Of Commas, Fleas and Fairs

Did you know there were grammar rule changes by Chicago Manual of Style this year? One change made? The possessive apostrophe for words ending in "S". It used to be correct to write:

Those are Jesus' sandals.

Now we are supposed to write:

Those are Jesus's sandals.

Secondly, I saw this on Facebook and conpletely agree. Another change in the works? Making the serial comma (the comma that comes before the "and" in a series of items) obsolete. This picture illustrates the need for that comma to STAY quite nicely:



*sigh*

There are more, but those were the ones that made me saddest.

Yeah, I'm a grammar geek.

Took Dakota to the vet yesterday. Brandy asked: Could the reddish/brown spots on Dakota's skin be blood from where she was bitten? Or like a strange bruise for the same reason?

Brandy! :::ding ding ding::: You're a winner! Yep, the vet said they were bruises from flea bites, which just break my heart. I feel like I've let her be horribly tortured over the last week while I tried to cure them naturally.

Yesterday, I bought some Capstar Tablets. Yes, they're a pesticide and I don't love feeding her what is essentially poison, but it seems as though there was no other certain and complete way to rid her of fleas. I also got Frontline for the cat. AND the vet recommended strongly that my house be cleaned top to bottom (didn't I just do this for cockroaches? I hate pests.) starting with laundering anything that can be and then mopping, scrubbing, etc. everything that can't for flea eggs.

I did all our bedding yesterday -- that took FOREVER. Today I tackle all our rugs and the cloth whoosies I put under our lamps and knick knacks. Plus I'll probably sweep, mop and dust.

It's actually really quite wonderful that we have so much hardwood -- fewer places for flea eggs to hide.

On Monday, I'm going to flea power all our carpets. It has to stay down (and rubbed in vigorously) for at least an hour, so I'll probably apply it and then leave for a bit so the dog doesn't get into it. Then I have to vacuum it back up (and they recommended I put a flea collar in my vacuum canister).

I swear, I think fleas might be worse than cockroaches.

So, those are my big plans for the weekend, especially since it looks like the Deerfield fair might be out -- the weather just keeps getting worse for the weekend. Next year? I think I'm going to try the Hopkinton State Fair.

Anything exciting in the works for you this weekend?

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You Are a Straight A Student

You are highly observant and mindful. You take in a lot of information, and you're very perceptive. You are smart, clever, and perceptive. You know how to synthesize and process information. You have excellent people skills. You can talk to anyone. You are high achieving without being too competitive about it. You simply like to succeed.

The Classroom Test

Yeah... pretty much right. Though I wasn't straight A's (much to my dismay) I did graduate in the top ten of my class. I liked school :-)

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My Weekend Recap

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Busy weekend.

It was gorgeous out, so I spent most of the time clearing billions of leaves from my gardens. And, no, I'm not exaggerating. DH decided to de-thatch the lawn last evening, so there was much raking involved... though it made for lots of "homemade straw" to use as mulch in my veggie garden when I can finally plant (probably another month).

We walked a lot, too, and my knee held up. So far, so good! I still can't kneel on it, or squat without pain, but I can bend it almost full range, and walking is a breeze. Baby steps.

I'd planned on planting my cold crops, but didn't get a chance. Maybe today (it's going to be in the 70s) -- we'll see. The temps are going to drop again tomorrow, so if I want to get out and do stuff today is the day.

In the "cute notes from DD" file, I've added this:



And in the "public grammar errors" file, I've added this (it really irritated me -- who knows why this is wrong?):



I got one set of edits back on "Now and Forever" but haven't had a chance to go through them yet (the curiosity is killing me). In the "good news" column, she said she laughed through much of it, so that's a start!

That was my weekend... how was yours?

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You Are a Pink Martini

You're eager to lend a sympathetic ear and likely to develop a deep connection with people. You are an idealistic and romantic person. You have a very clear idea of how you'd like the world to be. It hurts you to see anyone or anything in pain. You are thin-skinned and empathetic. You are very sensitive. You tend to get easily hurt, and you have learned to protect your heart.

What Color Martini Are You?

Um .... not so much. It's maybe 25% right. Maybe. Partly because I couldn't answer the way I would on some... like the "skiing" question. They didn't have, "I wouldn't be caught dead on a ski slope." ::shrugs::

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Two Words: Spell Check

Politeness is the art of choosing among one's real thoughts. ~Abel Stevens

Okay ... I have a pet peeve. Actually, I have many (I'm a little neurotic, what can I say?), but I'll only address one today.

