Windy City Romance Writers Present
Blowing Kisses
By Jerilyn Willin
Less than sixty days to San Francisco!
Perhaps this is your first RWA conference, or your first agent/editor appointment, or your first book signing where (Lord have mercy!) you are the author not the fan. Whatever the situation, coming across confident and professional is the goal. You want to be remembered for your grace, not your gaffes.
Where to start? Start at the seat of your power. Start with yourself. Confidence and professionalism doesn't begin with how many books you've written or what you do to earn a paycheck. Confidence lives inside us- in our head and heart. What a gift. For if something comes from within, we have choice about it. No matter what goes on outside, what is inside determines how we react to ity, how we respond. You can forget the name of your manuscript, trip on your way to accepting the Golden Heart or spill your water at the toney Fisherman's Wharf restaurant and still respond with grace.
Two keys to a confident and professional demeanor are communication and presence. Read on to take a closer look at each and pick up a few easy-to-use techniques.
To paraphrase Shakespeare (and quote author Liliane Bjorseth), "To be or not to be is not the question, but rather to be is to communicate; there is no question."
Communication affects every aspect of our lives. We communicate by our very existence. This is why "presence" is so important. Our mothers told the truth when they said "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." The success or failure of any interpersonal encounter begins the moment a person sees you--before you say a word.
We communicate three ways: through our words, our tone, and our body language. Of these three, body language, our non-verbals are the most powerful. They communicate our "presence". Presence is the combination of appearance and behavior. Let me share an example.
My father was a very shy man. While funny and animated with his family, when he met someone new, he was often t a loss for conversation. However, he was blessed with a 6' stature, broad shoulders and a shock of white hair. That was his appearance. He learned early on to always wear a tie (it was a different time then), have a strong handshake, look directly into the eyes of the person he was meeting and repeat their name before saying his own. The combination of how he looked, and his behavior on meeting someone gave him a "refined and dignified" presence. Had he slouched, looked down, or mumbled when he met someone new the impression would have been quite different.
Posture and handshakes
One of the first ways we communicate is through our posture. Do you enter a room with your head high, shoulders back/chest out, and stomach in? Do you walk with the sense of "I belong here"? Or do you creep in, try to make yourself small and unnoticed ala Dickens' Uriah Heep? What impression does your entrance make?
What's shakin' handshake-wise? When you grasp someone's hand in greeting do you go web-to-web and give the hand a firm squeeze? A firm handshake sends a confident message of "It's good to meet you." Too many women do the limp fish routine, simply placing their hand in the hand of the other person. Ick! Too many men try to grasp just a woman's fingers, not allowing her the full shake. Get in there! Web-to-web. Practice until you do it without thinking.
Eye Contact
Eye contact is another non-verbal which communicates confidence and professionalism. While you are shaking the person's hand, look ‘em right in the eye. Smile. Focus on making them feel comfortable and you will stop obsessing about how uncomfortable you might feel. Remember, in the immortal words of Billy Crystal as Fernando Lamas, "It's how you look dahling, not how you feel."
Here are two more things about eye contact. Ever had someone say good-bye to you and already their eyes are scanning the other people in the room over your shoulder? Feels like they have lost interest and are looking for someone else before you have even left! You never want to leave someone feeling like that. When saying good-bye, look the other person in the eye until you are ready to move away.
Secondly, women often make eye contact with a man while he is talking, then look down or away when they are talking to him. Maybe it is a carry-over from early messages we got about "not coming on too strong." Put those old messages on a shelf. Eye contact says confidence. It communicates sincerity and "take me seriously."
Our Words.
While our words convey the least information of our message (7% as opposed to 58% for body language), what we say does send a message. Women often diminish what they say by adding pre-ambles. For example: "You may have already heard a pitch like mine, but..." versus "Lucinda Crawford kicks butt regardless of who it belongs to until she meets Mangus Jones." Direct, to the point, confident. Who cares what the agent has heard before? Yours is the one she's listening to now. Make her want it!
