So as I worked my way through the multiple drafts of Catching Echoes, Reconstructionist 1, I highlighted every instance of ‘effect,’ ‘affect’, ‘past, and ‘passed’ that I came upon. I did so because I invariably use one or more of these words incorrectly at least once in every book. Yes, no matter how many times I go over the sentence, no matter how many rules I recite in my head and apply, I always get at least one wrong.
After editing over thirteen of my novels, and I don’t know how many of my screenplays – ten? fifteen? – my lovely editor, Scott Fitzgerald Gray (aka SFG)(who you can find on his Insane Angel website), suggested I might want to jot down the following rules on a Post It! note, then attach said note to my computer screen.
I did one better. And then thought I should share with you all.
Please feel free to share (I’ll also post these separately on Twitter and Facebook for that purpose). And it’s back to writing for me!
4 replies on “Grammar tips from the editor”
You are every bloggers hero about now!! Thanks!
You are welcome!
Meghan,
If my teachers had told me that Effect was a noun and affect was verb I wouldn’t have been confused until I was 58 year old. Thank you
Tim
Thank the editor! Ha.