Typos in My Manuscript — Betrayed by My Own Body

Cheeto, the typing chimpIt’s really nice to have support when I write. My entire body supports me. My spine keeps me upright in my chair. My butt anchors me there (sometimes too long), and of course my hands and eyes connect me to my computer via the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Obviously, I could not write without the aid of my body, but sometimes it takes that support too far and ends up causing me trouble with typos. How so?

Fast typingFirst it’s my fingers. They’re very helpful. I should provide a little backstory and say that I learned to touch type in high school — home row, QWERTY, and all that. I never have to look at the keyboard to type, just keep my eyes trained on the screen and go. Because of that, I type fast, and my fingers know whole words after so much repetition. I rarely have to think about typing H-E-A-D, I just think about head and my fingers do the rest. Continue reading “Typos in My Manuscript — Betrayed by My Own Body”

Using ProWritingAid to Become a Better Writer

ProWritingAid_-_Writing_Improvement_&_Editing_Software_-_2015-09-08_09.06.51In this snippet of overheard conversation, the Mentor runs the Student Writer through the process of using ProWritingAid, one of many editing software programs available on the market. As with all these programs, the Student Writer finds the process tedious and repetitive, but the Mentor draws his attention to how much his writing will be improved by the end of the process. Let’s listen as the Mentor starts off…

…okay. You’re going to try ProWritingAid. Let’s upload the first chapter of the Great Canadian Novel and see what the computer has to say about it. Continue reading “Using ProWritingAid to Become a Better Writer”

An Interview with Indie Author Martin Crosbie

indie author interview with Martin CrosbieAuthors are known for talking to themselves – and now, yes, even interviewing themselves. Martin Crosbie interviews Martin Crosbie on self-publishing, Amazon, and the evolution of indie author books.

Martin,

Yes, Martin?

You self-published your first book in 2011. What’s been the most significant change in Indie publishing since then? Continue reading “An Interview with Indie Author Martin Crosbie”