tricky because of the sarcasm at play. Whenever someone exclaims, “I could care less,” it’s their sarcastic way of saying that they actually could not care less. Because if we are trying to tell someone that we do not care at all about what they are saying, then why would we tell them that it is possible for us to care less, meaning that we do care, at least a little bit? Sarcasm is notoriously difficult to convey in written text, and for that reason, it might be a good idea to consider using the more precise term, “I couldn’t care less.” That way, no one will mistake the fact that you care so little, it’s not possible for you to care any less.
4. “Regardless” - There is no confusing sound here, or misplaced sarcasm. This is simply a matter of habit gone wrong. When you’re really passionate about something and find yourself in the heat of verbal battle, confidently declaring, “Irregardless!” to your opponent can have such wonderful force. Most etymologists think that the incorrect “irregardless” is a portmanteau of the words “regardless” and “irrespective,” which mean the same thing. That is to say they mean what we want to say when we say “irregardless.” If you want to tell someone that you have an opinion without any regard to what they are saying, just say “regardless.” In all reality, “irregardless” should mean the exact opposite of what you mean, and it is always improper.
5. “Every day” - Our final confusing phrase isn’t so much an issue of “right vs. wrong” as it is a point of clarification between two phrases that have distinctly different meanings. If you are trying to convey that you do something daily, use “every day.” If you are trying to refer to something as common or ordinary, use “everyday.” The two cannot and should not be used interchangeably. Remember that the next time you want to complain on Facebook about how you hate going to class “every day.”
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Author Spotlight // Scott Blanton
Top 10 Most Confused Words
RYAN - It’s shocking how many rules there are to remember when dealing with the English language. Even more shocking is the number of exceptions, coincidences, and confusing circumstances that can lead even the most educated and experienced writers and speakers into a logical conundrum. For most of these difficult grammar quandaries, there is a simple and easy rule to remember that will guarantee correct usage every time. If you’re a blogger or a journalist or an avid status updater, take a minute and teach yourself everything on this list, the top ten most confused words in the English language:
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affect, effect
Affect is most commonly used as a verb. Effect is most commonly used as a noun. As commenter Stallio pointed out, both of these words can function as a noun and a verb, and choosing the right word for the right purpose can be tough. As a verb, to affect is to act on, and as a noun, it refers to a feeling or emotion, or the experience of a feeling or emotion. On the other hand, effect refers to the result of an action, but can be used as a verb meaning to bring about or accomplish. The use of these words is particularly dependent upon context and a proper understanding of the subtle differences between their various forms.
Ex. - That movie’s special effects really affected me.
Ex. - Wal-Mart is having a huge effect on the national economy.
Ex. - Wal-mart is hugely affecting the national economy.
Ex. - Widespread broadband access effected the rise of streaming services such as Netflix.
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imply, infer
To imply is to convey meaning indirectly. To inferis to reach a conclusion based on experience. So the person communicating an idea subtly is the one doing the implying and the one hearing and understanding that veiled idea is the one doing the inferring.
Ex. - He implied that he was interested in purchasing a jetpack, but he didn’t actually express a clear interest.
Ex. - I inferred that she liked me from the way she said my name.
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farther, further
Both farther and further describe distance, but they do so in different ways. Farther should be used in reference to physical distance, whereas further reflects abstract distance.
Ex. - I live farther away from Chicago than you do.
Ex. - His understanding of what happened last night couldn’t be further from the truth.
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lay, lie
Some verbs are transitive, meaning they take an object (a recipient of their action). Others are intransitive, meaning they do not take an object at all, but sort of stand on their own, containing their full meaning in and of themselves without a recipient of their action. Lay is a transitive verb, so you should use it when something is being layed down. Lie is intransitive, so you should use it when there is no recipient of the action. You would never lie your head down on a pillow, but you would definitely lay your head down on a pillow. You would never lay down for a nap, but you would always lie down for a nap.
Ex. - I like to lay my clothes out on my bed before putting them on.
Ex. - I need to lie down for a nap.
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accept, except
To accept something is to receive it, while to except something means to exclude it.
Ex. - I accept this award on behalf of all writers everywhere, except Snooki.
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a lot, alot
A lot is a term that refers to a large amount or quantity. The alot is an imaginary creature that looks like a cross between a bear, a yak and a pug. A lot is always correct and alot is always incorrect.
Ex. - I ate a lot of tacos yesterday. So did my pet alot.
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good, well
This one is rather simple. Good is an adjective and can only be used to describe nouns. Well is an adverb that can be used to describe verbs or adjectives. This distinction requires a sense of context, and it’s likely that the ways in which we greet each other have a lot to do with the confusion. For example, if someone were to ask you how it is going, you would reply that it is going well, because “is going” is a verb and well, being an adverb, is used to describe verbs. If, however, someone asks how you are, you would reply that you are good, because “you” is a noun and good is used to describe nouns.
Ex. - That dog is a good dog.
Ex. - He plays the guitar well.
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it’s, its
The issue of rules vs. exceptions is perhaps best exemplified in the confusing struggle between itsand it’s, two words that put at odds the rules regarding contractions and possessives.This is one that simply must be memorized: It’s, though it looks possessive, is a contraction meaning “it is.” Its, then, is by default the possessive form of “it,” serving effectively as an adjective to describe that which belongs to “it.”
Ex. - It’s going to rain today.
Ex. - The treasure chest would not reveal its secrets to those pirates.
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that, which
To put it simply, that is used in a more specific context than which. If you are referring to a specific thing or idea above others, use that, but if you are referring to something general, theoretical or inconsequential, use which. A good rule of thumb is to try using the term “by the way” after that or which in deciding which of the two to use. “By the way” should never be used after that, so if it makes sense to use that phrase in context, go with which.
Ex. - I was wearing some jeans which [by the way] were faded.
Ex. - The book that I love the most is Twilight. [Note here that “by the way” doesn’t fit after that]
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raise, rise
Raise means to grow or to cultivate, as in farming. Rise can refer both to the act of getting up from a lying or sitting position (or returning from death), and to an increase. So a more correct way of saying that something or someone is “raised from the dead” would be to say that they are “risen from the dead.” Additionally, crime rates do not raise, but they do rise.
Ex. - I raise chickens.
Ex. - I am singlehandedly responsible for the recent rise in chicken prices.
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The Oxford Comma: Who Cares?
RYAN - Lately there has been a lot of buzz surrounding Oxford’s recent decision to change their rules regarding the comma that bears their name. Cutesy introductory paragraphs abound on literary and editing blogs around the world aiming to succinctly both define the Oxford Comma and express their stance on the recent turn of events. For the uninitiated, here’s the situation:
The Oxford Comma refers to the comma used before the final item in a series. (Today, I went shopping and bought fruit, bread, and meat.) Also known as a serial comma, its usefulness has been debated for years. Some use this comma, some don’t. The APA style guide advises against it, so while many writers appreciate the way it can clarify meaning, editors as a rule remove it.
The truth is that Oxford has not wavered on its stance regarding the comma. In fact, if anything, this entire situation has revealed that they were never really that draconian about it in the first place, but that they allow their students to use whatever style best suits them in their specific project. A quote from Indaily’s blog regarding the supposed change in operating procedure:
Oxford University Press, birthplace of the Oxford comma, said on Thursday that there has been no change in its century-old style, and jumped into the Twittersphere to confirm that it still follows the standard set out in “New Hart’s Rules”.
The only explicit permission to dispense with the Oxford comma – apparently the cause of the alarm – was in a guide for university staff on writing press releases and internal communications.
“It’s not new, it’s been online for several years already,” said Maria Coyle in the university press office.
So, nothing has changed. The controversy, then, isn’t really about what some guide from a school in England says, but about the objectivity (or subjectivity) of language. I must drive this question home: Who cares about the Oxford Comma? Don’t get me wrong; I vehemently support those editors and writers (I consider myself a member of both camps) who painstakingly slave over every minute detail of their work. I suppose that’s why I would argue that it isn’t particularly important what Oxford says about their comma. Writing, like many aspects of life, is all about context. When writers and editors blindly follow style guides with no concern for the context of their work, they lose sight of something very important.
So, again, I ask if we really should concern ourselves with any official endorsements of this particular punctuation, or if we should instead focus on developing good style that communicates clearly and effectively. Maybe we’d be better served by writers who work hard on developing and understanding personal voice, by editors who focus on honing their ability to work within a given writer’s unique style.
What do you think about the Oxford Comma, or the semicolon, or the elipsis, or the en dash? What rules do you love to break, what laws do you love to follow? What makes your style unique to you? These are the questions that intrigue me, because I have some writing rules myself: Don’t use the Oxford Comma, don’t worry too much about style guides, and make exceptions whenever necessary. Because the Oxford Comma isn’t set in stone. When it comes to writing, nothing is.
You know, except for stuff people have written in stone.
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A Twitter Primer for Authors
RYAN - I’ve recently had a number of conversations with some fellow authors who, despite their fantastic web presence, remain skeptic of the power of Twitter. While this caution has moved beyond the simple sort of parody that Twitter once attracted (I suppose that in some circles, the whole idea is still seen as rather stupid), it finds its roots in some of the very real barriers the platform can place in front of new users. One author commented to me that she simply doesn’t have time to figure out all the details, the hash tags and the RT’s, DM’s and @mentions.
In reality, Twitter can be a wonderful tool to help authors connect to readers, publishers, editors and more. Where Facebook prides itself on the security of its user-defined networks, Twitter remains largely open, breaking down social walls and allowing users from all walks of life to communicate and share what matters to them. It’s worth the time of any independent writer (or, to be honest, any individual, period) to get to know at least the basics of Twitter. This short introduction to some of the more technical aspects of the platform will get you tweeting in no time and, hopefully, give you a few good tips on how to use Twitter effectively as an author.
For those experienced veterans of the Twitterverse: Expect nothing revolutionary here. This is all about familiarizing the uninitiated with the fundamentals of Twitter.
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1. The Code
To unexperienced eyes, many tweets, although written in plain English, may resemble the language of another world. Before you can start making sense of what you see, there just a few symbols and common phrases with which you’ll need to familiarize yourself.
- @: Every person’s Twitter handle begins with the @ symbol. When Tweeting, you can make specific reference to other users by mentioning them using their @handle. Any users you mention will be notified that you did so, even if they aren’t following you.
- #: The search bar on Twitter makes it easy for users to search for specific terms that might interest them. The best way to tag a Tweet is to add what’s called a “hashtag” using the # symbol. Some common hashtags related to writing are #amwriting, #publishing, and #authors. By clicking a hashtag you see, you’ll call up a unique feed made up exclusively of tweets that make use of that hashtag. This is a great way to easily find others with similar interests.
- RT: Shorthand for “retweet,” recent Twitter updates are making this sign less visible. If you’d like to share someone else’s tweet with your followers, you can push the retweet button. Certain platforms still attach an automatic RT before the quoted text, but many have followed the standard Twitter website in simply attaching a footer signifying who has retweeted a post while still giving full credit to the original poster.
- DM: If you’d like to send somebody a direct message that can’t be viewed publicly, use the direct message button on your chosen client.
- bit.ly, t.co and others: Because of Twitter’s character limit (more on that below), a number of services exist that allow users to shorten links in order to fit them in a single tweet. Any link you see that begins with one of these shortener domains will lead you somewhere else entirely.
2. The Limits
Writers spend their entire lives wrestling with word counts and concise language. In many ways, the arbitrary 140 character limit on Twitter might seem quite familiar to anyone who has written professionally or academically. While there are many services that allow you to write longer tweets with an attached link to the full post hosted remotely, Twitter is all about brevity. This is a fact that everyone should keep in mind when considering making a post.
As mentioned above, certain specialized lingo and link shortening services can be used to make it easier to fit within the prescribed limits Twitter sets. Don’t be afraid to use these services, as they are critical to using Twitter effectively.
Additionally, take the character limit as an invitation to focus your message. If you have lots to say, say it on your blog and then link to it with your Twitter account. Never make the mistake of dominating your followers’ feeds with a broken string of tweets in order to get your point across. Start simple by sharing links, asking questions, reacting to other tweets and offering small bits of content.
3. The Listening
Of course, engaging others on Twitter requires that you take some time to listen and become comfortable and familiar with your community. Before you become really serious about tweeting yourself, it’s important that you build up your own feed and get yourself connected to your field. Start by connecting with your friends and professional contacts and take a look at who they follow. As you begin to add names to your “following” list, Twitter will suggest users for you to follow based on the interests that have driven your follow choices so far. Another great way to find relevant accounts is by searching through hashtags (again, writers should pay special attention to #amwriting) and following top accounts you find.
Beyond following the intriguing accounts you find, be sure to take part in the conversations they begin. Follow links that seem interesting and, if they turn out to be worth your time, share those links with your followers. When someone asks a question, it’s a good idea to @mention their handle and get yourself noticed. The more up-to-date you are in your community, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to produce engaging content that your audience will be excited about.
Of course, the process of building up your feed is a continuous one. Be sure to continue searching for new accounts to follow, regardless of how good you feel about your feed.
4. The Sharing
At the end of the day, no amount of listening is going to get your name out there. It’s easy to make the mistake of never using Twitter as the great learning tool it is, yes, but it’s also easy to sign up for an account, brand it, and let it just sit there, collecting dust. Twitter, like many things, is all about balance. Listen well, react to those who influence you, but also be sure to give people a reason to follow you. That is, after all, what Twitter is all about: building an audience and engaging that audience in a meaningful way. You might be brand new in the world of literature or you might have a vast readership. Regardless, you’ll want to give your people what they want and keep them interested.
Above all else, be consistent with what you tweet. You might find yourself tweeting more often than some of your peers; that’s okay, as long as you keep that momentum going. One tweet once a week isn’t going to be enough to keep you in the periphery of your readership, but three dozen tweets per day will likely drive your followers away. Find a happy medium and focus on maintaining it.
For authors, there are a number of common, easy sources of tweet content to keep you active. If your web presence is strong, you should have a blog, maybe a website, maybe a Facebook fan page or even some published works available. Share links to all of that. Additionally, it’s important to engage your readership on a more personal level with questions or content exclusive to your Twitter followers. As I’ve written before, Twitter’s power lies in its ability to remove barriers, whether they exist between celebrities and their fans, influencers and those they influence or readers and their favorite writers. It’s in your best interest to always keep in mind that you’re using Twitter to connect with people in a new way, to offer them something to supplement what they find in your writing.
One more caveat to that effect: Don’t mix up your personal and professional handles. If you want a Twitter handle to connect with lost acquaintances and repost comedians’ tweets, that’s fine. Just make sure that it’s an account that is distinct from your professional author account. Content relevant to the two may often be one and the same, but you can rest assured that there are some thoughts that enter your mind that you do not want to broadcast to the paying customers who support you.
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Well, that about does it for this post. If I were to get any deeper with this stuff, we would find ourselves both beyond the original intent of the article and beyond what I’m comfortable sharing. Remember that these few pointers are meant to get you started, not to see you through to an ultimately successful Twitter campaign. That’s going to require some serious dedication and work on your part.
But, hey, you’re an independent author. You wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Got any tips to add, challenges to make, questions to ask? Sound off in the comments below!
