HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of our INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. Feel free to print these posts to use as a reference. Pass the links along to your writer friends. It’s packed with great information this month. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!

In This Issue:

* * We'll help you clear up confusion in IT’S vs. ITS and THAT vs. WHICH.

* * Use our teaser to get you writing in THIS ISSUE’S WRITING PROMPT.

* * Avoid wordiness, biased language, shifting tenses, and comma splicing. Read KEEPING YOUR READER HAPPY.

* * We’re giving away a FREE REPORT that outlines industry-standard Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines when you order our E-book entitled REJOICE IN REJECTION.

* * LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book.

* * The majority of Writer's Relief clients have their work accepted for publication. If you've already had your work accepted for publication or are waiting for your first acceptance, brag to your friends by purchasing our writers T-shirts.

* * If you need help PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT (formatting and/or proofreading), find out how to get a quote.

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, and WRITING CONTESTS. 

↓ Scroll Down to Read These Exciting and Useful Articles!! ↓

When editing your novel, short story, poetry, or essay, keep a sharp eye out for these tricky little grammatical errors that can crop up in nearly every writer’s work at some point. Should you write its or it’s? That or Which? Avoid grammatical errors by knowing the rules!

Its or It’s? What’s the difference between it’s and its?

It’s is a contraction of it and is.

I’m not sure if it’s going to be a success.

Its is possessive and shows ownership.

When bathing a dog, avoid getting water in its face until the end of the bath.

Remember, "it’s" never means anything else but "it is" or "it has."

For "its," try substituting "his"— if it doesn’t make sense, it should be "it’s."

That or Which? What’s the difference between that or which?

Compare the following sentences:

We need to get the lawnmower that is in the garage.

We need the lawnmower, which is in the garage.

Here’s the rule: Use which for a nonrestrictive clause and that for a restrictive one.

For sentence #1, we are looking for the lawnmower that is in the garage, not the lawnmower in the garden shed or at the neighbor’s. Our choice is restricted to the lawnmower in the garage. The "that" clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

In sentence #2, we need the lawnmower, and by the way, it’s located in the garage. The "which" clause is much like an aside—it adds more information but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Another rule for punctuating sentences that use that or which: Always use a comma to set off a nonrestrictive clause (which), and don’t use a comma if the clause is restrictive (that).

A few more examples:

He served her a slice a pizza, which she quickly devoured.

She chose the slice of pizza that had pepperoni.

I bought my music from Best Buy, which is my favorite CD retailer.

The music that I download legally is from Emusic.com.

The car that is covered in racing stripes has just come in first.

The car, which is covered in racing stripes, has just come in first.

These are just two of the grammatical errors the proofreaders at Writer’s Relief look for when giving our clients’ work a final once-over. Get an advantage over the competition and make sure your submissions are professional and polished!

Recall some of your memorable moments at an amusement park. Then write everything you can about one moment that particularly strikes you, and focus on the surroundings in that memory. Who were you with? How was the weather? How was your first time on a roller coaster? Did you find love in line at the Ferris wheel? Be spontaneous in your writing; you can always revisit and revise these memories later, working toward your next personal essay.

As much as writing is a part of our soul, our personal expression, when we’re trying to sell our creative writing, we must keep in mind that we’re writing for an audience. And today’s audience can be tough to please.

When editing or revising your short story, poem, novel, or essay, consider your reader. Is the piece wordy, confusing, or filled with sexist language? Do you overuse certain words or phrases? Do you tell rather than show? It’s worth a second look to make sure you’re keeping your reader interested and happy.

Five Things to Avoid:

1. Extraneous dialogue

"So, would you like to use our telephone?"

"Yes, please."

"I’ll find it for you."

"Thank you."

"Oh, here it is."

"Great."

"Do you need a phone book?"

The trivial interchange above may be an extreme example, but it illustrates dialogue that does not influence the plot or define the characters. It provides nothing but filler, and it’s monotonous and meaningless.

What reader wants to relive all the trivial moments of life? Don’t we pick up creative writing in the hopes of being transported—riveted by new experiences and interesting characters? A great short story or poem can help us escape the mundane parts of our lives and experience a new point of view.

2. Wordiness

I, myself, have not decided what to do in the event that I don’t graduate this year. Perhaps I could utilize my parents’ connections to secure a job, like many individuals before me have done.

Today’s reading audience appreciates a straightforward read. They’re busy, and they want concise, economical language. Why use the word "utilize" when you can say "use"? Or "in the event of" when you can say "if"? And save the "myself" and "individuals" for police reports…

3. Sexually or racially biased language

The serving girl arrived with Cokes for the lady doctor and the Oriental gentleman.

Someone is bound to be offended by this sentence.

4. Shifting verb tenses

It had been awhile since Sarah saw Bruce, and she is in love with him. They will have been a couple for two years now if it weren’t for their three-month separation.

Confusing? Yes. Irritating? Extremely.

5. Comma splicing

There was a lovely fragrance in the air, she was so taken by the local flora that she vowed to make a stop at the garden center before leaving town.

Make these two separate sentences, or add a conjunction to join them. Please. (Also see Sentence Spoilers: Fragments and Run-on Sentences.)

Finally, keep your reader in mind at all times. Have others read your work, and consider their comments carefully. And if you need a second (or third) opinion, have one of the proofreaders at Writer’s Relief take a final look at your writing. We’re here to help!

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests.