April's Feature Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

            Victorian literature is as familiar to me as modern literature. I've been curious how early twentieth-century literature bridged the gap between then and modern works. This month I have done some exploring. I believe nearly everyone is familiar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This children's book has long been on my must-read list. I heard that there were differences between the book and the 1930s Judy Garland movie, which came as no surprise. What movie hasn't made changes to its source? For this month, I decided to experience the world of Oz firsthand.

            The book read differently than most novels because, after all, it is a children's book. I especially liked the childlike reasoning in this one. It is very black and white. Right is right and most things boil down to common sense. What an average adult might overthink, the characters shrug off as a simple fact. Where an adult might not think twice, the book raises questions that can stop a reader in their tracks. Reading became interesting because my notions of things were turned upside down by the reasoning in the story.

            Another part I adore about children's books is the lack of limits on imagination. The suspense of belief is easier for children; it makes room for so many possibilities. Unique creatures, color, and magic filled the book and brought it to life. What makes it better is the little bit of reality mixed in. It blurs the lines between real and make-believe to the point that it feels possible when you read it.

            The moral of the story is simply making do with what you have. The four friends all had exactly what they wanted the whole time. They only needed to realize that and use it. Dorothy had the means to reach Kansas the whole time in the magical silver shoes she wore. The Scarecrow was brilliant, but never realized how smart he was. The Tin Woodsman had a big compassionate heart despite thinking he had none. The Cowardly Lion had great courage but allowed his fear to make him believe otherwise. There is nothing wrong with desiring something. But it is important to realize that what we have is valuable too. As with the book’s characters, it's simply untapped potential until we discover it.

            I've read that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is symbolic and acts as an allegory. I'll admit, it had a little bit of an allegorical feel to it. If it is supposed to be symbolic though, I didn't catch any of the meanings. I would expect anything symbolic to be straightforward so that a child could see it. The story might very well be allegorical; but for me, it was simply a fun novel to read.

            So, I have to ask the age-old question. Do you think the book or the movie is better? What do you think of the changes the movie makes? Honestly, I like the book better because the plotline seems more straightforward and gives a more definite ending to each character’s story. At the same time, I like the contrast because I can see where the story was changed to better relate with the movie's 1930s audience. The point is the same and just as applicable no matter what year it is.

I Wrote a Novel

            The past week has been taken up by more pressing matters, so I hope you'll forgive me for not having an actual post this week. Instead of writing and editing tips, I'm including you in my celebration. If you’ve been reading some of my other posts, you know that I have been working on a novel project for the past nine months.  Ever since my 5^th-grade creative writing class, I have been developing ideas and trying to write stories. None have been successful—until now.

            This week I finally finished writing a rough draft for a novel. What started as merely a fun personal project, has turned into an exploration of writing. I know I'm not the greatest writer, but this experiment has taught me much and helped me improve. All those experts out there that say you should practice writing are correct. This project has been the best practice for me. Now I have just under 60,000 words down on paper and many lessons to apply to future writings.

            Don't think I'm going to let my project end just yet. What self-respecting editor would leave their writing unedited? I'm now looking forward to the next step of the writing process: editing. For me, the editing stage is so much more fun than writing. Writing is wide open with possibilities, a blank canvas. My mind doesn't appreciate so many options. I like having parameters to work with. Editing provides that because the words are already there. I can take what exists and shape it into something grand. 

           Writing taught me about developing characters, creating descriptions, wording dialogue, and so much more. I am certain that editing will be the same way. Even though it is a familiar territory, I never stop learning. Language evolves and so do the people who use it. There is no end to learning. Each project I take on teaches me something new about editing and how language works. In other words, be ready for some future posts about editing fiction.

Writing with Dialects and Accents in Fiction

            I have a weakness for westerns. I blame it on genetics since I have family members who enjoy westerns too. One part that I like about these novels is the language. It isn't overly grammatical or polished, but it's plain-speaking (or straight-shooting if you prefer that expression). Different elements can give writing a new personality and color. Dialects and accents in writing can bring a story to life. If done right, they can give characters an instantly recognizable identity and build a more imaginative setting. The key to doing them right is to make sure they are identifiable. A badly done accent will both be unrecognizable and bring down the quality of the writing. This week, I’ll give some tips about how to write a better accent and why including one might be beneficial to your story.

            Dialects and accents can be tricky for any author. To make them work well for your story, there are three points you need to be careful of. The first is legibility. The wording needs to be legible for the reader. Spelling and punctuation have some leeway when trying to recreate a certain accent, but it should not be sacrificed to the point that a reader cannot decipher what is being said. If it is coming out in a way that can be hard to read, you have several possibilities to consider. First, illegible words might be a sign that you’re trying too hard to create the accent. In this case, you might want to step back for a moment and rethink how you portray the language. On the other hand, dialects sometimes use words or pronunciations that are unusual and unknown to the average reader. In that case, you should consider including cues that help a reader understand what is being said.

            Another point you should be cautious of is consistency. This is a critical point. If you start with a certain dialect, you should be finishing with it. It is imperative that the dialect is consistent throughout the whole work and doesn't come in and out. The lack of consistency will detract both from your writing and your character's authenticity. Consistency also applies at a more minute level. Not only should the accent stay true throughout the work, but the qualities of it should be consistent. The same spellings and punctuations should be used every time. The easiest way to ensure this is to keep notes about the usages you have in your work. As an editor, I suggest you have a copy of those notes available to your editor. Your editor can then know what you intended and catch any variations in your writing.

            A final caution, and the most important one to take away from this, is accuracy. If you write consistently and legibly through your whole work, it will mean nothing if you portray the dialect or accent inaccurately. Do your research and make certain that you are writing the speech correctly. And I mean truly correct and not just stereotypes of accents. If you aren’t careful about accuracy, it will sound “off” to readers and potentially offend those who do speak with that dialect or accent. You wouldn’t like it if someone misrepresented you so be careful that you don’t do it to someone else.

            With that being said, I hope I didn’t completely scare you off from trying to write a dialect or accent because it does have benefits. One such benefit is the local color an accent can bring to your writing. It is, like I said earlier, instant identity. It is a creative way to carry one’s reader quickly to a certain time and place. It can also create a connection for the reader with the story. For those familiar with the accent, it can give them a sense of investment because it is something they know. I like reading books that include a Southern accent because it reminds me of my childhood. My favorite teacher was from West Virginia and I loved hearing her talk. That brings up a third benefit. Even if a dialect isn't personally known to the reader, it can be intriguing. There is something about a foreign accent or dialect that piques others' curiosity. Either way, it can grab readers’ attention and create a more vivid picture for them.

            The next time you decide to write, why not try adding a dialect or accent to your story? It can give your work a unique flare that draws in readers and creates a setting through speech. Just be careful that as you write you keep an eye on legibility, consistency, and accuracy. These three keys will help guide you as you try your hand at writing dialects and accents.

A Business Analyst's Guide to Editing

            Not all businesses hire editors to check their documents. Sometimes the editing gets pushed off onto a random employee. For that employee, the task of editing all those documents is no joke. In my non-traditional route to editing, I started with a business degree and worked as a contractor in a government agency. Over time, my tasks as a business analyst became more like those of an editor. I was completing research, developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading for the entire project team by the time my contract ended. If you happen to be that employee trying to act as the editor, the following tips are meant for you. I'll be sharing some editing lessons I learned as a BA and some things that I wish I had known back then.

            There is a difference between knowing something and explaining it. Sometimes an author can struggle to write down the ideas they have in mind. Or, the author may battle with wording that makes sense to the readers. In a government agency, documentation and transparency are of utmost importance. Project documents are vital to track the work being done and to explain it to others. Clarity, style, and grammar become key. Clarity should be a goal for every business. I found that documentation explained the processes, but still had problems. The trouble was that they would sometimes become too technical or assume too much about the audience. One needs to consider who might read the documentation and what they might use it for. These documents are not another objective to cross off one's list. They serve an actual purpose. When editing, think about who the audience is and try to approach the document from their point of view. If there is ambiguity, consider changing it. Vague meanings do no one any good.

            Style, when applied appropriately, works together with clarity. A style guide creates consistency. Before you get too deep into editing your company's documentation, find out if your company has a house style. If your company has a standard for writing, you don't want any documentation to stray from it. Variations ruin the voice and image your company is trying to create. Because I was a BA still figuring out the editing business, I didn’t know I needed to find a house style. I edited based on grammar rules I learned in school. I do not recommend this if you can avoid it. From a legal standpoint, the wording and punctuation placement could have created serious problems for the agency if I made a mistake. 

           If you have a house style, get a copy and edit according to that guide. If not, I suggest you either create your own with the approval of your manager or choose an existing style guide to follow. Industries often have a guide that they favor. Whether or not you create a guide, watch for trends in the documentation and keep a record to make sure everything stays consistent in grammar choices, spellings, and word usage. For instance, I worked on a public transit project. The buses were called coaches. I learned that there were several categories of coaches that each had a specific name. It is important to note these things because they have a meaning that is only known to a certain group that differs from the meaning that an average reader might attribute to it. These terms should either be used for the group they come from or have a proper explanation.

The third part to watch for when editing is grammar. I noticed that grammar was not a high priority for the IT employees who authored the documentation. There is nothing wrong with that, but the editor does need to be aware to catch the mistakes. The documents of a company are vital because they explain the processes of the company. They need to be accurate and part of that includes grammar. Tables and lists are common in project documents and mistakes congregate in them. Check them carefully for capitalization, parallelism, spelling, and labeling.

            Editing as a BA was a fun experience for me and probably the highlight of my career so far. Other folks may not be so quick to share my enthusiasm for editing. It doesn't have to be overwhelming though. Start with finding a style guide and build from there. It can make the process far less tedious when you know what to look for and how to correct it. As you edit, keep clarity and consistency in mind. It is your job to make sure that the documentation can effectively communicate to its audience without errors creating a barrier.

March's Feature Book: Emma

            Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors. That might be a cliché for female readers, but it’s the truth. How can you not like Austen? Her novels may be about Regency era ladies hoping to marry, but the books delve much deeper than that. It is hard to say which of Austen's works is the best, but I know that Emma would be towards the top of my list. Not only is the story intriguing but this novel also showcases how brilliant Austen was as an author. When news first reached me about the new movie EMMA., I was thrilled. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but I intend to someday soon. In the meantime, I’ve been having a nice visit with Miss Emma Woodhouse and the other residents of Highbury by rereading Austen's book.

            Emma would go to the top of my list partially because it offers many examples of Jane Austen's writing ability. It amazes me every time that she could take someone as unlikable as Miss Emma Woodhouse and turn her into the main character that readers love. It takes a deft hand to convince the average reader that prideful, meddlesome Miss Woodhouse is worth their interest and admiration. For me, the character becomes even better because she is awakened to her flaws and is willing to change. 

            Another feature that I enjoy in Jane Austen’s writings is the lack of dialogue. Compared to modern literature, the characters in Austen’s writings do very little talking. There are far more descriptions and narration than there are actual action and dialogue. Of course, Miss Bates is an exception to that rule. Despite this lack of actual action, so much happens in Emma to keep the reader engaged. Emma is supposed to be a three-volume novel, and each volume has its set of events that takes a reader for a long, adventurous journey.

            One cannot talk about Austen's abilities without mentioning her veiled wit. On the surface, Emma appears to be a story about Miss Woodhouse and the people around her. A second look might reveal something more. Beneath the plotline are pricks at society, jokes about culture, and a great deal of sarcasm. It comes through in all the novels including Emma, though I believe it is most blatant in Northanger Abbey. For Emma, one needn't look beyond the plot of the story. A young woman who appears like she has everything is soon revealed to have nothing in the way that it matters. The story alone provides plenty of social commentary.

            I’ve read Emma more times than I care to count, but this particular trip through Highbury provided me with a few observations. First, that nothing is as it seems. I'm well acquainted with the story now and can see the clues that something is coming. When I first read it, Jane Austen managed to catch me off guard several times. I think the best part is that Miss Woodhouse does not marry the man that seems like the best match for her. Similar personalities do not mean a perfect match. Miss Woodhouse certainly proves that point. Even though she marries a man that is her opposite, it does her good because he builds her up rather than leaving her the same.

            Another observation I made is the characters’ peculiarities. Mr. Woodhouse thinks everyone is in ill health like himself and mourns every marriage. Miss Bates talks for pages and jumps around with topics in a way that makes a reader's head spin. Mr. John Knightley is insightful and wise in his blunt sort of way. Mrs. Elton does a good job of stirring everyone into action even if I do find her annoying. Mr. Frank Churchill is so easygoing and can laugh off everything… or almost everything. Each character has something peculiar about them and together they make a lively little town that readers love to visit. I believe the reason for that is the little bit of reality that exists in those peculiarities. They remind people of life and the individuals they interact with. It highlights the poetic in what has become mundane.

           If anything, I think the main takeaway from Emma is that the surface is not the same as the inner depths. Miss Woodhouse is more than the front she puts on. Each character is more than what they seem. Even Miss Woodhouse learns that lesson as she realizes she can’t read what’s in everyone’s hearts. Nothing is as it seems so one has to be willing to take a second look. It might be worth following the example of other Highbury residents too. Life is short and uncertain. It is better if we support each other and offer each other proper respect. No one wants to be bogged down with regrets.

My 2020 Book Challenge: First Quarter

            In January, I wrote about a challenge I made for myself to see how many books I can read in one year. It has now been three months and seemed like a good time for checking progress. One of the best things a person can do for reaching a goal is setting up accountability. Therefore, I intend to circle back to this topic several times throughout the year. If your book challenge has gone anything like mine, you might have gotten several surprising revelations already.

            Of course, the question we all care about most is how much progress we’ve made. To date, I have managed to finish fourteen books. That is about a quarter of my goal which means I'm staying on track so far. More than that, keeping a record of the books I have been reading has brought several trends to my attention. First is the type of books I read. I'll openly admit that I adore romance novels. What surprised me was the sheer amount of romance I read. Ten of the fourteen books I've completed fall within that category. Another interesting discovery was that novellas make up a much greater percentage of my reading than I previously thought.