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liloQui Pro Tips // Authors, Brand Yourself
RYAN - In the old West, ranchers faced a serious problem when it came to claiming and identifying their cattle. Before the barbed wire fence made an appearance and began carving up the land, great herds roamed the plains under the watchful eyes of the great American cowboy. Interested parties saw a need to separate their animals from other herds in an effort to secure their property against rustlers. They began crafting unique symbols, fashioning them into long, metal poles that, when heated, would permanently burn or brand a cow, making it unmistakably theirs.
Fast forward a hundred years or more, and cattle farmers may be the last thing that comes to mind when considering the importance of branding. Everything we own, everything we consume is branded in some way. Our computers and books, our cars, our clothes, our food, even our hometowns have their own unique branding and bear the mark of their creator. If something is to be sold, it must first be branded. In the digital age especially, many of the proverbial fences dividing us from each other have disappeared, resulting in digital incarnations of the sort of wide open spaces once associated with the American West. And, just like in the Wild West, everything is up for grabs.
As an author, you’re no different from a shoe salesman or a car manufacturer. You have a product, something that’s complex and rich and is sure to appeal to an audience somewhere. But before you can sell your words, you must learn to sell yourself. Regardless of your station, if you have not yet made a conscientious effort to create a brand around yourself and your career, it’s time to get to work. It doesn’t matter if you’re in high school and writing in your spare time, if you’re a college student, in a master’s program, writing your first novel, publishing your first novel or beginning your tenth. Building the basic foundation of a unified brand is fairly simple, so take these few steps and get on the road to successful marketing.
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1. Decide on a pen name.
Some authors give little thought to their printed pen name while others obsess over choosing something perfect. Even if you want to keep your name exactly how it is, you must decide how you want to be known professionally before you can move on to anything else related to your brand. There are many factors to consider when deciding on your pen name. Before making a hard decision, do some research. Who else has your name? Are there other writers going by the same monicker? Will your chosen name lend itself to securing domain names and social media accounts (more on this in a bit)?
My example: When I first began querying agents, I saw no reason to identify myself as anyone but Ryan Brock. The problem with my name, however, is that it is really just two first names. Another problem is that Ryan is looking as though it might be the “Bob” or “Joe” of my generation, a name so common that many people my age likely had several Ryans in most of their classes growing up. For this reason, I decided to move forward as an author with the name R. M. Brock. This isn’t me being pretentious or trying to feel fancy. This is about guaranteeing a unique presence on the web (there are many Ryan Brocks out there) and easy access to domain names and social media accounts, which leads me to my next point…
2. Register your name EVERYWHERE.
Once you’ve decided on a pen name, your next move should be to take some time to register accounts with all the major social media outlets. At the very least, make sure that you have a Facebook fan page, a Twitter account, a blog of your choosing (even if you won’t use it quite yet) and a domain name (again, even if it will sit unused). Make the accounts the same at all costs, even if that means adding a number or a space or even changing your desired handle. Sometimes, this won’t be possible no matter how you try to change things up (maybe your domain name is available but the Twitter handle isn’t), and in those situations, it’s best to get what you can and make sure that everything is connected.
My example: When it came to getting liloQui off the ground, we made use of a few excellent services that allowed us to quickly check the availability of certain handles across social media platforms. That made it easy to settle on liloQui as a primary handle name and liloQuiDP secondarily. While our website and most of our in-house accounts are the simpler liloQui, we decided to make liloQuiDP the standard for more public accounts like Facebook and Twitter, giving our visible brand a common thread. Also, the decision to spell our name “liloQui” and not “LiloQui” was and continues to be a conscious one. Others may capitalize our name when they write about us (and Facebook forces us to be LiloQui on our fan page), but you’ll never once see anything come from us in which our name is not spelled liloQui. Consistency is key.
3. Choose an image.
As your career grows and changes, your self-image will, as well. That said, there is no reason to decide on a universal image for yourself where you are at right now, even if that means the image may change in the future. You might not have the skills, time or budget to establish a full brand for yourself (a custom logo, unique color palates and font sets, et al.), but taking even the smallest steps toward making you look like you wherever you are will prove huge in establishing yourself in the minds of your readers. A good first step is to get a professional (or just a usable and clean) portrait of yourself to be used across your various social media accounts. Many of us are tempted to constantly change our default profile pictures with our personal accounts, but when it comes to professional branding, consistency is key. Once you choose a portrait, make sure that same portrait is what people see on your Twitter, Facebook, blog and more. Feel free to change this image, but do so intentionally and, when you do change, make the switch everywhere.
My Example: This is rather straightforward. I use the same portrait for every one of my social media accounts, and I’ve even adopted a standard (if not dreadfully bland) color scheme. My Twitter profile bears the exact same palate as my website. This was a simple task to complete and took very little time, and was well worth any effort I made.
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Good branding doesn’t stop with three steps, but that’s where I’m leaving you. A successful career as an author in the digital age will require us all to go above and beyond these basic kinds of marketing, however, and continue dedicating ourselves not only to our work, but to our image, as well. Many professional marketers like to say that you have to sell yourself, and they’re right. Ranchers branded their cows because a cow was never going to tell a rustler in plain English to whom they really belonged. Don’t run the risk of letting your work speak for itself in quality, but leave an interested reader with no recourse for finding more of your stuff.
You’re the product. Start selling.
