The optional IWSG question for the month: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?
Pet peeve when reading: When I read, my brain can't shut off from editing and analysing. Sometimes I just want to enjoy a good book and switch off!
Pet peeve when writing: The process of writing a novel is so slow. Why isn't this book finished already!? I could, of course, regurgitate words onto the page, but it still takes time to shape the book into the best it can be.
Pet peeve when editing: Objectifying people. In other words, the confusion over the use of 'who' and 'that' when referring to people. Hint: it should be 'who'.
Bonus peeve when editing: the massive confusion over when to use Lay, Lie, Laid. Sheesh. Look up the rule people!
Deep breath...
Okay, so what are your writing related pet peeves this month? What have you been up to this last month? Got any big plans coming to fruition? Tell me all!
Every first Wednesday of the month the members of the IWSG post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG, then please go HERE to find out more and join up.
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On August 24th at 2:00 pm EST, Chrys Fey will be participating in a LIVE YouTube interview with Evan Carmichael, an entrepreneur who she'll be interviewing about his book Your One Word and getting some great advice for IWSG members. You'll be able to watch the interview live HERE. You can set a reminder if you click on the link, or you can watch it later.The video will be uploaded in the August 30th IWSG newsletter issue.
Pic: I took the above photo of an otter at Australia Zoo.
91 comments:
Hopefully I haven't annoyed you with any of those things. Except maybe my over-slashing of passive and ly words.
Great otter shot! I otter been there, right?
We shouldn't have to have editing brain while reading published books. It's wrong that it happens :P
I'm reading a pretty famous and successful book at the moment, and noting things that critiquers have told me not to do in my own writing. Makes me feel all right about where I'm at writing-wise, really. ;)
I rarely get hung up in analyzing a book I'm reading, Lynda, unless I want to figure out how an author has done something really well. Usually the words just disappear, and I'm in my imagination when I'm reading ~ lucky I guess! Have a great day visiting everyone!
Since I have to analyze so many submissions, my brain just doesn't shut off from that mode.
Love the otter! Oh, wait until you see the next DLP cover. It's an otter. Hopefully it will be up on the site in the next day or two.
Oh yes, I wish my blank pages would fill up with words quicker and that I didn't need so many revisions.
I have the same pet peeve when I'm reading. Lately, though, I've taken to audio books so I don't have that problem and I can just sit back and enjoy.
And yes, the writing process can be terribly slow. Especially when you're a perfectionist. ;)
Hee hee, nice peevish post. A lot of the English rules don't matter any more I'm told. You'll see 'that' more than 'who' when referring to people these days...I get sick of asking my students if their character is an animal, LOL. Same with 'which' and 'that'...and a lot of rules we used to think were important. And apparently 'whom' is no longer in the English lexicon.
Sheesh. Indeed. Go figure. :-)
Yeah, pick up a dictionary or thesaurus and get those words right. Sheesh, lol.
I procrastinate writing simply because I'm so slow at it.
first owls now otters, animals are really not happy to see you, Lynda :)
That is a vicious looking otter. I'm with you about not being able to just enjoy the book when reading, but when I do then I know I've found a fantastic book.
Love the otter pic :-) I really dislike it when my inner editor decides to show up while I'm reading: it's really distracting to have errors pointed out (though it does tend to make me notice these things more in my own writing later).
I have similar problems too, especially when reading. But great to return to blogging and read your posts.
I always have to look up that lay, lie, etc rule! It just never seems to stick with me. But at least I'm aware of that so I keep the rule book handy. :)
I love writing my first draft because I don't look up the rules. But I never avoid it in the end. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I can turn it off most times, unless something is blatant. Thrown or throne for instance. Hate lay, lie and such, try to avoid it lol I know peak, peek and pique is another people screw up, I used peak for pique until recently. Always something to learn.
We share the who/that pet peeve! Drives me batty :)
I hate when my writer brain kicks me out of a story too
I hate the lay/lie rule. It really makes NO SENSE with the common flow of English. *sigh* But I digress. It's taken a long time, but I can turn of the editorial function most of the time for reading, and then I just get frustrated about poor character arcs or weak plots.
