If my mother could only see me now! Me, the grammar school student who spent her private education in the hallway (due to talking too much, imagine that!) am now teaching a course in grammar! THANKFULLY my mother, Grace McGovern was a stickler for correcting spoken grammar (so I am able to speak English fairly well) and later, when I began writing my first book, A Wise Woman, which I had no idea would become a book—it was my mother and her red pen that would correct and correct and correct each chapter by swapping manila envelopes throughout the week. I'd make her corrections, write a bit more and then give it to my mom.
Interesting to note, my Husband, is so good, so kind, that He made sure that the odds of looking good were stacked in my favor. Most, hmmm, make that ALL of the proofreading I do is proofreading for RJN "Restoration Journey Novelists" whose writing in their second language. So while proofreading and making slight corrections (not removing the flavor or authenticity of the novel's content), I'll pop over here to add anything I'm led to share so that more than just one author can benefit. Because...
It took many, many, many more editors (not just proofreaders) over the years (more than three decades) who painstakingly taught me to write better until I was told by more than one professional editor that I no longer needed an editior. Will wonders never cease?! Instead, just a proofreader to look for typos. So I trust that what I share here and also on NRPH's "NarrowRoad Publishing House" FREE Aspiring Author Seminar will encourage you to not worry about how to write because if you have the content, sharing your journey with Him, then you can learn the rest (or just let us get it to where it needs to be) in order for it to be published, hopefully by us!
Grammar that's Biblical
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
"As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" is an aphorism or saying, which appears in the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. So to make sure you're not "Like a dog that returns to its vomit" or "a fool who does the same foolish things again and again" be sure to check your work and proofread it yourself first. When a proofreaders or editors takes the time to make a correction—or she kindly explains the correction—be sure to look for the same errors and fix them. If you do, like me, you will be amazed how much better you can begin to write.
#2 Always correct your work first. As fantastic as spellcheck is, and grammar programs like Grammarly—rarely will these teach and train you to write better. sWhat my Husband led me to do was to fix the problem myself—after my editor marked it—so I could learn. In addition, before I'd turn over my next chapter to the editor, I would search for any prior corrected mistakes.
What's interesting is that I thought I was too busy or had more important things to do than reread and correct what I wrote, so for a period of time I just let others do it for me. What improved my writing and made it more powerful was writing everything down (or now voice-typing) but then going back again and again and reading it myself that really enhanced my writing.
