A couple of weeks ago I received an assignment to rewrite a couple dozen blog articles. I always find it a bit fascinating to read blog articles that I’ve been asked to rewrite. At first, I wonder why it is that they need to be rewritten. I mean, how did they come to be accepted in the first place? As well, opening each article is kind of like opening Christmas presents in some Bizzaro-World. Each one is filled with all kinds of grammatical stocking stuffers.
I need to preface things by letting you folks know that I am not the world’s best writer. Shocking, I know. For the sake of consistency, I always have a typo or two in darn near everything I write.
After completing this last batch of rewrites, I can honestly say that there must be hope for me and my writing career.
Here are a few of the things to which I was exposed:
The comma fetish – There was a writer who felt the need to use, like, commas for well, everything that could, be considered a, pause in speech. The thing is, by getting rid of the commas the prose was tighter and read better to my inner ears. If it was only a matter of style, I may have let them be. As it was, they were a major distraction so I kicked them to the curb.
Sentence fear – Oh-Em-Gee. There were and-mines everywhere. More buts than a booty convention, too. Why this fear of making a new sentence? It’s easy. At the end of a thought, hit the key with the little dot on it, thusly: . Now, spacebar, spacebar then press and hold the “shift” key as you type the first letter of a brand new, shiny sentence. Some of these run ons were so long, they ended up being parasentences or sentengraphs. Or something.
Informal tone – “Hey, Yippy-skippy here. How’d ya like to know about the seven most awesome dog polishers ever invented?” We all know that my tone on Tumblemoose tends to be a bit on the informal side but when I’m writing blog posts for others, I kick things up a bit. I’m not saying the writing needs to be stiff, I’m saying it needs to be a bit more professional.
Of coarse – Not a typo. One writer started about every third sentence with “Of course”. On occasion, in very specific circumstances this phrase may be warranted. Otherwise it comes off as condescending and arrogant. Of course, I could be wrong about this.
Cutesy cute – That simile that it took hours to come up with? Not cute. Not at all. In fact it is often distracting and amateurish. This goes back to one of the hardest things about being a good writer. Stephen King puts it best in On Writing: Kill your darlings. That’s right. That extremely clever quip or simile needs to go away. I’m talking tone and professionalism.
Format or floormat – When writing blog articles for submission to a client, simple is best. 12 point font, Times New Roman, minimal heading formatting, standard bullets and for most clients, submitting in MS Word or Open Office is expected. If you are serious as a freelance writer, suck it up and quit writing your posts in Notepad. .txt and .rtf are so Web 1.0
It was a definite challenge to bring some of the articles back from the edge of death. As with most writing assignments, I learned a great deal about myself and my writing abilities.
What say you? Have you been in the position of rewriting someone else’s work? How did it go?
I struggle sometimes with the comma and probably err on the side of not having enough. Sometimes is use a dash rather than a comma. I probably overuse that one.
One area that I get frustrated with though is the double space after a period. I have done this all my life and I know that a single space is becoming acceptable. But there are some online editors that don’t recognize the double space as a word break properly. If you double space just before the line wraps in the editor, you get the extra blank space at the beginning of the next line. Erg! [Not so much a grammar rant -- more of a tech rant]
LoneWolf´s last [type] ..Forums — Work From Home
Wolfy!
Hey, how are things? Tech rants are welcome here as well. I wonder what the definitive word is on spacing? What do you think would be the final authority? Hmmm, I’m smelling a blog post…
George
I’m currently redoing a complete website! Yikes, it’s a challenge. It’s old and outdated and full of misspelling. I sometimes struggle with keeping the original voice when I know it could be better conveyed differently.
I’m a big comma user, highly inappropriately at times, but my recent purchase of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves should help (thanks for the recommendation). I know that somewhere my old Grammar teacher is rolling in her grave.
Walker´s last [type] ..My Pile of Books Looked Lonely- So I Bought More
Walker
That sure sounds like a lot of work! Just like rewriting articles, I bet it would be easier to start and design from scratch!
Eats oughta curb that comma appetite! let me know what you think!
George
Sentengraphs…I like that! It was a dark and stormy night…
I have retrained myself to use only one space after the period with so many calling for that now.
Laura Eno´s last [type] ..Flashes in the Dark Interview Today!
Laura,
Ugh. I’d like to get my hands on the brainchild that started the whole one-space thing. For as long as I can remember submitting things, editors wanted two spaces.
I need to shoot myself with my flexibility ray.
George
Re-writes, what can I say, some I love, some I hate. The ones that tend to send shockwaves up my spine are those that I can’t make head nor tail of. What is the person trying to say? What does that sentence actually mean? I am talking about re-writing a non English speaking person’s article. These can be a real chore.
Commas are another problem but I think I am getting the hang of them. I hope so anyway.
Always a learning experience to re-write someone else’s work but not always a nice experience.
Amanda J Evans´s last [type] ..Would You Accept Less For Guaranteed Work
Hi Amanda,
You certainly tagged my feelings on the subject. I had a few head scratchers, that’s for certain. Sometimes I struggle with commas too. I try and go with the “less is more” strategy but I always reserve the right to slip a couple of them devils in there.
George
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I’m about to go on holiday so don’t have time to respond in detail, but this is my favourite Tumblemoose post ever! Awesome!
Hey Iain. Coming from a writer of your stature, that makes me feel great!
I hope you enjoy your holiday. Hoist a pint (or a cuppa) for me!
George
George,
Can I keep you?
I once thought that rewrites were easier than writing from scratch. It sounds right – the ideas and concepts are already there, you just have to find better words. Sounds like an easier task than writing from scratch – in theory.
Then I realized just how wrong my thinking was after spending an entire project rewriting what others had written – over 10k words worth of rewriting. Ugh.
Never. EVER. Again.
I could have written the text from scratch in 20 minutes per 300 word piece. Those rewrites took 30-45 minutes each.
If there is such a word as antirewriting, then that’s the camp I’m in!
Sandi,
Absolutely! I’m all yours! Antirewriting? I’m all for it. Consider me a charter member and mascot!
Ugh, that rewrite story of yours just gives me the chills!
George
This is fascinating, George!
I also have to say, while it’s not all about me, I do love commas, I love them a lot, very much, but, that said, you reminded me how annoying they can be, absolutely! (ha ha)
You are a talented bloke, Mr. Angus.
So many things to love about you, so many.
~xo
Lori´s last [type] ..LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
Hey Lori,
Thanks for the commament. Hehe. You are too clever for this ol’ guy. Thanks for the love thoughts, too. The more the merrier!
George
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