It's versus Its - It is a quandary

Working on final edits for the editor - until she finds all the things I've missed (hopefully). As I comb through my checklist and read for continuity, etc., my SmartEdit program is kicking out those commonly misused words.

We all know that grammar nazi, the one who jumps up to point out we've used the wrong "they're/their/there," "affect/effect," "you're/your" etc. Generally speaking, I get all these words right (although I'm definitely not perfect). My biggest downfall is knowing when to use lie/lay, probably because lay is a verb tense of lie. With that being said, today's contemplation is its versus it's.

At the day job several years ago, I still remember someone completing a report, copying and binding it and then she stopped, because as she was flipping through the final product, she found "its" had been misused. It's/Its is commonly overlooked. Sharp eye, that woman. So she took the report apart, went back to correct the error and inserted the correction into her final copies. How do you know if you've got the right one?

While I'm writing, I often stop to ask myself "it is," or "belonging to it." This is one of those break-the-rule things, where possession does NOT include an apostrophe - "its". In its contraction form - it is/it has - "it's" gets the apostrophe to account for the missing letters. Easy enough, but also easy to confuse, since the rule for possession inserts an apostrophe. NOT THIS TIME.

As for my lie/lay, borrowing from Merriam Webster to show you why it continues to trip me up.

Here's lay in context in tenses that show its principal forms:

I was told to lay the book down. I laid it down as I have laid other books down. I am laying more books down now.

And here's lie:

I was told to lie down. I lay down. I have lain here since. I'm still lying here.

The English language in all its confusing glory!

Targeting a June release for the next EPITAPH installment! I'll be sending out a newsletter as soon as I have a firm date in case you want to pre-order, so make sure you're signed up!

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Channeling Julia Childs? When to begin the editing process

When you finish cooking something, a roast for instance, quite often you'll let it "rest" after you've taken it out of the oven to finish cooking. Or sometimes with baking, the cooling period is part of the cooking process, giving the creation a chance to set. Or gel. Well, you get the idea.

While I'm always eager to present my work as a finished product, I'm in that "resting" period to give it a chance to breathe. Part of me wants to plunge ahead with the next project, part of me wants to jump into editing mode, and yet another part of me needs to take a mental breather. I'm still in deadline season at the day job, and these next two weeks are going to be mayhem, so the smart thing to do is step away from the story. The distance provides a fresh perspective. I will forget parts of the story in the time I spend away from it, and as I go back to edit, I'll be more likely to see things I need to fix. With the distractions of deadlines, it's too easy to overlook important details.

Stephen King advises taking a month after you've reached "the end" the first time. The time gives you perspective. You move out of the creative mode and into the critical mode which is so essential to the editing process. Questions like "does this move the story along?" "Can this sentence be tighter?" Not to mention the critical overused and filler words that pop up once you've had a chance to step away from the WIP. I've been told I've overused the word "and" in this particular story. I'm hoping the time apart will make those things more obvious to me when I go back at it. Every work seems to have it's own unique repetitions. Another word I felt I'd fixated on was "recriminations," even though it only appeared three times in the original draft. It is, however, a "highly visible" word in my mind, so I have gone back to address that one.

THE SELKIE - Epitaph 5, is slated for a June/July release. I should have the cover art in the next week or two, and I'm planning to share it over at Booklover's Bench next month. I'll keep you posted!

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore"

When I was starting out with my writing, everything I read - everything I learned - preached "show, don't tell." They talked about using "stronger words" to present what was happening instead of using adverbs to support. As a person with a very large vocabulary, I had dozens of words at my disposal. I thought I was doing everything right. Until....

Someone came into my first critique group, before I'd been published, someone who HAD been published. She critiqued one of my chapters and pointed out all the flowery dialog tags I used. Here I thought I was showing mood and personality by choosing something other than said, which, to my "learning the craft level" brain was stronger. She taught me that "said" is an invisible dialog tag. While I found it repetitive and unimaginative, she pointed out the more descriptive tags I was using were 1) not necessarily referential to speech, and 2) called attention to themselves. As a newbie, I was stunned. Her comments went against everything I'd been taught. Everything I'd learned. Except she had something I didn't. A book contract. A professional editor. So while my initial response was "who are you, and where do you come off telling me blah blah blah..." I stepped back and considered my position compared to hers. I was still learning the craft. She'd learned enough to get a book contract. So I calmed down, remembered that critique groups are there to help you get better and that constructive criticism helps you grow. Asked her some pointed questions. Funny, she quickly realized she'd aligned herself with a bunch of neophytes and left the group in short order. She needed a group with more experience that would see beyond the things we were still learning.