Words that make our message (and consequently us) sound weak are:
- just = I just wanted to say thank you
- moment = I just need a moment of your time.
- little = to demonstrate, I'm going to ask you to complete a little exercise.
- only = I only have one thing to say.
- tags = We should have had the report by this time, don't you think?
BE DIRECT
- Thank you.
- I need a few minutes of your time.
- The next exercise demonstrates my point.
- I have one thing to say.
- We should have the report by now.
Confidence and professionalism begin with you, in your heart and your head. If your heart is saying "yes, but this (presentation, conference, meeting) makes me really nervous" work with your head. Use the tips suggested here. Practice the handshake and the eye contact. Walk with your head held high. Get there early and greet the other people who arrive after you as if you were the host. When your heart feels the success your head has brought you it will follow and you will fly.
Jerilyn Willin is a performance consultant, career strategies coach, and professional speaker. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist. Jerilyn is available as a paid speaker to professional organizations and for corporate events. Please visit her website or e-mail her at jerilyn@jwillinconsulting.com
About Windy City
2008 Officers
| President |
Denise Swanson |
| Vice President |
Kelle Z. Riley |
| Secretary |
Sherry Weddle |
| Treasurer |
Tracey Smith |
| Programs |
Terri Stone |
| Membership |
Chris Foutris |
| Critiques |
Jackie Powers |
| Librarian and Chapter Advisor |
Cathie Linz |
| Contest |
Wendy Byrne |
| Historian |
Sharon Nelson |
| Newsletter |
Fredericka Meiners |
Meetings
Windy City meets for a general business meeting and program from 7-9:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. unless otherwise specified. Critique sessions are at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Lisle Library, 777 Front St.
Visit our website at: www.WindyCityRWA.com
Blowing Kisses
Blowing Kisses is published semiannually and is the official publication of Windy City Romance Writers, Chapter 104.
Articles may be reprinted by other RWA® chapters and should be attributed to the author and Windy City.
E-mail questions to: fameiners@msn.com
President's Message
RWA: The Rewards of Networking
It’s hard to believe I’ve been president of the chapter five months. In some ways, it seems as if I just took office, and in others, it feels as if I’ve been doing this forever. My first months on the job were taken up with revising the chapter bylaws, getting National to okay the revisions, and holding the members’ vote. Next, was completing the paperwork for the chapter to remain in good standing with National and making sure our dues were sent in on time. Meanwhile, there was our contest and our Romance Appreciation Dinner to oversee. Now that those housekeeping tasks are finished, I hope to be able to concentrate on the goals the board and I talked about in our first meeting.
Our primary goal was twofold, to retain the new members, and encourage the long-standing members to attend more meetings. We knew that the key to this goal was outreach and programming. With that in mind, I set an individual objective to e-mail all members each month with a personal invitation to attend the upcoming meeting.
Our first crisis was losing our programming chair for several months. It was extremely disappointing to me that no one felt able to volunteer for this position. But at our April meeting Terri Stone agreed to become the chair. Thank you, Terri!
Other goals that we are still working on include:
- A new design for the website that will allow it to be kept more current.
- Improve the critique night experience (do we need to change it, drop it, or have it less frequently).
- Revamp our brochure.
- Discover ways to encourage more people to volunteer.
Our past presidents are tough acts to follow, and my personal goal is to be as good as any one of them were.
Denise
Blowin' In The Wind
Windy City’s RITA Finalists!
2008 RITA for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
Blame It On Cupid by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN
2008 RITA for Best Romance Novella
“Born in My Heart” in Like Mother, Like Daughter by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT
2008 RITA for Young Adult
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Llewellyn Worldwide, Flux
Good Luck, we’ll be cheering for you at the conference in San Francisco.
Windy City Member Named RWA Librarian of the Year
Susan R. Gibberman, Head of Reader Services at the Schaumburg Township District Library in Northwest suburban Chicago, was named RWA Librarian of the Year in 2008.
Our own Susan and her friend, Pippin.