I think someone else mentioned who vs that, something I've definitely guilty of.
Completely agree with your pet peeve about the writing process being slow. It moves at a sloth-like pace for me, which is very annoying.
Cheers - Ellen
Writing books has made me a perpetual editor. I too find it annoying and wish I could just fall into a story the way I used to.
Hi,
You know you are so right about a novel writing. If I had known I would still be working on my first novel, I would have never started it. It's a good thing God didn't show me how long it would take.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia at Everything Must Change
Oh, I know!! My internal editor is so annoying, lol. It would turn off either.
Hi Lynda,
I can so relate. I RARELy enjoy reading these days for that same reason. It THRILLS me when I read a book just for the pleasure of it....
It does make it harder for me to get into a reading experience, but if I can I don't see the mistakes unless they are glaring. Great post. Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
I hear you on the editing peeves. But I think "that" is okay for a large number of people. As in, "a group that liked to knit toy poodles". As for reading, it can be hard to switch off, but the better the story is the more I can get into it!
The who/that thing majorly irritates me as well :) glad to know i'm not the only one
I think every time I use lay, lie, or laid I have to look it up. It's a mental block I tell ya.
Wow! I agree with your pet peeves. I'm always analyzing what I read any more. Which takes longer. I can never just enjoy a book. My husband's forever telling me to just read and not mark up books. And I'm extremely impatient with my writing, painstakingly so. And--yes--people are who. I can't figure out why no one knows that except us. It sure sticks in my computer keys.
All the best to you, Lynda. Thanks for sharing this with your followers.
I'm so glad I can read and enjoy a book for the story, how awful to constantly be in the editing mode. But I've met many folks who only read to edit. I read to escape.
ly words don't bother me. I think people are too sensitive over the ly words.
And lol at your otter joke.
Yep, I think we can over-analyse and become too sensitive over some of the supposed 'rules'.
My problem is that I'm an editor as well as a writer so my critical brain struggles to shut off.
I'm looking forward to seeing the next DLP cover!
Wouldn't it be lovely to have a shiny, perfect first draft?
Yeah, I have that perfectionist problem too. It's something I have to get past. Nothing is perfect.
Good peeves. I actually have the lay, lie, laid thing hanging above my desk.
Yeah, I know about 'that' and 'who' and that 'that' is seen way more often and is accepted more now. It's just one of my personal pet peeves I harbour. I'm pretty easy with the most of the other rules. For example, as I mentioned in the comments above, I really don't care about the ly words. And I'm not a fan of saying 'said' only or not tagging the dialogue at all as a rule. Readers don't care.
It's one of those vicious cycle things: we're slow at writing so we put it off, which makes us even slower.
You should see my tiger pics!!
I have cute otter shots too, but I chose that particular one for the post.
And yes!! A sign of a great book is being able to push the inner editor aside.
That inner editor makes us more aware of our own writing, which is great!! But I wish sometimes it had a switch ;)
Thanks, Carole
Which is the perfect thing to do. Occasionally I have to remind myself too.
The first draft is a wonderfully freeing experience full of creativity.
And the basic typo of though and through. There are so many!
It makes me a sad panda
I totally agree with you re the lay/lie rule, but my hubby gets it wrong on purpose just to see me squirm, lol.
Oh I get frustrated over that too. I'm kinda jealous you can switch off the inner editor most times. You lucky thing, you.
Hi Ellen, I must admit occasionally I throw in the wrong one when I'm writing a fast first draft. When I find it, I shake my head at myself.
Sometimes I can, but it's usually only with exceptional books that have completely captivated me. It's rare.
God knows what we need ;)
It's frustrating, isn't it?
Same. It's a sign of a good book when I can switch off. Unfortunately it's rare. The book I'm currently reading is absolutely wonderful but occasionally even with that one my inner editor wakes up.
Part of my problem is that I'm a slow reader so I have time to pick up on those mistakes. Makes me a good editor, unfortunately.
