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WRITING MAKES THE TIME FLY
Nothing tells me it is summer more than looking at the thermometer and seeing we’ve hit the century mark. When did that happen? I’ve had my nose (and mind) buried in the new book for the past couple of weeks, trying to make sure everything is perfect before it goes to press. Yesterday I went out and suddenly noticed that it is really hot. The “monsoons” haven’t arrived yet, so we don’t have the thunderstorms to cool us down in the afternoons.
Writing is something that comes easy to me, but getting it right doesn’t. So, I thought I would share the most common boo-boos that my editor found with my manuscript. Some are silly mistakes. Come to think of it, most are, because I should know better. I know that some would-be writers are afraid to commit their stories to paper because they’re afraid they aren’t perfect enough. So, here’s imperfect. Look at it and see if you can’t do better.
The worst thing I did (I think) was not sticking to the same usage throughout the book. Not even through one paragraph. I sometimes wrote “US” and sometimes, “U.S.” Same with Washington DC, and Washington D.C. And sometimes I wrote the forties, the 1940s, and ‘40s. I didn’t notice, but my editor sure did!
To make it worse, when I got the manuscript back, I thought I could go under “edit” and “find ,” then type in US and change all of them to U.S. at the same time. What a mistake that was. I was really confused when my program showed it had found over 1000 uses of US. No, I thought! There’s no way that I mentioned the United States that many times. It didn’t take me long to figure out what had happened, but by then I had to go all the way back and check each U.S. separately until I got it straightened out. Unfortunately, it had automatically changed every place “US” or “us” appeared, even in the middle of words like cU.S.tard and tumultuoU.S.
The same thing happened with DC. Suddenly words like grandchildren became granD.C.hildren. Now I have to read each page carefully to change them all!
Then there was number usage. I know the rule: ten or under, you spell the word out. Over ten you use the number. Just one of those stupid mistakes I make when my mind is working on autopilot. When thoughts are flying at me, my mission becomes to get them entered into the computer and not worry about mistakes until later. However, I should have caught these simple problems when I proofread the manuscript before sending it to the editor.
It’s getting corrected, but I’ve spend extra time now trying to get it all straightened out. What’s my message here? If I can get a book written and published, considering the ridiculoU.S. mistakes I make, then I know each of you can do better. Next time, read about more of my goofs that the editor caught!
NOTE: Some of this newsletter’s talented subscribers submitted essays to my new book. You can read some of these great essays when the book gets published—hopefully this month.
RVing during the dog days of summer
Here it is again, the 4th of July weekend, and the RV Park has filled with working people who are taking a holiday with the kids. While I think it’s too hot to fire up the motorhome engine and head out on the road, people from Phoenix and Tucson are rushing to places exactly like where we’re staying to cool off. Funny how “feeling the heat” is relative depending on the individual’s perspective.
Owning an RV and being able to jump in it and hit the road for a weekend away is a fantastic choice, and it is less expensive for families than motels and eating out. I’m also reminded by all the rain and flooding in Texas that having an RV is convenient when you need to escape the ravages of nature—assuming you manage to get out before the floods hit. Those owning RVs in California have their own emergency preparedness kit on wheels, assuming it isn’t destroyed by the earthquake. Some people keep their RVs stocked with clothes, food and fresh water just for such an emergency. Since the RV is on wheels, it is less likely to suffer damage from the ground motion as long as everything is put away safely into cupboards or a tree doesn’t fall on it. And as long as escape routes remain open, owners only have to drive away until it’s safe to return home.
About those families who have come to stay for the holiday, once they arrive there’s swimming, fishing in what remains of the water in the river, hiking early in the morning before the sun gets too fierce, or lying out and relaxing under a shade tree or the RV’s awning. Sightseeing at Indian ruins (one actually has shade trees and a creek) and exploring funky little mining towns are within a few minutes drive from here. We have everything available that resorts nearby offer, only they charge $250-600 per night for the experience. I’ve stayed in one a few miles from here and it was nearly perfect, but believe me, it’s cheaper to stay here in our RV. I could have done a lot with the change left over from the $325 per night they charged for the “exclusivity” of sleeping in one of their lovely, but costly casitas.
The only bummer this weekend is that cooking outdoors on the grill is forbidden right now because of the dry conditions. However, it’s only a short trip into town if eating barbeque is important to the camping experience. Meals are even served in the clubhouse on some days here, especially on holiday weekends, and there are lots of activities for the kids.
The air conditioner is keeping us cool, but it’s only a short hop to Dairy Creme or Cold Stone Creamery if we need something cooler. Life doesn’t get any better than this!
