I'm pretty much the "Grammar Police" in my crit group because I don't have much trouble remembering the rules. However, we just saw an influx of new members. When I crit them, I'm finding it takes me five times longer than usual, and I have to look things up. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that we have new members, but dang ... does anyone know if you have to italicize "bourgeois" in narrative? It's a French word, but has it become so well known that it doesn't need to be italicized? Some French words we don't italicize are naivete and fiance. Others must be italicized, like bon voyage and déjà vu (even though we know what they mean, French or not). I must have spent half an hour looking online for the answer ... I still don't know.
CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS
This week I'm celebrating:
1) Despite my grumbling above, I'm thrilled to have new members in my crit group! Most of the old members have published books in the past year and promotion has sucked a lot of our time. We weren't writing or critting as much as we used to, and the group was getting a little stale. Teaching new members the ropes is exciting!
2) I finished all of my A-Z Challenge posts! Yippie!
3) I was interviewed by a fellow MuseItUp author, Stuart West, here: Cutting Up and Cutting Souls With Lexa Cain. Please come say "Hi!"
4) Since I finished my A-Z posts and I'm no longer drugged with dental painkillers, I'll be going back to my WIP soon. Yay? I'm a little excited but a little scared too... What if I can't whip the thing into shape? What if it just won't get better? WHAT IF I SUCK???
Does your WIP sometimes worry you? Do you think you may not be good enough to fix it?
This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful for that week. It can be about writing or family or school or general life. This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever!
42 comments:
Words that have been adopted by the English language (i.e. fiancé) need no italicization while they are being used in an all English work.
Oh, and ancient grammar rocks!
I always worry my drafts suck and that I have no abilty to fix them, but then I jump in and take it one bit at a time, plus I have some pretty awesome CPs (wink wink) who help make it shine:)
My WIPs always worry me. Every time I start revising, I'm convinced I'm making a pile of poop into a mountain of crap. Luckily I have awesome CPs who can talk me off the ledge when I'm about to toss the whole thing into the ocean.
LOL, those comics are a lot of fun!
And I can relate to all the WIP worry. I never feel like anything I make is good. Hopefully your own worries won't overwhelm you too much so you can get a lot accomplished!
Sorry, Lexa, it's been ages since I stopped by here! I'm pretty confident with my grammar knowledge, but every so often someone will ask me a question that I have no idea about - if in doubt, make it up!
I always have those questions about my WIP, you just have to have faith that it'll come together in the end. And, actually, you're doing better than me, I don't even have a WIP at the moment. I'm WIPless :-(
Congrats on everything! Yes, my WIP does worry me. I think it's going well, so far, though. It's kind of hard not to worry at least a little bit about your own story. ;)
BTW, is there a week off happening with this blog hop this week? It looks like it to me, but I could be wrong.
Your cartoons crackled me up! I think all writers worry over their wips. I'm at Z for my Challenge posts...Have a great weekend.
I meant to say cracked me up...duh! And congrats on getting all your challenge posts done!
There is no grammar involved in the most common writing today, which is texting. That is probably why the younger generation loves it.
I love the cartoons.
Yay, lots of good news. Glad you're all set for the A to Z Challenge. That's a huge undertaking. And your comics cracked me up. :)
Lots of things for you to celebrate this time, Lexa. Good job. Hope you enjoy the weekend. Glad your dental issues are gone.
That's a good question - I'd have to do some research or ask someone I thought would know.
Love the grammar cartoons - too funny lol.
Yay for new crit members. Congrats on finishing your A-Z challenge. And yes, my WIP sucks, and I just have to keep trying. Have a super weekend.
Funny funny cartoons.
I don't know the answer to your question. My inclination is to say "no," because I think it is fairly commonly used in English. But, maybe not. Yeah, that didn't help at all.
And I worry constantly that my WiP sucks. And some of it, quite frankly, does!
Congratulations on finishing your A to Z posts. It must feel good. I take it that since you don't need the painkillers that your tooth is feeling better.
Hahhahahahaha I love those ancient grammar police cartoons!
Yay? Indeed...I had to take a break a few days and I have to start on mine today again, so yeah...
Glad you go your A-Z posts all finished and will check out the interview ;)
Great cartoons and awesome stuff to celebrate this week! I constantly think my wips suck and I'm not intelligent enough to fix them. Is that wrong? 'Cause it's my normal. Just sayin'.
I keep struggling with my manuscript. It's a collection of short stories from my childhood but I want to market it as a memoir. I keep trying to inject an arc into it and a satisfying conclusion without resorting to pure fiction. I'll work it out one of these days, hopefully soon.
Thanks! I needed that! Busting a gut over here, and still working on my A - Z posts. At least the 1st half of the month is done :) Good for you finishing yours!
