I discovered a fetish recently and it’s (oh, there I go again!) using too many ‘its’.
An e-publisher recently requested I submit a full manuscript and in the process of preparing the 90k word ms to send, I did a FIND and HIGHLIGHT.
Thousands of the little buggers lit up. (My ms looked like the Harbour Bridge on NYE.)
So I’ve spent the week de-itting the ms.
It amazes me when it… (Oops! Let me try that again)
I am amazed how replacing an ‘it’ can improve clarity and flow in a manuscript.
Not long ago I overcame my ‘ly’ fascination. I remain confident that this fetish (no doubt I will discover more) can be controlled without any intervention or drugs — other than caffeine as I attempt to de-it my other two completed manuscripts.
I have a bit of a "just" problem in my dialogue! I'm guessing I must have it in real speech too 🙂
LOL Kez, just don't get me started on justs!!!!!
'Just, flicked, narrowed, grinned…' my list is endless. I'd be lost without that 'find and destroy' function 🙂 My last heroine should have had whiplash from flicking her hair one more time…
Congrats on the submission, Jenn!!!
Jenn,
It's a shame it's gotta go!
Love ya work.
Shayne
Good luck with Nobel Romance Jenn – it's (oops – an "it's") about time there was some recognition for you! It's (oops – an "it's" again) well overdue! Love, Kris
Wonderful news about the Noble request, and good luck polishing your ms. I'm sure they'll love it!
🙂 Mon
Just, as, though, like, they all go on my list. Was is another really bad one along with very and really. Damn, the pacing already feels slow (do you like my non deep POV). Good luck with the submission Jenn! And keep up the highlighting. What would we do without it?!
Bronwyn.
Good Luck Jenn with the submission to Noble.
All very frustrating little words, it, very, just, has, and adverbs. It's amazing how many words are redundant.
On my second round of revisions, I find I hit the delete button quite often. lol