Guest Post by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

On Editing and Pesky Adverbs

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

We are often warned that adverbs can be overdone. Then writers take the warning too literally; they think they shouldn’t use any at all!

Of course, we wouldn't have adverbs if they didn't serve a purpose. But when we examine them -- carefully (very carefully!) we often find that they duplicate a quality that the very has already achieved for us. That makes them redundant.

Or they are awkward. Or they slow down the forward movement of a sentence.

Authors also worry when an editor removes their adverbs. They think those edits will change their voices. Though an author can (and should) reject edits that he/she thinks aren't appropriate, these edits of adverbs rarely change a voice. Certainly voice isn't achieved by using adverbs or most other edits. It is achieved by much subtler elements of writing. Point of view. Use of colloquialism or slang. Choice of detail.

For the most part, I think most writers worry way too much on having their voice changed and not enough about improving their writing skills.

Having said that, I worry more about editors who don’t really have the training to be editors. Would an editor really remove all of a writer’s adverbs? And how would a new author know if an editor is overstepping if he/she doesn’t have lots of information on editing under his or her own little writers’ belt?

I do hope those of you who have been relying on an outside editor -- someone you hired or a friend -- will read The Frugal Editor http://www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor. It includes lots on how to partner with an editor, how to save money hiring an editor, and how to hire one that is compatible with your personality and the kind of writing you do. Many good editors like Barbara McNichol (www.barbaramcnichol.com) specialize in specific genres, nonfiction vs. fiction, etc. Larry Brooks (www.storyfix.com) helps writers of fiction specifically with structure. Good editors know that it is hard to be an expert at everything.

Editing is a two-way street. There's gotta be some trust and also some confidence. The more an author knows about editing, the better equipped she or he is to discard or keep edits.

So, yep. Examine every adverby "ly" word. And then use each one to your advantage. Know the other adverbs (like “even” and “just”). There is a list in The Frugal Editor (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). Especially the ones you tend to overuse. Either discard each one or use one of the methods in The Frugal Editor to turn them into more visual writing.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults, and speaks on issues of publishing. Learn more about her other authors' aids at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com where writers will find lists and other helps on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on editing at http://www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com and all things publishing (not just editing!) at http://www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. She tweets writers' resources at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo

"Frugal & Focused Tweeting For Retailers": A Great Book For Authors, Too!

Before Carolyn Howard-Johnson became an acclaimed author, she spent nearly three decades in the retail industry, as founder and manager of her own chain of stores, a retail consultant and a New York publicist. The latest book in her "Survive and Thrive" series is Frugal & Focused Tweeting for Retailers, and it is a great read for not just people in the retail industry, but for those in the publishing industry as well. After all, being a writer is in many ways similar to running your very own small business. Not only must you strive to make your writing the best it can be -- if you want to expand your readership, it is also imperative to learn how to be successful at marketing yourself and your work.

That is where Howard-Johnson comes in. Her goal in this book is to help those with businesses (or books!) use Twitter in ways they never imagined by "doing it right" and integrating their efforts with all the other marketing they do.

Are you clueless at social networking? Frugal & Focused Tweeting for Retailers walks you through the basics of setting up a Twitter account and demystifies the jargon of Twitter lingo.

Do you already have a Twitter account set up but want to gain a bigger audience of followers and learn how to add clout to your online presence? This is a great book for you, too!

Twitter is indeed a frugal way to promote yourself and your books -- it's free to join and use! Howard-Johnson gives advice on ways to build connections with potential customers through Twitter, integrate your advertising, and even give a Twitter party.

I'll end with a quote from the beginning of the book by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks: "People get information in all kinds of ways now, and companies can no longer talk at the consumer. You have to engage in a discussion and let people create, discover, and share information and not just try to sell them things." Whether you're selling coffee or selling books, I couldn't agree more. In Frugal & Focused Tweeting for Retailers, Howard-Johnson helps show you how to start a discussion with consumers -- or readers!

Visit Carolyn Howard-Johnson's website.

She also keeps a blog called "Sharing With Writers and Readers."

You can also connect with her on Twitter (of course!) and Facebook. 

While you're there, connect with me on Twitter, too! :)