Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers – The Ultimate Frugal Reference Guide for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy

Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers
40 Pages
ISBN 9783615995240

Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy From the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers [A second edition from Modern History Press is on its way!] ISBN-13: 9781450507653 Kindle Edition: ASIN: B08DDJ7LZT To order paperback or e-book on Amazon: Https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII

Carolyn Howard-Johnson picks the trip-you-up words that her clients struggle with and puts them in a quick reference guide light enough and small enough to be used as an quickie gift that the recipient can tuck into a glove compartment or purse to keep their homonym skills fresh and explains why following grammar rules assiduously isn’t always the best choice for writers.

FROM THE AUTHOR I wrote this little booklet as an addendum to the list of word trippers I included in the winningest book in my HowToDoItFrugally Series for writers, "The Frugal Editor." Obviously neither "Frugal Editor" or this booklet is a complete reference on homonyms. Such a reference could run several hundred pages and is best suited for libraries and online references.

Instead, I wanted to write something that could be used as an inexpensive gift that recipients could tuck into a glove compartment or purse to keep their homonym skills fresh. I hope authors will also refer to it as a last-minute confidence builder before they submit their manuscripts to fussy agents and publishers (and all of them are!) This booklet works especially well for that because in addition to a list of some of my clients' most often misused words, it assures writers who assiduously following grammar rules they learned in the fourth grade isn't always the best choice; in fact, that approach could gut an otherwise beautiful voice or destroy a writer's natural knack for writing dialogue. So, go ahead. Have some fun with style choices and this fifty-some page booklet. Give it as a thank you gift to a fellow writer. Stuff it in a stocking during the holidays. And please read at least one of the books I suggest in the appendix, too!

GENERAL WRITER I wrote this little booklet as an addendum to the list of word trippers I included in the winningest book in my HowToDoItFrugally Series for writers, "The Frugal Editor." Obviously neither "Frugal Editor" or this booklet is a complete reference on homonyms. Such a reference could run several hundred pages and is best suited for libraries and online references.

Instead, I wanted to write something that could be used as an inexpensive gift that recipients could tuck into a glove compartment or purse so everyone who writes (doesn't everyone?) could avoid some of English's trickiest potholes. I hope writers will refer to it as a last-minute confidence builder before they send each of their most important documents out into the world. This booklet works especially well for that because in addition to a list of some of my clients' most often misused words, it assures writers who assiduously following grammar rules they learned in the fourth grade isn't always the best choice; in fact, that approach could gut an otherwise beautiful voice or destroy a writer's natural knack for writing. So, go ahead. Have some fun with style choices and this fifty-some page booklet. Give it as a thank you gift to a fellow writer. Stuff it in a stocking during the holidays. And please read at least one of the books I suggest in the appendix, too!

BLURBS

“Carolyn Howard-Johnson has created something of unmatched value: usage advice that cuts through the contentious world of grammar to offer real help. Writers polishing their manuscripts and query letters will find Howard-Johnson’s guide more useful than Strunk and White.” ~ June Casagrande, author of Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies (Penguin) and syndicated grammar columnist guru

“That so much helpful advice is couched in such light-hearted, easy to read and entertaining prose is due to Howard-Johnson's abilities . . . “ Magdalena Ball, founder and editor of The Compulsive Reader review website

“Your wonderful book saved me. On my latest film poem, I used insure when it should have been ensure. So I just had time to change it! Close call! ~ Betty Jo Tucker, author and movie reviewer

“ . . . it’s editing books like this that help us get one step closer to writing, and speaking, clearly and succinctly. Five stars.” ~ Dawn Colclasure, author. Tweet with her a@dawncolclasure

“This book is a good investment for all writers, no matter how skilled and experienced they believe they are. And, if you believe you "could care less," you really need this book.” ~ Boyd Sutton, author

“From adapting/adopting to wreak/reek, "Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips For Writers" is highly recommended reading for anyone preparing to write pretty much anything -- and a fascinating read in its own right for those who appreciate word-play and the occasionally encountered dilemmas of the English language!” ~ Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review

An absolute 'must' for aspiring authors seeking publication for their work, and having substantial value for even the more experienced writer . . .” ~ Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review

“Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation…” ~ Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review

“Even experienced writers and editors will find it useful.” ~ Dr. Bob Rich, author and editor of “Bobbin’ Around”

This booklet from Modern History Press is carry-with-you protection against grammar gremlins for the frugal price of $9.95 ($2.99 for the ebook). Available at https://ModernHistoryPress.com/frugal. Use code GOFRUGAL for special offers.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson

About Carolyn Howard-Johnson (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Author)

Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s several careers prepared her for promoting her own and others’ books. She was the youngest person ever hired as a staff writer for The Salt Lake Tribune—”A Great Pulitzer Prize Winning Newspaper.” Writing features for the society page and a column under the name of Debra Paige gave her insight into the needs of editors, the very people authors must work with to get free ink. Being familiar with the way news is handled helps her see how different books fit into different news cycles.

Later, in New York, she was an editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping Magazine. She also handled accounts for fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert who instituted the first Ten Best-Dressed List. There she wrote media releases (then called press releases) for celebrity designers of the day including Christian Dior and produced photo shoots for Lambert’s clients.

She also worked as columnist, reviewer, and staff writer for the Pasadena Star-News, Home Décor Buyer, the Glendale News-Press (an affiliate of the LA Times), Myshelf.com, and others. She learned marketing skills both in college (University of Utah, and University of Southern California) and as founder and operator of a chain of retail stores. That molded her understanding of how authors might best partner with retailers to affect both of their bottom lines.

Carolyn’s experience in journalism and as a poet with a long almanac of published poets including the prestigious Poetry Magazine founded in 1912. Her experience as an author of fiction and nonfiction helped the multi award-winning author understand how different genres can be marketed more effectively. She was an instructor for UCLA Extension’s renowned Writers’ Program for nearly a decade and earned a certificate from that same school’s Instructor Development Program. She also studied writing at Cambridge University, United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Charles University in Prague.

She turned her knowledge toward helping other writers with her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, including her flagship book The Frugal Book Promoter, now published by Modern History Press in its third edition and her favorite, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Her marketing campaign for the The Frugal Editor is in its second edition. It was the winningest book in the series including the Next Generation Indie Best Book Award well as their Best Marketing Award. She also has a multi award-winning series of HowToDoItFrugally books for retailers.

Howard-Johnson was honored as Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by California Legislature members Carol Liu, Dario Frommer, and Jack Scott. She received her community’s Character and Ethics award for her work promoting tolerance with her writing and the Diamond Award in Arts and Culture from her community's Library and Arts and Culture Commission. She was named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of fourteen women of “San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen” and Delta Gamma, a national fraternity of women, honored her with their Oxford Award.

Carolyn is a popular presenter at tradeshows (retail and writing) and writers’ conferences and has lost count of her radio-show guest spots. She is a actor and has appeared in TV commercials for the likes of Time-Life CDs, Marlboro, Blue Shield, Apple, Chinet, Lenscrafters, and Disney Cruise Lines (Japan).

Born and raised in Utah, Howard-Johnson raised her own family in sunny Southern California.