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A Road Block for Writers
RACHEL KOVACS - Rudyard Kipling wrote over two dozen poems and short stories, yet the editor of the San Francisco Examiner told him that he did not know how to use the English language. Obviously, Kipling overcame this hurdle to become famous for such stories as Captain Courageous and the Jungle Book. Like Kipling, many writers can be amazing storytellers, but struggle with the basics of English grammar.
As a former English teacher and now a writer myself, I have had the opportunity to look at a lot of writing. Grammar was always my least favorite to teach and unless you are Grammar Girl, probably not something that you want to think about every day. As a writer wishing to be taken seriously, however, it is something that must be considered. Bad grammar and spelling can and does stop a reader in their tracks.
Whether you are seeking traditional publishing, indie publishing, or self-publishing, poor grammar can alienate agents, publishers, editors, and ultimately readers. It is important that writers focus on both the art of storytelling and the mechanical aspects of writing, but which should come first?
As the facilitator of the Indianapolis Writers’ Group, I encourage writers to focus on the art of storytelling as they write their first draft. I purposely have them read their work aloud so they can hear the piece and others can get a sense of the story line. Do not stop to edit when you are first developing your story line. Work on developing your ideas. On each subsequent pass, focus on a specific aspect of your writing. On your second draft, for instance, focus on organization. This is the point to add, delete, and rewrite sections. On your third draft, focus on sentence structure and grammar. Finally, fine-tune your writing for word choice and style.
You have many options available to you if grammar is not your area of expertise. First, you can hire someone. You can hire a ghostwriter or an editor to revise your work, but expect to pay top dollar. If you are asking for a critique of your ideas at the same time, expect to pay even more. You should expect to pay around $1.00 to $3.00 per page for quality revisions.
You can also look for a writing mentor in your critique group or online. Successful writers are often willing to help other upcoming writers, but be respectful of their time. As you know, writing is a full time job on its own. If a fellow writer points out some areas that need improvement, take time to learn from your mistakes. Do not continue to submit writing repeatedly with the same type of errors or expect your writing partner to read and critique everything you write. For a more long-term solution, find a writing partner who is equally committed to improving their grammar. Both of you should take time to learn and share what you know.
The best option, of course, is to learn the grammar on your own. This will save you both money and time in the long run. There are many style guides available both in print and online. One of the best resources is Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. Another contemporary source is The Creative Writer’s Style Guide by Christopher Leland. There are also online workshops and sources that can prove valuable. Two such sources are SavvyAuthors and Writers Digest. These offer online workshops on many writing topics such as character and plot development, grammar, revisions, and genre specific writing. And of course, do not forget spell checker! Spell check will not catch everything, so double check your work. There are many sites that list commonly confused and misspelled words. Take advantage of them.
Another great source to use is great novels themselves. Read. A lot. Analyze how the author uses language. Make notes about how they punctuate. Observe how they use dialogue. Break the paragraphs and sentences down and scrutinize how they work. While fiction does not follow the same rules as formal writing, it is important not to use language and punctuation in a way that confuses the reader.
So what are the biggest mistakes that inexperienced (and sometimes experienced) writers make when writing fiction? Using my experience as an English teacher to create a top ten list, here are the top offenders:
1. Leaving words out: the writer’s brain often works faster than their fingers which results in words being out. It helps to read the work aloud to find such slips. Did you catch that?
2. Dangling modifiers: This is when a phrase modifies the wrong word such as “When he pointed the gun, the dog bit the intruder”.
3. Going overboard on adjectives and adverbs: Some very eager writers lovingly put too many beautifully descriptive words into their wonderfully awesome text.
4. Not defining pronouns: Jack, John, Bob, and Andrew love to write. He writes the best.
5. Comma Crazy: Some, people, have, no, clue, when, to, use, a, comma, and, it, is, very, obvious.
6. Apostrophes: It’s and Its are tricky. Learn the rule!
7. He said, She said: Do not change point of view in the middle of a scene or worse yet in the middle of a paragraph. My reader will have no idea who is speaking.
8. Run-ons: Some people like to write really long flowing sentences that do not have any punctuation at all and it drives the reader crazy because they cannot follow the thought and they get lost.
9. Prepositions: Avoid ending sentences with a proposition. Prepositions show direction, location, and relationship. They should come at the beginning of a prepositional phrase and should not be used to end a sentence with.
10. Clichés: You do not have much time on your hands, so I will not stick around here chewing the fat. Clichés are as old as the dirt and will make your writing go belly up and kick the bucket. Avoid them like the plague.
Finally, I will save my best advice for last. Keep writing. Your writing will improve with experience. Do not let your fear of the preposition keep you from your dreams. There are many resources and people out there to assist you until you become a master writer yourself.
Rachel Kovacs writes romantic thrillers, science fiction, and young adult and children’s fiction. She also writes poetry and short stories. Rachel started a writing group called the Indianapolis Writers’ Group to help other local writers develop their skills. You can also follow Rachel on Twitter and Facebook. Her website is www.RachelKovacs.com.
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Six Things You Could Be Doing Instead of Writing a Query Letter
RYAN - Step one: Come up with a great idea for a book. Step two: Write that book. Step three: Edit your book, get some good critiques, make it just right. Steps four through sixty: Write, submit, edit and resubmit your query letter.