If you are an author (or maybe even if you aren't), the face you show the public is important. Lately, I've been doing quite a bit of social network promoting for LASR/WC. Our Facebook account has nearly 2000 "friends" on it, so I see a LOT of updates, primarily from authors.

I can't tell you how many of them are littered with grammar errors.

Not typos (we all make those now and then). Not "chat" speak (though I really hate seeing: "how r u?"). Flat out grammar errors that make the writer sound utterly ignorant. Wrong word use (I've seen: concur instead of conquer, for instance, as well as the usual suspects: there instead of they're, too instead of to, etc). I read one a few days ago I wish I'd kept to use as an example. Not only was it so poorly constructed as to make nearly no sense at all, but the spelling and grammar errors made my eyes bleed. Things like "deel" instead of "deal", etc.

Look, I know it's fairly informal, but I'm inclined to think that if you sound that ignorant publicly on a regular basis, then your writing isn't going to be stellar either. An editor, no matter how good, can't take a rotten apple and make a diamond. There's not enough pressure in the world.

If you know you have issues with spelling, then run your status through spell check (actually, if you use Firefox, it does that automatically). I realize it won't catch homonyms, but it will catch "deel" instead of "deal". It's a start.

I really think the internet has great power -- but it can be used for evil or for good. It's mind-boggling how many folks rant and rave on their statuses, spew hateful diatribes full of profanity as punctuation and don't think that's a problem.

Is it just me?

Sound in, folks... what do you think?

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In other news, I gave myself a lovely second degree burn on my left index finger last night. Note to self: make sure that you're both completely awake (even if it is 2 a.m.) AND that you turn on a light before trying to add wood to the wood stove. A stove that's running at 600 degrees really isn't something you want to tangle with.

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Your Personality is Somewhat Common (ISFJ)

Your personality type is stubborn, conservative, trustworthy, and caring. About 13% of all people have your personality, including 18% of all women and 7% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

That pretty much pegged me... LOL...

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Blurbs: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Technique is noticed most markedly in the case of those who have not mastered it." (Leon Trotsky)

I see a lot of blurbs on a daily basis... we post them with every review on LASR/WC/Aurora -- to the tune of about 60+ a week. And here's what I think:

Blurbs can make or break a sale.

If someone is looking to buy for the first time, a well-written blurb can really give them that extra 'bump'. For instance, I'm absolutely certain that my "warning" on "Kitchen Matches" was one of the reasons it sold so well. Here it is:

Warning: This story contains flying poultry, annoying older brothers, the occasional quote from Shakespeare, and enough sexual tension to overheat ovens—and engines.

So, a good blurb can help sell a book -- but conversely, a poorly written or poorly edited blurb can kill a sale, don't you think?

It's bad enough when a blurb is dull, but what about those riddled with grammatical errors, or those that don't actually say what the author thinks it says. I can't help but think if the author and editor take so little time with a 100 word blurb, what does the rest of the book look like?

Here are some I've seen recently (please note, I've changed them all slightly -- I've retained the errors, but have rearranged the rest so they're *hopefully* pretty unrecognizable). Can you find the errors?

1. Marine Core Sniper Bill Smith's attitude...

2. Can she be saved from the hoards of evil demons...

3. (Note: This one is from a time travel romance)... Events lead Mary to believe that John is from another time zone.

4. Joy and John Benning have lost their mittens. The Benning's can't seem to find them...

I could go on... and on... and on... but I won't.

What do YOU think? Would you buy a book with errors in the blurb?

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You Are Wiley and Smart

You're the type of person who can get out of any jam. You always have your wits about you. Other people find you to be a little dangerous! They know what you're capable of. You are always planning and scheming. You can't help it - your mind never stops going. You tend to outfox everyone standing in your way. You don't like to play dirty, but you will if you have to.

The Baby Animal Test

LOL... scared?

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A Small Writing Rant

"Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon." - E.L. Doctorow

Okay... time for my annual rant about writing.

Recently I've talked to folks about complaints from books (mainly eBooks) they've read. I hear authors frequently saying that they think the "rules" can be ignored if you break them correctly and with enough writing skill.

I disagree.