She was right, of course. I still find myself wanting to slip into more colorful dialog tags from time to time, and my more experienced critique group lets me know every time I use one. Those dialog tags do have a place in the prose sometimes, but for the most part, they should be limited to "said" or "asked" or a similar form of speech. These words are, in fact, invisible, where as something like "she avowed" tends to stand out. It draws attention to itself.

Touched by the Sun

I've learned much in the sixteen years that I've been writing. If you've read my first novel (TOUCHED BY THE SUN) you might still run across many rookie mistakes. In attempting to convey a foreign accent, some readers have found my Italian hero's speech stilted. I was going for "realism," but sometimes realism is better portrayed with impressions from the person on the other side of the conversation than by "stilted" conversation. I did go back to update the original book (THE TREASURE OF ST. PAUL) on its tenth anniversary to correct some of those rookie mistakes, and my hope is that the book is at least easier to read than it was in its original form. It might still have its warts, but it also gives my fans an opportunity to see how much I've learned, how my writing has improved along my journey. I still love the story, warts and all.

So writing lesson for the day. If said or asked isn't strong enough to portray feeling or emotion, use an action beat instead.

He spun on a heel to face her, pointing an accusing finger. "Why are you stalking me?"

 instead of

 "Why are you stalking me?" he bellowed.

Animal Stories ... K.C. and Poo-Pooh

When Cat #1 crossed the rainbow bridge, we got Cat #2, K.C., to keep doggie darling company. It wasn't long before doggie darling joined Cat #1 over the rainbow bridge, and I was determined to slow down the flow of pets through my home after the divorce. Unfortunately, Ex had other ideas. He brought me Poo-Pooh, a six-week old kitten who'd been abandoned in a dumpster, to keep K.C. company.

K.C.

K.C. was not happy to have a little sister. He was four or five at the time, and she was a dirty, sick, kitten impinging on his turf. They were separated until Pooh was healthy, and he quickly established himself in the role of Alpha Cat. The good part of that was that he, being a very well-behaved cat, taught Pooh the ropes. While she was still very kittenish, she was better behaved than many kittens I've had the pleasure to know. He also taught her how to be afraid of strangers, even while he basked in the company of said strangers and invited them to pet him.

Pooh, semi-hiding, ready to run if she has to

K.C. had a habit of stalking her, hiding on the other side of a corner as she came around, and then stepping out in front of her and scaring the living daylights out of her. Sometimes they'd chase each other until she conceded and ran to hide. Like a big brother, he'd wait at the bottom of the stairs when she came down to eat, just out of sight, and as she hit the last step, he'd pounce out and give her the equivalent of a "boo!" which would send her vertical, and into hiding for hours or days at a time. Pooh quickly became "the invisible cat" when guests were in the house, or after K.C. had tormented her. Nevertheless, she loved him, and when cuddle time came around, she would sneak up beside him and lay her head on his side to sleep with him. The two of them were very entertaining to watch, their love-hate relationship like many siblings.

K.C. was more of a birder. He liked to chase things in the air - a dangling feather or a fly in the house. Pooh has always been more of a mouser, chasing things that moved across the floor. Once she'd gained her health, the kids often played fetch with her - yes, she'd chase her favorite toy and bring it back for them to throw for her again.

K.C. took his turn walking over the rainbow bridge several years ago, and Pooh is now a senior citizen. She doesn't play anymore, but she does keep me company acting as my writing assistant. For a cat I was sure I didn't want to take on, she wormed her way into all our hearts.

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Animal Stories ... In the beginning

Yes, I know I promised the escapades of K.C. and Pooh, but I thought it might be more appropriate to show the progression of pets first.

Once upon a time, my (ex) husband and I went to a shelter to find a dog (for him). When we got there, this woman (me, who is a cat lover) went into the cat room and fell in love. I bonded with my new friend, and went looking for my (ex) husband. He "HAD TO HAVE" a dog. Except he couldn't decide which one.

Ex: This one. No, that one. No, wait.
Shelter worker: Do you want a big dog or a little dog?
Ex: Big one. No, maybe a medium sized. What about that one?
Shelter worker arches eyebrows: I think you should go home and think about it, and then you can come back tomorrow.
Me: I want this cat.
Shelter worker: Happy to help you, ma'am.