It’s so easy for an author to get caught in a vicious cycle like this. You spend countless lonely hours in front of a buzzing computer screen, trudging through deadlines you set for yourself, pouring your entire self into your characters and your story and your language. After starting that kind of a journey and making it out the other side, the last thing you expect is to find yourself spinning your tires, pouring once more not over your next big work, but over a few paragraphs and an impersonal greeting. As a writer, you’ve been taught that your work will get published if you can write the perfect query letter to send to an agent. You’ve been led to believe that if you can summarize your work just right, that if you can introduce yourself and offer just a glimpse into your own heart, you might catch someone’s eye and make it big.
You and every other writer out there.
That’s not to say that it is an impossible task to write a great query letter and sign an agent, or that this wasn’t at one time a necessity in the publishing world. But such a system only has room for so many publishers, so many agents and so many authors. When I set out to write this article, I originally thought that I might offer some tips on how to make yourself stand out with your query letter, but I got to thinking about how much work a good letter takes and I realized that there are plenty of other ways you can use your precious time and energy and serve your writing and your career better. Why is it that today, in the age of the Internet, authors are still being vetted by a few sentences on a single page? If you wanted to write a great letter, you wouldn’t have written a novel. We at liloQui think it’s time for a change, and it would seem that many authors are slowly learning how to be successful without the agency model.
We think it’s time to let your work speak for itself. So, while we are hard at work making that vision a reality, here are just six little things you can do with your time that will almost certainly prove to be more beneficial to your career than writing and rewriting form query letters.
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1. Join a writers’ group. Check out last week’s post on the importance of writing socially. Working closely with other writers will help you to grow as a writer and improve your work. A focused and productive writer is a successful writer.
2. Look into alternative publishing models. If you are truly passionate about your work and convinced of your chances at success, then there are many alternative routes to publication that don’t involve mainstream publishing houses. Success stories abound that speak to the power of both digital and traditional self-publishing. Be warned, however, that outright self-publishing can lead to costly investment of both time and money. If you aren’t excited about footing the bill for all the printing, marketing, editing and design, consider looking into more short-term publishing solutions like Smashwords or even your own blog or website.
Of course, you can also go check out liloQui on our homepage.
3. Read something. We are firm believers in the obscure adage about good writers reading constantly. How much time were you planning on spending on your query letter this week? An hour? Two? Maybe you’d be better off picking up a highly-reviewed book and engaging yourself in some masterful literature. You never know from where inspiration might come or what kind of lessons you might learn while taking in someone else’s work. You might also consider keeping up with some good lit blogs and publishing-related Twitter handles to make sure you’re on the cutting edge of the industry.
4. Build a strong social media presence. It’s shocking how many struggling authors have yet to embrace something as simple as a Facebook fan page or an active Twitter account. These social hubs are where your audiences are and there’s no better way to connect with your readers than directly interacting with them. Don’t have a fan page yet? Go make one. It will only take you about fifteen minutes to learn the whole system and set everything up. Before you do anything else, make sure to then go and set up a Twitter handle. There are some great Facebook apps and desktop tools that will allow you to connect your major media accounts together, keeping your readers connected regardless of their weapon of choice. Once you’ve got yourself all established, don’t stop reaching out. Post samples of your writing, connect to other writers, publishers and literary fanatics and share their content. Ask your readers questions and engage them directly and be as real as you can.
5. Write something else. This one is fairly self-explanatory. If you have time to be sending out another dozen copies of your query letter, you could also be working on that story idea you’ve been kicking around in the back of your mind.
6. Make and eat a delicious sandwich of your choosing. I’m not here to tell you what sandwich you like best. Maybe you enjoy a spicy italian sandwich, or maybe you’re content with a classic PB&J. Regardless of what scrumptious sammy you decide to make, time spent making and eating that masterpiece will be far more enjoyable, healthy and rewarding than wasting all of your extra time on a query letter. Sometimes, we don’t need to be writing. Sometimes, we can all just use a break from it all.
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So, what are you waiting for? There’s a lot of work to be done if you want to take advantage of everything the web is doing for independent authors. Plus, that sandwich isn’t going to eat itself. What are you doing to make your way in the digital age? Have you had any success writing query letters? What kind of sandwich are you going to make? Sound off in the comments!
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Google’s eReader: A Step Backwards?
On Social Writing
RYAN - A single desk lamp in a darkened room. The steady scratch of a pen on notebook paper. The smell of hours-old coffee warming in the pot. These are the trappings of a writer’s life, or so I once believed. As a desperate college student, I would slave over a computer in a brightly lit library, racing the clock to finish my next paper in time. I so badly wanted to break free of the kind of forced writing to which I had grown accustomed in my years as a student. I wanted that desk lamp, the piles of paper and the old coffee. I wanted to be independent and driven, crazy with a stroke of brilliance, a solitary man writing for himself, the reader be damned. I wanted to be an artist like this guy:
Less than a month into my pursuit of that lifestyle, however, I was bored to tears. I never got around to replacing my computer with a pen and paper, and my wife (a registered nurse) would probably kill me if I brought home a sweet pipe like the guy in the picture. I couldn’t sit in my office and write all day long, so I would walk to the local Starbucks for, well, I don’t know what, exactly. I think at first I went for even the most superficial sort of human interaction, but eventually I went because that’s what I did. In time, I was as alone and isolated in that routine as I might have been at home alone, and I quickly began to realize that no matter how I went about it, my desire to be a bold, unfettered writer would lead to an awful lot of loneliness.