Take head-hopping. This is a biggie for me (and several other people, apparently, based on what I've heard in my conversations). I realize that many authors (even big selling ones ... yes THE NORA head-hops, I know, I know but you're not her) get published with their head-hopping stories, and I know many readers don't seem to mind them. BUT: head-hopping can make the story difficult to follow and some readers may lose patience, stop reading and then never buy a book by that author again.

Is it worth it? If you lose even one reader because of something this basic, is it worth it?

Another complaint I've heard about is lack of real conflict. Simply having the H/H not like each other isn't enough. There needs to be more, even in (or maybe especially in) a short story. Readers aren't reading to read page after page of Joe and Martha's relatively simple courtship. They are reading to see Joe and Martha overcome something. Conflict can be internal (maybe Martha has a trauma in her past that doesn't allow her to trust easily, or Joe's ex-fiancee cheated on him with his best friend, or Martha can't have children and doesn't feel like a "real" woman, or Joe has massive scarring from a fire he was caught in when he saved six kids and their dog, so is self-conscious about his looks), or external (Joe's ex-fiancee returns with the news that she's pregnant and thinks it's his kid, Martha loses her job but is offered another one halfway around the world). But stories need to provide something that the H/H MUST overcome to get their HEA.

Something else I've seen happening a lot is having something happen off screen and then the characters recount it later. There are times this is appropriate, but there are times when it's better to let the reader actually SEE the action (IMHO, this is most of the time -- if something is important enough to the plot to mention, and involved the hero or heroine directly -- because we'll be in one of their POVs, right? -- then it's important enough to show the reader directly).

The last complaint relates to editing. I realize that we, as authors, have editors to help us tidy up our work. This does NOT meant we get to be lazy when it comes to grammar knowledge. You should know whether to use a semi-colon or a comma, or what the difference between peek, peak and pique is. If you don't, it behooves you to learn. This is your trade. A brain surgeon goes to medical school, a plumber doesn't just start turning wrenches and hope for the best. So, a writer must learn to write properly. An editor is just another human who may miss things that are wrong in your manuscript. And, to be honest, some of the editors in eBook publishing aren't as well-trained as they should be. It's YOUR work. YOUR name is on it. You want it to be something to be proud of, not something people snicker about ("Did you see here where she said it "peeked" her interest? :::: much laughter ensues ::: ).

There is more, but I won't bore you any longer. I'm not a pro, either, but because of my exposure to hundreds and hundreds of books every year (via LASR) and equal numbers of reviews (and complaints from my reviewers) I know what's being published out there, and I know what folks seem to like consistently and what gets on their nerves.

And, the author part of me tries to listen. I realize we can't please everyone with our writing or the story may not interest some folks when others find it amazing (check out the two reviews Allie got on her recent release to see what I mean), but we can at least strive to get the mechanics down correctly. Right?

Of course right.

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Okay... who can tell me how to get my blog posts to go up on Facebook automatically? I was using Twitterfeed and sending them that way, but that isn't working for me anymore for some reason.

Help?

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You Are Calm and Thoughtful

You aren't the type of person to rush to judgment. You weigh all of your options carefully. You tend to gravitate toward what's old-fashioned and classic. You wait a while before you give anything new a chance. You tend to have a lot of depth. You study subjects carefully, and the relationships you have tend to be strong and deep. You don't have much time for frivolity in your life. You are a very serious person.

The Handbag Test

Yep... that's pretty dang close.

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Say It Isn't So...

Spelling "truely atrosious," says academic

Click here for the article. The grammar nut in me is incredibly horrified by what this "teacher" has proposed.

I've Seen This So Many Times

The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks" his "cah," the lost r's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car and invest in "erl wells." ~Author Unknown

Most recently seen on a publishers blog...

Something to the effect of: "Take a peak inside."

NONONONONO!!!

Dear heavens.

**sigh**

For future reference, one and all, please note the following:

PEAK = The pointed top of something, the highest point, the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.

PEEK = to look or glance quickly or furtively, esp. through a small opening or from a concealed location; peep; peer. A quick or furtive look or glance; peep.

Edited to add: Thanks to Sarita for pointing out another misuse of "peak" (as in "It really peaked my interest"):

PIQUE = to arouse an emotion or provoke to action.

Please, for the love of all that's holy, do not mix them up anymore. This little problem has been my first impression of more than one writer. Usually, this means it will also be my last.