It's a rule that's becoming more and more accepted. It's just a personal peeve of mine. I don't like change ;)
Same!! It's heartening to know.
Same. I just want to make sure I do get it right. There is nothing wrong with looking up a grammar rule.
It's part of our blessing/curse as writers. We need to be aware of the rules to be better writers. We need to analyse other books to learn what works and what doesn't.
I try to read to escape. The best books let me escape in peace.
It's a good thing to do because I'll admit it's not an easy rule to remember.
I have the same problem with reading. And I have been known to re-write entire paragraphs so I don't have to use lie, lay, laid.
You made me smile. In my opinion, avoiding the rule is better than getting that particular rule wrong.
We have some of the same pet peeves, and my editor must hate me for lay, lie, and laid! It'll click in my head one of these days.
You have some great pet peeves. In reading I hate it when authors write characters inconsistently. All the best.
While reading, like you, I want to enjoy the book not analyze it or critique it. I want to be drawn into the story and hang on for a great ride.
Hi Lynda - trouble is .. we just note these errors and it's not easy to switch off. Love the otter - is it an it or he or a she??!! or perhaps even a 'who' ... cheers Hilary
I can relate to your pet peeve while writing. Writing does take a long time. Sometimes I wish I could stay in a more editorial mindset while reading other books. I want to learn from other writers, but once I start reading, I fall into their worlds and forget about how they're using the words. If I want to learn from other books, I have to read it a second time in order to pay attention to what the writer is doing.
Just have the rule pasted to your computer ;)
oh yes! characters need to be consistent
Exactly! And that joy of reading is what got me into writing in the first place.
The otter is an it because I have no idea if it is male or female. lol.
You lucky thing, you!!
I'm the same about how long it takes to complete a novel. Not sure how fast writers do it. They have a skill I haven't acquired.
That is one MEAN lookin' otter! Alas, I relate to the editing while reading too...especially if I know I will be leaving a review for the author. It keeps the Editing Switch to On.
LOL, I'm the same way about "who" and "that"--and always mark it when I see it. Happy August, Lyn!!!
I haven't acquired it either.
I have some cuter pics of the otter, but I thought this one was appropriate for the post.
Happy August to you too.
I loved finding out what everyone's pet peeves are when reading, writing, and editing. I can't imagine being an editor because reading would be riddled with errors a lot of the time! I look up rules all the time- even ones I think I have right. :)
~Jess
As an editor, I can confirm that problem. Good to hear you often look up the rules. It's a good habit.
I'm the same. I have a hard time with switching off my editing brain when I'm reading. Which means I often have a hard time with concentrating on a story I should be enjoying.
If I feel the editing bug when reading a book for fun, I usually put it down until I stop feeling it, otherwise I'll never enjoy the book:)
Okay, that was funny. I seriously laughed out loud on the peeves. Hilarious.
It's hard, isn't it?!
Too true! (and wise move)
Ha, thanks.
I have the same problem when I'm reading. Thanks for sharing!
www.ficklemillennial.com
Poor Lynda. I should feel your pain being a language teacher ha ha but since I'm also a historical sociolinguist (a what?), I know that language changes because people want it to change. Oh dear.... I know. I hope your in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of writing won't stop you enjoying a great book too often. Sometimes the painting is more beautiful than the paint and the techniques involved. You know what I mean.
P.S. Don't you hate dangling modifiers, as in abused participle clauses? (what?) Wink-wink!
Here's another one... Don't you just hate it when people write, "The big problem is that the art is hit and miss... literally." Literally?
It's frustrating, isn't it?
That's a joke between my hubby and me. Whenever we hear that one, we turn to each other and say, "Literally!!"
Gotta love those danglers ;)
PS I wasn't going to say anything. I constantly make mistakes even though I should know better.
And yes, I've seen language change in just the last twenty years, which in the big picture, isn't long.
I have looked up lay, laid so many times. I NEVER remember. But you are right. I need to look it up again (and again, and again!).
I'll admit I often look up the rule to make sure I'm getting it right.
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