My first mistake was forgetting that I am an unapologetic extrovert. I typically can’t stand being alone with myself, but I guess I thought writing would be a good outlet for my swirling thoughts. But even if I was a bit more introverted, even if I was completely in love with the idea of a lot of “me-time,” I would be missing something huge in my writing career. If my experiences in full-time authoring have taught me one thing, it’s that writing is a social activity. Of course, when it comes down to it, no amount of socializing will force anyone to put pen to paper and string words together to form sentences. But the writer who takes no time to connect with others misses the point of writing.
Because it’s funny, isn’t it, how someone can dedicate themselves to the art of communication and, in doing so, become disconnected from everyone around them. If writing is all about building connections between individual minds (which it is), and if as writers, we are charged with learning how to communicate in effective, engaging and unique ways (which we are), then one of our top priorities should be the constant practice of conversation and criticism. It doesn’t matter if you are writing poetry or prose, if you pride yourself on creating worlds and building characters or simply reporting the day’s news; as author Jessica Easto put it in her interview for The Stage, “it’s easy to get lost up your own ass, so to speak.”
And that’s exactly what happens to so many good writers. They have a great concept, they’ve developed some fantastic, round characters, but they’ve gotten so stuck inside their own heads that the story has become inaccessible. If this isn’t the problem, something else is. Without advocates to challenge and encourage them, some writers grow stagnant in their style. Others struggle staying focused, barely giving their work the time it needs to, you know, exist. These problems are not only common, but seem to be inextricably linked to the writing process. They might look different from person to person, but when you ask those writers who are getting work done and connecting with their audiences how they keep honing their skills and producing good writing, nine times out of ten, they will tell you that it’s all about their support group.
In the digital age, there’s no excuse for anyone to remain disconnected from their community. Whether you have a good circle of writer friends or not, there are several accessible resources available online for authors looking to connect with others with whom they might be able to relate and collaborate.
1. Meetup - Meetup makes it easy to find all kinds of groups in your local area; just enter your interests (writing, writers, publishing, authors, etc.) and zip code and see what’s happening. Don’t see what you’re looking for in your city? Start your own Meetup group. This is a great tool for people who are looking to get out of the house or office and sit down with other writers face to face for critiques and creative support.
2. LinkedIn - For those looking to connect with writers, agents and publishers around the world, LinkedIn is a fantastic resource. If you don’t already have a profile, you need to go create one now. Once you’ve gotten on the network and started connecting with people, you’ll be able to join up with groups built around your professional goals and interests. A few active writers’ groups that I’ve found particularly worthwhile are Books and Writers, Publishing in the Digital Age, Fiction Writers Guild and The Truth About Books.
3. Facebook - This one’s a bit obvious. The more complete your personal profile or fan page is, the more likely you are to encounter ads for groups both digital and material that are suited to you. A quick search of key words related to writing is sure to turn up some groups you’ll find engaging and useful.
4. Twitter - Like LinkedIn, Twitter is a critical tool for networking and self-promotion that is still being overlooked by a number of authors who should be doing everything they can to connect with other writers and potential audiences. Use Twitter to follow major publishing houses (Harper Collins is particularly active), digital outlets (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle Team), marketing and social media professionals (Marsha Collier holds regular webinars via Twitter) and literary support groups (Vouched Books is doing amazing things in Indianapolis, for example).
Those are just a few ways that I’ve learned to branch out with my writing. How do you get yourself out there? Where does social writing fit into your career? Leave your tips and success stories in the comments below!
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Remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and definitely head over to our homepage if you haven’t yet. Not doing so could result in sickening regret and persistent night terrors.
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Five More Books That Should Be Movies
liloQui Pro Tips // A Literary Guide to Tablets
In recent months, the very landscape of personal computing and mobile technology has begun to shift. Screens are growing larger, keyboards are disappearing altogether and the once-obscure Cloud is entering the common vernacular. Today’s tablet market is unbalanced and difficult to sort through. Apple is clearly dominating the competition, but with each passing day, new options are presenting themselves for those who are looking to make their next big gadget purchase.
Most of the buyer’s guides out there do a really good job of comparing and contrasting things like processing power or operating systems, but we’re interested in something far more subjective. As avid readers and writers ourselves, we set out to evaluate the tablet market from a fresh perspective, that of the card-carrying bibliophile. We want to go back to square one, to give tablets a clean slate, a tabula rasa, and help you identify your best bets for the perfect reading and writing tool. For today’s Pro Tip, We’re going to forget about relatively frivolous comparisons between camera quality and look specifically at the features, apps and accessories that make these tablets literary dreams or nightmares.
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Price: Starts at $599 for WiFi, $629 for 3G
Availability: Supplies of the iPad 2 have been tight, it can be found at major retailers such as Best Buy, Target, Walmart and, of course, any of Apple’s retail stores.