            Although I am continuing strong towards my goal for the end of the year, I've now developed several smaller goals for in the meantime. The reading habits that I've noticed so far have inspired me to make changes in how I read. The first goal is to read more. I'm thrilled that I'm staying on track, but I am a little disappointed to find that I read less than I thought I did. I've always had this sense of urgency when it comes to reading. There are so many books, and I don't want to waste time. Therefore, I want to make a more conscious effort to read something every day.

            I also wish to diversify my reading. As much as I love romance novels, I think some branching out is in order. There's no telling what I have missed because of my penchant for the one genre. Going forward, I want to try to read some other types of books that will broaden my horizons and possibly give me something to think about. Books might be about adventure in a different world, but they are also about sharing thoughts and ideas. I want to be challenged, and I want to have new ideas to mull over while I drink my tea.

            I’m sure the next three months will supply me with more to consider about my reading habits and give me plenty of opportunities to read more. Are you enjoying this book challenge? Have you also discovered reading habits or trends? It’s not too late to start your own challenge. You can make a goal for reading during spring, which just so happens to start tomorrow. It is interesting to me how one thing can lead to another. Originally, counting books was all I had in mind. It has now become an exploration as I find new ways to branch out and challenge the reader in me.

Triage Editing for College Papers

            I thought college wouldn't be too difficult because I had done so well in college prep courses. By the time I had completed my first week, I was starting to get a different picture. I'm sure many of you are very familiar with the panic of looming deadlines and mounting work. It takes a good deal of organization and time management to survive college. Even the best planners can sometimes get caught off guard. I remember several research papers that went largely ignored because of more immediate deadlines. Finally, I had to rush to complete all the work within a few days.

When you’re under pressure and short on time, mistakes are more likely to creep into your writing. It can be easy to forego editing for the sake of extra hours and making deadlines. Doing so can be a mistake because it exposes you to potentially losing points on your paper. It is possible to give quality work in a short timeframe with the help of triage editing.

            The idea behind triage editing is to get enough editing done to ensure that no big problems linger without taking up as much time. For a student, triage editing can be a time and grade saver. While it is important to plan out time for fully editing your work, triage editing makes it possible to turn in better quality papers in a time crunch. Triage editing is especially popular amongst journalists who often need to get stories published the same day. There are four major areas that you should focus on when triage editing a research paper. Each area will help you catch the most noticeable mistakes that might be lurking in your writing.

            Honestly, the best way to view triage editing is as damage control. The first step then is to assess the damage. Use both computer tools and your eyes to estimate how much editing your paper is going to need. Running a grammar and spelling checker can give you an initial idea followed by skimming the writing. As you skim for errors, listen to the flow of your words to make sure that the paper reads smoothly and clearly. Correct all mistakes as you see them. Then, you won't have to go back or risk being unable to find them again. However, don't just accept all the corrections the checkers want to make. Review each correction to ensure it is what you want and follows grammar rules.

            Once you've corrected grammar, spelling, and anything else that jumps out at you, it is best to move on to the big parts of your work. Always allot time to properly edit titles and headings. Take it from someone with experience. It is going to look bad to your professor if you manage to misspell your name on the title page of your paper. Check every heading for grammar usage, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Once you completely edit your research paper, I suggest you go back and check the headings one more time. By then, enough moments have passed that mistakes are more likely to stand out if you missed any the first time.

            The next place you should move your focus to is the extras. Extras include pictures, graphs, tables, charts, and indexes. If you have any of these in your paper, take the time to check them both for grammar and accuracy. These extras are supposed to add to your text. Any mistakes in them are not only going to defeat the purpose of their existence but possibly detract from your paper. Look at the labels, captions, page numbers, and data to ensure that everything is as it should be. If you reference any of your pictures or tables in your text, do a quick check to make sure that each reference guides the reader to the right spot.

            Finally, move on to your footnotes, endnotes, and citations. Every college student ought to know how critical reference citations can be. Colleges make sure that everyone is well-versed in what constitutes plagiarism and what the consequences will be. To avoid this troubling turn of events, devote some of your editing time to making sure that each reference is accurate, includes the necessary information, and directs readers to the correct location. Your sources are the backbone of your paper because you use them to back up your arguments. If citations are not correct, it not only creates plagiarism problems but also weakens your arguments.

           With that and a final skim to make sure all looks well; you should have a triage-edited and turn-in ready paper. It may not be as detailed as average editing, but it gets the job done. By focusing on the most important aspects of a paper and correcting the most costly mistakes, you can turn in a good quality paper despite a short deadline.