Deanna Hoak

Note: None of the below is to be taken as any indication that I don’t absolutely adore my kids. I love them dearly, but it would be nice to be able to talk openly about the challenges of being a parent working at home without the fear that you’re going to be accused of not [...]

Those of you interested in the writing process might like to check out David Louis Edelman’s post “From First to Final Draft: A Case Study,” which discusses the various drafts of his novel Infoquake.

Dave talks about the copyediting a bit in the final draft, which is linked in the post. It’s really wonderful when I [...]

Then go see this copyediting moment of the day.
:-D

I need some further information on my current project before I’m able to continue with the copyedit, so I actually have time to blog. :-)
Something that’s been on my mind lately is the issue of variant spellings, and how copyeditors decide which ones to allow.
First, I think a lot of people believe that all spellings [...]

I hadn’t read the Wikipedia article on copyediting before today. It deals rather heavily with nonfiction, which requires a very different touch than fiction, but the description noted under the heading “Traits, Skills and Training” is accurate for any good copyeditor, I think:
Besides an excellent command of the language, copy editors need a broad general [...]

The manuscript I’m currently working on is chock-full of sentences that begin with phrases using the present participle (-ing), and a lot of them read in ways the author doesn’t intend. I thought I’d offer a quick-and-dirty explanation of how to avoid some of the most common problems associated with those phrases, in case it’s [...]

I thought you all might like to read this funny copyediting story from author Elaine Cunningham.
It’s always helpful to have as many people reviewing manuscript and proof as possible.

I just got a phone call from an author whose books I normally copyedit but whose latest novel I had to turn down. He said that he’s going to request in his contract for all future books that I be hired if I’m available.
I don’t know what emotion to write about that. Proud? Touched? Happy? [...]

My husband pointed me to this very interesting thread on a gun discussion board wherein the members complain about firearm facts that authors get wrong.
I always try to verify such things when copyediting, and I know I’ve corrected the “.12-gauge shotgun” that one member mentions. :-) (I had fun in my Atlanta Nights chapter constantly [...]

I’m always really leery of talking much about writing, because, well, I haven’t had any fiction published, so I don’t know why anyone would be interested in what I have to say about it, except in the ways it relates to my job. :-) I worked on a bit of setting yesterday, though—trying just to [...]