Edited to Add: In light of the above, I do have to admit to a few grammatical failings. Mostly spelling issues, to be exact. I have these blocks against certain words and I sent one to a friend just now.

Devastated is one. I most frequently spell it devEstated, and I did in that email (are you laughing, Jen?).

I also struggle with marriage and carriage (I tend to invert the ai/ia thing), independent (I like to spell it "independAnt", but then I remember in "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" when Herbie the elf says, "We're In-Dee-Pen-Dent." and I can spell it correctly).

The thing is, even though I know I struggle with these words, I just can't remember what the correct spelling is, despite years of trying. I always have to look them up.

Do you have words you can never spell?

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Time to write... I've gotten about 200 words done, but I need another 1800 words. Wish me luck!

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Your Travel Personality Is: Easygoing

When you travel, you're looking for a lot of downtime. Vacations are your chance to recoup. All you need is a scenic spot and plenty of time on your hands. You'll figure out the rest. You're not one to make lots of plans when you travel. You just follow whatever path seems right.

What's Your Travel Personality?

In Which I Ramble...

Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while. ~Kin Hubbard

Welcome to stream of consciousness writing. I don't have anything specific to say, so you get to hear whatever comes to mind as I write.

It's raining. UGH. I supposed it's better than snow, and I suppose we need it, but why did it have to rain on a Saturday? This means my DH is trapped inside the house and he doesn't do well on these types of days. Bother.

One set of neighbors with ATVs that they ride behind their house, on the road or pretty much anywhere they like at any hour -- has moved! Yay! And, though I certainly wouldn't wish foreclosure on anyone, my next door motorcycle riding (at 2 a.m. -- vroom, vroom), drug dealing, heavy drinking, acid rock listening (at top volume) loose dog owning neighbor's house is going up for auction in the next few days. Please, please, please let us get some quiet, sweet neighbors in. Please?

I did better on my diet yesterday. The first couple of days were tough because I'm a snacker, and I like to snack on things like peanuts, triscuits, etc. And I couldn't. So I did a lot of pacing and looking at the pantry door with deep longing. Yesterday, though, I pretty much forgot about snacking. And I wasn't as hungry. A breakthrough (break-through?)!

I hate hyphens. Typing the one before this reminded me how much. Ha. There has been talk around the blogosphere about them as well. Nice Mommy~Evil Editor had something to say about them last week. I curse them quiet regularly in my mind. Hyphens should be outlawed (NOT out-lawed).

My neighbor's daughter (not the neighbor I referenced, above) had a science project to do: find and murder forty perfectly innocent bugs for a pin board. She asked me for help. I told her I didn't believe murder was acceptable, but if I came across one already dead, but in reasonable condition, I would get it for her. I ended up providing her with a monarch corpse -- one of the bugs from last year that DD had gotten attached to and named "Mr. Butterfly". His wing was deformed and he couldn't fly, so we fed him and kept him alive for a while, and then put him in a little box to bury outside. But, we decided that his life would have some meaning if he helped another, healthy butterfly not die in the name of science. And we donated his corpse. In my opinion, having children kill bugs is inhumane. If my DD was in school and asked to do that, I would have complained and refused.

Next week is Halloween week at LASR. Check out the romance reviews blog on Monday for a review and giveaway of a Halloween romance. An author spotlight with a paranormal author -- and a free download of one of her books. And lots more fun. We don't have candy for the Trick-or-Treaters (ACK! hyphens!!), but we do have books. And that's even better (though, I do love candy corn).

My DD discovered the joy of "Calvin and Hobbes" this week. She found a book chock full of the comic at the library and has been tee-heeing (HYPHEN! EEK!) all week. I loved "C&H"...

Gah... I could ramble for days. I'm worse in person. Blah, blah, blah. So I'll stop! Have a great day. I'll be building an ark.

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You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

What Part of Fall Are You?

That's very true... I am downright nasty when I'm cold. I HATE cold weather. Grr...

You?

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Edited to add:

I'm part of the Sweeter Romantic Notions authors and we're having a Scavenger Hunt this week! Here are the details:

SRN is throwing a Halloween party! Join us on a scavenger hunt. All the answers can be found through our main site: http://www.sweeterromanticnotions.com.

It kicks off on Friday October 26th and will end on Halloween!!

There will prizes, books and goodies, and maybe some chocolate too!