Contest Winners
Kiss of Death RWA Daphne Contest
Two of our published members have finals in the historical romantic suspense category:
Jenna Petersen for Desire Never Dies
Melody Thomas for Wild and Wicked in Scotland
First Coast RWA Beacon Contest
Historical / Traditional Regency:
The Harlot's Daughter by Blythe Gifford
Seduction is Forever by Jenna Petersen
Wild and Wicked in Scotland by Melody Thomas
Paranormal:
Do You Believe In Magic? By Ann Macela
Jesse Petersen/Jenna Petersen/Jess Michaels is making finals all over the place:
Everything Forbidden won the Erotic Category of the From the Heart RWA Lories and is a finalist for overall Best Book.
Everything Forbidden finaled in the Detroit RWA Booksellers Best Contest, the Orange County RWA Bookbuyers Best Contest, and the Southern Magic RWA Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence .
Seduction Is Forever finaled in the Detroit RWA Booksellers Best Contest.
Desire Never Dies finaled in the Orange Country RWA Bookbuyers Best Contest.
Luisa Buehler won the Love is Murder Readers Choice Award for Best Traditional Amateur Sleuth.
Adrienne Maynard’s romantic suspense manuscript, “Pressing Matters,” is a finalist in the Southern Magic RWA Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contest.
Jackie Powers’ manuscript, “Her Harem’s Challenge,” came in second in the erotic category of Romance Writers Ink’s Where The Magic Begins Contest.
Sales, Contracts, Reviews & Hot TidBits
Keena Lykins sold her second book, “The Art Of Love,” to The Wild Rose Press last week. It's a full-length historical set in 12th century Paris. It's the story of Abelard and Heloise—the way it should have been.
The Critic by Dyanne Davis received 4½ stars in Affaire de Coeur and also in Romantic Times. Dyanne was also a finalist for Author Of The Year for Romance Slam Jam.
Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry by Denise Swanson received a very favorable review in the
Chicago Tribune.
Julie Wachowski’s debut erotic short story, "The Queen's Tale" (written as Grace d'Otare), went live on the eHarlequin website and is available for download. Www.spicebriefs.com
Marie Donovan reports Bare Necessities from Harlequin Blaze is currently available in paperback, e-book and downloadable audiobook. She is currently writing a title for the "Lust in Translation" mini-series called My Sexy Greek Summer. Her first book came out in Germany last spring under the title, Cool Marble, Hot Skin and in Greek as well under the title Naked Model.
Allie Pleiter, whose new historical, Masked By Moonlight, comes out this month has added a new feature to her website. If you click on the link next to the bookcover, you can hear Allie reading Chapter One to you. Www.alliepleiter.com
Wendy Byrne reports that Love Stories Magazine has accepted her short story, “Trapped.”
Northern Illinois Librarian of the Year
We are pleased to announce that this year's Northern Illinois Librarian of the Year is Margie Nolan,
Library Director, Seneca Public Library in Seneca IL and was nominated by Windy City member Shelly Tracy.
Attending RWA National 2007
By Adrienne Maynard
Attending the 2007 RWA conference for the first time proved to be a fun, worthwhile and exhausting endeavor. I knew from past experience with large newspaper industry conferences that it would be a chaotic few days, so I approached it with the precision of a military analyst planning a mission.
Before even looking at the schedule of events I thought about what I wanted to accomplish during the conference. It’s a big investment and I didn’t want hard earned money wasted. I went with the keep-it-simple-stupid theory. I knew enough not to expect to come back with a publishing contract in hand, but I had a manuscript to market and the only way to do that was to talk to people. I also knew the week would be jam packed and I had to keep my list of goals reasonable. I wouldn’t have time to accomplish ten big things and still enjoy myself.
I wrote down my potential conference goals and placed them in order of importance. When reviewing the list I realized every item revolved around making contact with the agents and editors on my target list. My number one goal became obvious: I had to meet or at least attend a workshop given by the ten agents and editors on my target list. And, considering the amount of workshops being offered, the goal was attainable. I then went through the schedule of events and highlighted all the workshops where one of my “targets” would be presenting. Lucky for me, many of the targets were giving multiple presentations and I had ample opportunity to meet them.