We go home. Sulking ensues.

Ex: We went to the shelter for a dog, and you came home with a cat.
Me: But you couldn't decide. They wouldn't give you one just to give you one.

After much discussion, and since it was just a whim for him, I made the decision. Told him which dogs I'd be willing to live with (since he didn't know, as long as it was a dog).

We found a beautiful dog from a litter in a private home who changed my mind about being a doggy mommy. Dog and cat "grew up" together and were great friends all their lives. And the dog? Guess who got her in the divorce? (hint: not the one who HAD TO HAVE a dog - he left her behind. Instead, she stayed with the one who loved her).

Pets and Friends with Pets

A little something different today.

As I'm writing the next Epitaph installment, both my main characters are on-the-go, travel a lot, busy kind of people. Workaholic, even, to a certain extent. That doesn't mean they both wouldn't LIKE a pet. One of the things I considered for them on a first date was a trip to a shelter to socialize some animals, play with them, scratch that itch. One of the characters (I won't tell you which one) opted out for the reason they weren't sure they could leave without one, and that wouldn't be fair to the animal.

As many of you may (or may not) know, I share living space with a cat. She's been with us a very long time now, which amazes me considering she was a couple weeks shy of being a feral cat. She was found in a dumpster and *someone* decided I needed to keep her. I had another cat at the time, and was trying to wean myself, but I am also a believer in having two pets when one works so they can entertain each other while you're not there to love and cuddle them. Her "older brother" died a few years back, and as a senior citizen, she's happy not to have to contend with anyone else right now.

Once upon a time, I also had a dog (one of the rule of "two"). A beautiful Sheltie. I'm not a dog person, per se, but I loved her for the time I had her, which was longer than her cat sibling lived.

Animals are funny. Some dogs are friendly, some - not so much. Some cats are social, others not so much. I have a bad habit of scooping up a cat when I'm visiting a friend's house, and the cat doesn't always appreciate that. But I love cats (I saw in a whiny voice). One of my friends' jaw dropped when I picked up "Mac the Cat" and he didn't put up a fuss. He was probably just as taken off guard as she was, and he let me cuddle and pet him before I realized I wasn't expected to do that and set him down gently with a sheepish smile. But me and cats? well, we understand each other. Dogs on the other hand? I always ask before I try to pet a dog. And asking "is he/she friendly?" isn't always the right question. Any animal on any given day might not be! So I ask, "Can I pet him/her?" and then I allow the dog to smell my hand first so it can "accept" me.

I could tell you dozens of stories about my two cats, about how the one would lay in the middle of the floor and wouldn't care if you petted him, and the other was "invisible." I could tell you stories about the games they played with each other, but then you'd be spending all day reading this post!

{clearing my voice, adopting announcer voice} Tune in next week for the escapades of K.C. and Poo-Pooh.

Do you have pets?

Running Just to Catch Myself

So as I was contemplating what to share with you all this week, I had an idea about recycling an old post. I may have mentioned this is the busy time of year for me, a time when I struggle to maintain my sanity. As I was scrolling back in my posts to find that brilliant idea I wanted to expound on, I realized I posted the same thing twice. Granted, it was two months apart, but with all the other things going on in my life right now, I just plain forgot. What other things, you ask? A couple of deaths in the family, making an offer on a house. You know. Nothing stressful.

Anybody else have those moments when you lose track of what you're doing because you're juggling too many balls? And then one hits you *smack* in the head? How come nobody pointed this error out to me? 😨💬

These are the moments where you stop, take a deep breath, and regroup. For me, these are the times I usually retreat into my writing cave to decompress, but since these are all things that require me to be "present in the moment," I can only dart to that cave for small spaces of time.

I'm thankful to have family support to help me through the rough spots. A walk with The Big Guy. Spending time with my daughter and her little bundles of love. A visit from One Young Son. Support from my sisters. I am well and truly blessed.

And I am getting *some* time in that writing cave. The next book in the Epitaph series is coming along - maybe slower than I'd like, but I'm managing to get words on the page. While I'm getting my act together, you can buy that first book in the Epitaph series for less than a cup of coffee this month. EPITAPH is on sale through March. Start at the beginning (although I should mention these books are all stand-alone) and if you find you like the families, each of the siblings has their own story.

Thanks for your support.

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