Welcome to October! How it got here so fast is beyond me. It's a month of cooler temps, crisper days, falling leaves, jackets and sweaters, and many other things. We have two photos today--one to welcome this new month and the other to show perfection in a table setting for an autumn dinner.
Why the table setting? Because it makes me think that our writing should strive for the same kind of beauty and perfection. It appears that the table is set for a special occasion meal, and the hostess wants to put her best into the setting. It's exactly what we, as writers, should do with everything we write.
If we are aiming at publication, achieving perfection in what we plan to submit is a leap forward in the publication process. Send in some slap-dash hurried writing, and you're most likely to get a rejection. Put some time and effort into creating the very best writing you can, and you're more likely to move ahead several steps in the line of submissions. Editors appreciate writing that shows the writer understands all the mechanics as well as being able to tell a story or make a statement in an essay.
How do we create a submission that is as near perfect as possible? Let me count the ways! (Shameless, I know, but it popped into my head.)
A. Make sure your tenses don't jump back and forth. Be consistent.
B. Check for spelling and punctuation errors.
C. Limit the use of adverbs. You'll end up with more telling than showing.
D. Make sure subject and verb tense are compatible.
E. Use adjectives sparingly. One or two is best--not a handful for one noun.
F. Check for clarity. What may be perfectly clear to you may not be for the reader.
G. Look for overly long sentences and revise or split into two shorter ones.
H. Make sure words and phrases are not repeated close to one another.
I. Turn passive verbs into active ones wherever possible.
J. Check to see what words can be cut.
K. Look at your opening and closing paragraphs. Are they strong?
L. Have you included sensory details? They bring life to your writing.
If you can come up with a good story or essay idea, and you go through the checklist above, you'll have a better chance for publication than the many haphazard kind of writers.
When you prepare for submission, use the same care, thought, and pride that the hostess of a beautiful table setting does. When submitting, you should send your best work. Don't be in too much of a hurry. Take the time to make your submission as perfect as possible. Not once, not twice, but every time you submit your writing for publication.
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