Before I even stepped off the plane, I had a general idea of which workshops I needed to attend in order to achieve my goal and the strategy turned out to be a good one. While at the conference some of my target agents came off the list for various reasons, but I also added a few, which was a nice surprise. As a result of this prep-work I was able to meet or at least see everyone on my target list in action.
I came home and started the query process with more knowledge and confidence than I had imagined. All because I set and achieved my goal at the conference. I was pleasantly surprised when I received requests for two partials and a full from the top three agents on my list. I honestly believe this was a result of meeting these people, hearing what they wanted and reminding them we’d met at the conference.
For anyone attending the conference for the first time, or even for those who’ve attended before, I offer this advice:
- Expect to have fun, but treat it like the business environment it is. The opportunities to meet someone who could change your life are endless.
- Set a reasonable goal and you won’t be disappointed at the end of the conference.
- Read the conference program ahead of time and have a loose idea of which workshops you’d like to attend.
- Have a backup plan if you find the two workshops you most want to see are at the same time. Is one being offered on the conference tapes? Do you know someone attending one of the workshops and can borrow notes?
- Always be prepared to pitch your work. You never know when you’ll be waiting in line for coffee with an agent or editor next to you. They might just ask what you’re working on.
- Soak it up. Enjoy meeting Suzanne Brockmann and Nora Roberts and being a little starstruck because, hey, that doesn’t happen every day.
Most of all, pat yourself on the back because, by attending the conference, you’ve taken a big step in advancing your career. And at the end of the day that’s what I hope for.
How to be an Overnight Success in Just Fifteen Short Years
By Blythe Gifford
They say if you stay in this business long enough, everything happens to you.
I guess I’ve stayed around long enough for the really good stuff to happen.
During Thanksgiving week, I got a three book contract offer from an editor who loves my work and I got a dream agent, all in a matter of days. Just like magic, I was an “overnight success.”
As any long time chapter member knows, it only looks that way.
Flashback: Ten months earlier. I don’t look so successful. After nearly fifteen years of writing, I’m well on the way to becoming a one-book wonder.
I haven’t sold a book in almost five years.
I don’t have an official editor.
I’ve been turned down by so many agents it’s become a running gag.
I’ve had manuscripts rejected by nearly half a dozen editors in as many publishing houses.
What happened in less than a year to change all that?
Well, it wasn’t what happened this year that made the difference. It was what had happened during the previous five years since I made my first sale.
First, I kept writing. Every day I showed up at the computer and worked on a book.
Don’t let me make this sound effortless. There were some difficult years. Some days, the only reason I got out of bed was because I believed I had stories to tell that nobody else could. (See delusional positive attitude, below.)
I always tell people, if you can quit, do. I couldn’t. I tried going on hiatus once or twice. I always came back.
And that meant that when the time came, I had completed manuscripts to sell.
Second, I wrote what I write, not what I thought the market would buy. Some people are versatile enough to write in many genres. I do not have that skill. I know what I write and why I write it. I just had to wait for angsty historicals to come back into style.
Third, I stayed professional. I went to Conference every year, met with and submitted to editors and agents, gave programs, brought my own books to the Literacy Signing, and generally stayed engaged with the industry.
It would have been easier (and cheaper) to say I didn’t “deserve” to go because I didn’t have a current release. But acting outwardly like a selling writer helped me inwardly. And I made many contacts and friends during these years, as well.
Finally, I kept myself surrounded by positive people and attitudes. My chapter and the individuals in it were a great help. They supported my delusion that I was a good writer and would (eventually) sell again.
Staying positive and having faith that “all will work out for the best” is not just a good career move because you seem like a Nice Person or because it is The Secret. It’s a good career move because it keeps you doing the things you need to do to HAVE a career.
We’re all delusional. If we didn’t think we had something unique to say that would allow us to prosper as a published writer, we wouldn’t even try. That delusion kept me doing items one, two, and three, even though I didn’t, at the moment, even have a career, or, at least, not the career I wanted.
But the attitude is about more than that. I also, eventually, developed my own confidence in my work. I still don’t like rejections or bad reviews, but they no longer throw me into months of doubt about whether I am worthy. That calm center of certainty is the most valuable thing I’ve gained. It’s a skill I expect I’ll need in the future.
Continuing to write, my choice of what to write, staying professional and positive: those four things I could control.
I couldn’t control market trends, publisher business decisions, whether a particular agent or editor liked my book or, even if she did, was in a position to acquire it. But when, finally, those things started working for me, rather than against me, I was ready for the “luck.”
Early in the year, I submitted a manuscript to my newly assigned editor and she bought the book. Not only did she buy the book, but she published it quickly and it got lovely reviews.
She wanted to see more.
I sent her more.
But this time, she didn’t snap up the manuscript. She wanted to see revisions.
A five page letter’s worth of revisions.
Despite having sold two books, I had never done revisions for an editor before. But I figured if I was going to be a working writer, I’d better learn.
So I did not panic (much). I buckled down with a positive attitude to make major improvements (and they really were) to the manuscript.
I went to a writers retreat to work on them and as I sat there, day after day, just writing, I had to ask myself. Could I do this all the time?
This is not a light question. For fifteen years, even though I’ve been professional about my work, I’ve been able to write what and when I wanted without deadlines.
The writing life looks romantic from the outside: sit in your bunny slippers and take dictation from the Universe. The reality is that facing the page day after day isn’t easy. Like any job, it can be tedious and frustrating. I’ve always been a business woman, accustomed to lots of interaction and teamwork in my job. Could I be happy writing full time?
As I sat and wrote and revised all day, every day, I decided yes. I could.
Two weeks after I got home, I brought four boxes of chocolate to share at a Chicago-North meeting: one for each book sold and one for the new agent.
I realize now that if some evil fairy had dumped a three book contract in the middle of my lap a few years ago, I would have laughed hysterically and told her to take a number. This year, the variety of personal issues I’d grappled with had subsided. I’d survived them all and was still writing.
My life, my mind, my work were ready when the opportunity came.
Is this the end of the road? Hardly. And because I’m on the mountain top today doesn’t mean there won’t be ravines to come. Few professions are less certain. I’m still not a full-time writer. And I still have a couple of negative tapes in my head I need to erase.
But I plan to be in this business long enough to enjoy the next mountaintop, when it comes, just as much as I’ve relished this one.
Blythe Gifford’s next book, Innocence Unveiled, is a Harlequin Historical release in June 2008. Visit her at www.blythegifford.com.
RWA National
The Voice of Romantic Fiction
If you haven’t checked out the RWA National website lately, you might want to take a look: www.rwanational.org
There’s a wealth of information on the organization and the industry, agents and publishers, and professional relations. Special sections include those for PAN and PRO members.
If you are giving a talk about romance, be sure to check out the section on sales and statistics.
For you shopaholics, there’s even a store offering booklets and conference handouts.
You can also read theRomance Writers Report magazine online.
The Windy City Bookshelf
Innocence Unveiled
Blythe Gifford
Harlequin Historical
June 2008
ISBN 0373295022
He is a man of secrets.
When a mysterious, seductive trader arrives at her door, noblewoman Katrine de Gravere
reluctantly agrees to give him shelter. The payment—enough wool to keep her precious looms filled.
She is a woman of lies.
Sleeping under the same roof, tempted every minute to let his fingers linger on this flame-haired, reserved innocent, Renard wonders if she suspects his real reasons for being there. In a town where no one feels safe, Katrine makes him yearn for things long forbidden, but can he trust her not to betray him?
Lessons From A Courtesan
Jenna Petersen
Avon
July 2008
ISBN 978-0061138140
Lesson #1: Every man loves a mystery.
A scandalous siren called "Ria" has electrified the ton. Every gentleman desires her; every woman envies her. And they are all desperate to know the secrets of the tantalizing, seductively beautiful courtesan. All except Justin, the Earl of Baybary. He knows all about Ria. He learned every inch of her tender skin, every taste of her luscious lips . . . on their wedding night.