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
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Love those comics. Do I worry about my WIP? All the time. Nothing to do but keep at it.
Love the cartoons! And the italic thing is just one of many reasons I couldn't be a copyeditor.
Happy Weekend!
Yay for finishing your A-Z posts and the interview. Good luck with your WIP! Worrying could be a a good thing (mostly ... if it doesn't kill us LOL). Have a great weekend!
WiPs always worry me. I'm glad you're feeling better!
Ha! Loved the comics, especially the first one. On my way to say 'hi!'.
I'll check out the interview.
I'm a WIP worrier.
I love the comics.
There are all kinds of goofy rules of editing I can't learn, and don't know if I could even try. And every publishing house has its house rules. In the copy-editing of my most recent manuscript, I was astonished by the editor separating compound words and creating compound words where I had written them separately. And she stuck hyphens in where I had none, and took out any I'd put in myself. Basically, whatever I wrote, it was wrong! :D
Those comics are great and I'm also a part of the grammar police. I actually took the "Grammar Warrior" challenge you have in your sidebar - and was totally offended when I "only" got 80% (in English grammar) and got the patronizing answer: If your native language isn't English this is a very good score. Bah! I wanted a perfect score! :)
I have to say I need to brush up on grammar. Those Egyptian cartoons are hilarious.
My WIP sucks. I just gave up on it and started a new one from scratch. Ugh.
I love the comics, thanks. My WIP worries me all the time, especially if I go back an read it. Congrats on finishing our AtoZ, I am nearly done. Keeps me busy and away from my WIP, but I did finally get my celebrate post out :)
I laughed aloud at the second graphic, though I think it's the perfect end to a sentence.
You don't suck, Lexa. You just don't. But I'm frozen by fear I won't be able to give my draft the overhaul it needs. So I feel your angst.
Looking forward to your alpha-posts.
xoRobyn
OMG LOOL! I love the first comic the most, made me giggle.
Thanks for sharing! <33
Those comics are great.
I'd say if you can't find where to italicize or not, leave it up to the publisher to decide. A submission isn't going to be rejected because something was incorrectly italicized. ;)
Yes, I worry every time I start a new book. I always question myself. I have to get to the point where the characters take over and have me typing so quickly that I don't have time to question myself.
Great comics -- I'm a bit of a grammar cop myself (by profession), so I need to turn off my internal editor when I'm drafting. I have no idea about those French words; probably fine either way? Good luck with your WIP, and don't let any stinkin' thinkin' interfere with your masterpiece.
Love the comics, especially the grammar police LOL. Congrats on finishing your A-Z posts! I've been having the same thoughts about my WIP - what if I can't get it whipped into shape, etc. Here's to both of us banishing those doubts. See you Tuesday for the letter A! :)
Okay...LOVED the comics. I'm a Far Side freak (I know these weren't him) and these were along the same vein.
I've seen bourgeois non-italicized in many works, but it is something to ponder, yes? And I'm soooo happy for you for finishing the A-Z beforehand! I pulled out because I wasn't able to get it going this year and April is proving to be a busy month offline. Ahh...maybe next year.
New blood in the crit group. Great! Looks like the necessary things are being put in your path to continue doing the good work you've been putting out there. Congrats, Lexa!
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What hilarious comics! I have a good crit group right now. With that in place, I feel much more comfortable.
Great comics, Lexa. I especially enjoyed the second one, lol. The only time I worry about my WIP is when I've strayed several days from it. Working with both children's books and adult fiction can be hard to juggle at times. I try my best to stay focused and never go more than a few days without at least getting some editing or words in.
Good luck with your WIP! I'm sure you will do just fine! Will be stopping by to check out some of your A-Z posts=) Happy Monday!
Those comments are great! XD I'm the grammar police in my crit group too!
You finished your posts! Crap. I always feel SO behind when I hear that.
Good for you! Glad you're not drugged anymore and YOU DON'T SUCK!
Don't worry about visiting for April (Thanks for including me in your 'friend's blogs' statement!)
We will catch up in May! Go WRITE!
Heather
For the grammar tip, I've learned recently that if a foreign word has become well-known, then it doesn't need to be italicized. I would say that would even apply to deja vu and bon voyage. Of course, the key with anything is being consistent on the "to italicize or not to italicize."
I understand the worry about WIP. I sometimes feel that way about books as they are published or near publication as well as WIP. The worry can be good, though. If we are concerned, then we'll be more likely to pick up on things that are wrong with the manuscript and think of ways to fix them. If we think it's the greatest thing ever written, then we're less likely to push ourselves in creating a better manuscript.
I do worry sometimes about my WIP. I think it natural to have these worries, though. Just as long as they don't consume us. Have a great week!
No wonder some of the pyramids are bent--they laughed too hard at your jokes!
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