Screen size: 9.7 inches
Weight: 1.33 lbs
What makes it special:
Apple’s had years of experience in the mobile market and they are clearly in command. It’s due to this that you’ll find the greatest selection of usable apps to download. The iPad boasts its own reader app, iBooks, which offers a comparatively limited selection but does so with a flair for design and admittedly pointless page turn animation. For the more serious reader (i.e., one who cares more about a solid bookstore with tons of titles and less about flashy gestures), the Kindle app is a must-have on the iPad. From the writer’s perspective, there is no shortage of great apps that the technophile wordsmith will wonder how they ever went without. Penultimate works well with a stylus, turning the tablet into a journal for quick notes and ideas. Evernote allows the user to create complex documents on-the-go, making use of html readers for clipping entire websites and audio/video recording. These documents are then stored on the cloud, syncing to other instances of Evernote on PC, Mac and other mobile devices. Finally, we can’t fail to mention Pages, Apple’s word processing app. Some may have a long learning curve when it comes to the on-screen keyboard, but Pages makes it easier to feel like the tablet screen is a real computer, capable of media creation as well as consumption.
Disadvantages:
The biggest disadvantage the iPad has is likely its myriad barriers to entry. While Apple is setting the trend for the tablet movement, many complain that even the cheapest iPad is a bit too pricey for wide adoption. Along with the initial purchase of the device itself, you’ll need to spend even more of your hard-earned cash on a cover, any peripherals you may want (a stylus for Penultimate, maybe), and many of the top apps that make the iPad worth owning.
Price: $599 for WiFi, $799 for 3G
Availability: This thing is everywhere. Walk in any direction and you’ll find one eventually.
Screen size: 10.1 inches
Weight: 708 grams
What makes it special:
The Xoom is the poster child for Android tablets because, well, it’s one of the only examples of a job done well. The Xoom was the first to feature Android 3.0 Honeycomb, a version of the operating system designed specifically for large-screen tablets. Xoom’s screen is huge and the device itself is sleek in its own way. There is a Kindle app available for Android, so the playing field seems to be fairly level when it comes to reading eBooks across various tablet platforms. What Android has that Apple doesn’t, however, is native support for Google apps. Google is light years ahead of the competition when it comes to the Cloud, and the Google Books app is a direct link to a massive library of eBooks. For the writers out there, the Android Marketplace is growing each and every day, providing great apps like Dropbox that help writers keep their documents with them wherever they go while freeing up valuable storage space.
Disadvantages:
Like the iPad, the Xoom is pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for. If you are a fan of the Android platform, the higher price tag is definitely worth it. Unlike the iPad, the Marketplace is fairly open, which, in many ways, is what makes Android great. The downside to this openness is the huge amount of knockoffs and shady apps that are hiding amongst worthy downloads. Browsing for apps on the Xoom can be a more time-consuming and potentially fruitless endeavor than it is on Apple’s store.
Price: $499
Availability: The Flyer hasn’t hit yet, but it will be available soon at Best Buy and other electronics stores.
Screen size: 7 inches
Weight: 14.82 ounces
What makes it special:
In many ways, the Flyer offers the same tablet experience as any other Android-based device. What really separates it from the rest of the pack is the specially designed stylus that accompanies it. HTC insists that their special Scribe technology is revolutionary. Unlike other capacitive styli traditionally sold for use with tablets, the Flyer stylus is more like a pen, with a small tip that makes writing, underlining and scribbling a dream. The stylus works in concert with HTC notes, a robust note-taking application that turns the Flyer into a virtual sheet of paper. For many writers, especially more traditional ones, this comfortable user interface might help with the transition from paper to screen.
Disadvantages:
As Gizmodo recently pointed out in a scathing post, HTC is charging an additional $80 for their stylus, a tool upon which they are building their entire sales pitch. If this stylus is all that differentiates the flyer from other (flawed) Android tablets, then it should be included with the device.
Price: $499
Availability: Pretty much anywhere Blackberry phones can be found. Can also be found at may office supply stores.
Screen size: 7 inches
Weight: 0.9 lbs
What makes it special:
It doesn’t run on iOS or Android. One of its major selling points is its support for Flash and HTML5. BlackBerry has always been touted for how nicely it plays with Flash, a feature that Apple can’t claim for itself. That said, Flash might not matter too much in our discussion of tablets for the literary crowd.
Disadvantages:
If you don’t have a BlackBerry phone, this device isn’t worth buying. It truly is the BlackBerry of tablets, carrying with it a heavy focus on business and productivity. If you are an especially entrepreneurial writer, or a traveling businessperson, then this might be for you. It does boast the quintessential Kindle app, after all. It just doesn’t have much to make it uniquely desirable.
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So, what have we learned? For starters, we now know that none of these companies got together to decide on a universal weight measurement system for their tech specs. Additionally, we understand that when it comes to reading, all of these devices are fairly evenly matched. We won’t pretend to know which of these tablets has the features most important to you, be it the iPad with its pop appeal and solid app offerings, the Xoom with its open Android platform and Google Books app, the Flyer with its Scribe technology or the Playbook for some reason. Hopefully we’ve given you a little insight that can help push you in one direction or another. If anything is for certain, it’s that tablet devices are much more than a fleeting fad. We encourage you to take a second look at the way tablets are revolutionizing the way we create and consume media, especially if you’re a hard-nosed dissenter.
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