Comments for Deanna Hoak

Comment on Copyediting compliments from Ernest Cline, author of Ready Player One by David Eubanks

David Eubanks — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:50:39 +0000

Kudos on the work for Ready Player One. I read it on my iPad, which I take just about everywhere. I started developing an itch in meetings (where I really should have been paying attention) to flip over to the Kindle app and read another chapter. As a child of the 80s, it was a hoot to remember dropping all those quarters.

Best,

dave

Comment on CMS, Novels, and Formal Writing by Gabrielle Harbowy

Gabrielle Harbowy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:12:59 +0000

As a copyeditor, I value CMS as a starting point and a base to work from. In fiction editing, especially in genre fiction where there is so much made-up worldbuilding, I also use my own judgment and work to preserve the author’s style. Where I really need it is for things like punctuation and formatting where no one’s quite sure what the rule is, and both ways look wrong. For that, it’s really helpful to have a guide to fall back on, so I can’t say that use of CMS is outdated or wrong, just that we need our employers to accept that there are exceptions.

Which is to say, I think CMS has a lot of value, but that’s because publishers give me the leeway to use my own discretion about when to follow it, as long as the author and I can back up our choices by showing how they help the integrity of the story.

Comment on CMS, Novels, and Formal Writing by AnWulf

AnWulf — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:56:20 +0000

As someone who has written research papers and legal briefs, I can tell you that there is a world of difference in the style of how they are written compared to the novel I’m writing. But we all know that that! Do we not?

As a free-speller, I do let my beta readers know which words are intentionally spelled the way that spell them. Don’t worry, I’m not too radical in my novel.

The main thing is that the story flows. I sometimes use too many “old” words and my beta readers tell me ease up on them so that they’re not running to a wordbook every other page.

Comment on CMS, Novels, and Formal Writing by Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:44:20 +0000

Don’t know much about copyediting, but what you say seems to ring true. I’d hate reading books if they were all the same. All sounds like a matter of extreme subjectivity.

Comment on CMS, Novels, and Formal Writing by INTJ

INTJ — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:40:27 +0000

Hey Deanna. I’m an INTJ too and lately have been reading a lot of Philip K. Dick. As I read this post, I thought it would really be sad if writing like his was watered down by trying to force it into adherence with some formal rules. As you say, an author’s voice, especially in a genre like sci fi, often best reveals itself in the ways that they bend the rules.

It’s interesting that as INTJ’s we both come at it that way, especially since I think a lot of people would expect INTJ’s to be perfectionistic and demand things be technically correct. But for me it’s all about the goal of the project and the goal of a sci fi book isn’t correctness, it’s to entertain, provoke thought and help the reader lose him or herself (not themselves haha) in the story.

Comment on Starting a sentence with an -ing phrase by Griffin Barber

Griffin Barber — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:22:59 +0000

Startling, this post.

Thanks.

Comment on Understanding Your Copyedited Manuscript by O How the Mighty Have Fallen: A Copyediting Homily in One Very Long Act | EMU's Debuts

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:03:47 +0000

[...] that you don’t suck, and your book will be that much better when you’re done. * Then read this. * Then, if you were given no other instructions on what the heck to do with the manuscript, keep [...]

Comment on The Importance of Style Sheets by Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:41:37 +0000

Hi Deanna,

I am enrolled in a proofreading and copyediting course. My professor recommended this particular posting since we are currently learning about style sheets.

I found your info very thorough and helpful. I have a much clearer picture of what goes into a style sheet and how they are created.

As a SF/F reader I agree with you on the point you made about style guides not always being a good fit for the genre. So is there a particular guide that lends itself to sci fi better than Chicago?

Comment on CMS, Novels, and Formal Writing by Carma Spence

Carma Spence — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:29:10 +0000

Hmmm. Interesting points. Being trained with AP Style I’ve never felt comfortable putting a comma in front on an “and” … which is about all my familiarity with CMS (which, as an acronym meant “content management system” to me at first glance). That said, I agree that fiction writing is rarely formal … unless on purpose to serve the story, so confining it to grammar indiscriminately could be detrimental to the storytelling. Then again, I’m kind of an odd puppy, so I’d take what I say with a grain of salt. :-)

Comment on Harlan-gate, and roads not taken by Why Doesn’t the 2006 Worldcon Go Away? Part 1 » Electric Velocipede

Why Doesn’t the 2006 Worldcon Go Away? Part 1 » Electric Velocipede — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:25:25 +0000

[...] been some talk about an event at the con here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. If you don’t know (or don’t want [...]