Here are the rules:

Answer the following questions and email the answers to sweeterromanticnotions@gmail.com with "contest" in the subject line.

The winner will be announced on the Group Loop October 31st and in the First Friday News Blast!

So, let's get scavanging!!

1) In the October News Blast what was the title of Edita Patrick's release from New Concepts Publishing?

2) Who has the picture of a dog on their cover art?
Elle Fredrix?
Kim Watters?
Adelle Laudan?
What is the title of that book?

3) What branch of the military is Sela Carson's husband retired from?

4) Cindy Green is published by By Grace Publshing?
True or false?

5) Diane Craver has three titles listed on her author page at SRN?
True or false?

If I Must

Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason. ~ Richard C. Trench

I had some interesting comments, yesterday, in regards to MY comments on the overuse of "that" in writing. Please note, its isn't that I'm opposed to using that word when it is necessary. The point was, that sometimes its use isn't necessary. The Long and the Short of It actually had a lovely article about that word last week, that may help clear up what I meant.

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Judy and I were gabbing the other day, and somehow (I don't remember how) we decided to go on Weight Watchers together. I must be out of my mind -- I'm going to attempt NaNoWriMo without the benefit of unlimited chocolate! So, to help keep me accountable, I'm putting up a weight loss ticker. Yikes!

Today, the ticker is here. But tomorrow, it will be on the sidebar. Heaven help me.




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My eyeballs were killing me yesterday -- too much computer, probably. So I opted to write, last nigh, in longhand. Shocking, but true. Judy suggested a new idea (and, Judy, you were right, it's easier to *ahem* write a lot than none, LOL...) and I ran with it, to the tune of seven handwritten pages. I need to transcribe it, now, but at least I'm writing again.

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ANIMOLOGY: What Animal Are You? Your Result: Tan Giraffe Loner. You're a sort of a loner, but you are very brave and a quick thinker. You have a little secret: you like to help others. Soul Mate is the Red Jaguar, but you hate the Marroon Panda.
Gold Falcon
Ocre and Gray Dolphin
Red Jaguar
Silver and Red Wolf
Teal Cat
Blue Fox
Yellow Trout
ANIMOLOGY: What Animal Are You?

Grrr.... Just THINKING about a maroon panda makes me angry...

Rain and a Review

Only in grammar can you be more than perfect. ~William Safire

It's raining here... we needed it desperately. I hope it rains for DAYS.

I got a review from Fallen Angels Reviews for my story, Pregnancy Cravings. It says, in part:

Marianne Arkins has created a light-hearted, fun short story. Patrice’s dedication to hunt down snacks of all kinds will bring a smile to the reader’s face. The playful bantering back and forth between Patrice and Joey is delightful to watch. The realism of a comment or statement being misunderstood is a nice building block for this plot. Although this story was told in less than twenty pages, it is no less enjoyable. This reader was glad she decided to stay up those extra minutes to read it. Pregnancy Cravings is a well-written story that follows two innocent bystanders and one pregnant girl’s interesting food choices. 4 Angels!

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Pillar Place: Swallowtail P2 is officially done for the season. Martin and Rose are both pupae, and I'll be putting their box down in the basement bulkhead for the winter. Tune back in at the end of May for news!

Pillar Place: Monarch P2 is progressing nicely. The pillars are eating me out of house and home, which is as it should be. The DD left one corner of a box in her room slightly cracked, and when I went to check on the food supply, I found a wandering pillar! Yikes! Most of these guys are pretty big, and should hatch in time to make the trip south before it's too cold here... but one is still pretty tiny, and I'm a bit worried.

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Don't forget to head over to The Long and the Short of It tomorrow -- we're giving away an autographed book from a multi-published author! Note: that link is to our contest page... which won't be updated until tomorrow.

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What fantasy Creature are you?(AWSEOME pictures!) Elf You're Fantasy creature is an Elf. You're somewhat of a dark creature and a loner. But you do rely on your friends for help. And your thoughts aren't very evil. You're too busy concentrating on what your life has laid in front of you. Image (c) Saimain.Deviantart.com Relationship Quizzes

ACK... though I love the outcome of this quiz, I had to go clean up all the misspelled words! They're scattered throughout the quiz questions, as well.

In my answer I had: you're instead of your, consontrated instead of concentrated, layed instead of laid, and are'nt instead of aren't. Dear heavens....