Lesson #2: No man can make you lose control . . . unless you let him.
Though theirs was an arranged marriage, Victoria surrendered to passion and gave herself to Justin completely. When he left her alone the next morning, she swore she would never again let him into her bed. Now, she enjoys tormenting Justin, letting him see the way other men lust for her. But keeping herself from him is such exquisite torture . . . and forgiveness will lead to an ecstasy unbelievably divine.
Passion and Pleasure In London
Melody Thomas
Avon
August 2008
ISBN 978-0061470936
Can two people rediscover their passion for life in the love they have for each other?
Winter Ashburn was once the toast of the ton, but now she skirts the margins of high society by stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Her latest mark is none other than Rory Jameson, the rake who dared mistake her for a lady of the evening. Winter has stolen from her fair share of scandalously handsome men in the past . . . so why does her heart beat faster as she approaches his door?
Rory Jameson is a rake, it's true. And he's caught many a thief while on secret missions for the crown, but none have been this intriguing, this enticing. He will make Winter repay what she took so shamelessly . . . and melt her icy facade with the heat of his wicked touch. But her kiss sets his soul on fire—now he will never be satisfied until he has made this alluring temptress his own.
Jewel of the Adriatic
K.M. Daughters
The Wild Rose Press
June 2008
ISBN 1-60154-273-9
A nightgown model and a soap opera star meet in Valselo, a Croatian village where millions believe the Mother of God appears to three visionaries. Yugoslavian born Maya Lidovic owns Intimate Whispers, a New York-based sleepwear company. Determined not to lose her faith in a secular world, she spends her vacations leading tours in Valselo where her parents run an inn.
Colin O'Reilly plays heartthrob, Dr. Brock Stone, on the soap opera Tides Of Tomorrow. Through various setbacks in life he's managed to keep God first. But now he's furious at God for taking his mother. Colin doesn't believe that God has sent the Virgin Mary to earth with messages of hope. He doesn't believe that God cares about the world. A series of apparitions, prophetic dreams and earthy attraction draw these different people together. Human frailties obscure the intention of the call that brought them to their destinies.
His Secret Desire
Tracey Devlyn
The Wild Rose Press
July 2007
Lily Weston struggles to save her family’s racing stable while her brother’s gambling submerges them further into debt.She’s confident their prized stallion will win a substantial purse at a prestigious race in two months, however, the machinations of her handsome neighbor hurtles Lily into a web a deceit.After watching her dear mother endure years of abuse from her father, Lily has no desire to marry.When she finds out her brother lost their home—and her—in a foolhardy game of chance to their new neighbor, Julian, Lord St. Vincent, she’s livid . . . and tempted.
Julian’s attempts at wooing Lily gently have gone unnoticed.When Lily's brother's bungling efforts to save their indebted racing stable goes awry, Julian finds himself in a unique position to help his beautiful neighbor and . . . grasp his secret desire.
Windswept
Ann Macela
Medallion Press
February 2008
ISBN 9781933836348
A terrible secret lurks in the papers of the Windswept Plantation, and its revelation will ruin the Jamison family name. To Barrett Browning, the collection is a treasure trove of potential publications sure to gain her a promotion at her university. As a historian, her job is to root out secrets from the past and hold them up to the light, no matter the cost. The farthest thing from her mind is getting involved with the papers’ owner.
To venture capitalist Davis Jamison, the pile of boxes is a headache he must deal with to protect the family. He expects neither his cousin’s frantic obsession to keep all the family sins hidden, nor the fierce need he comes to feel for Barrett. He’s sworn never again to trust a woman with his property or his heart. Can he rely on Barrett to guard them both?
As the dark past—a tale of deception and murder—emerges, Davis’s question becomes harder and harder to answer . . .
Something Reckless
Jess Michaels
Avon Red
May 2008
ISBN 978-0061283970
Prim, headstrong, and beautiful Penelope is determined to expose the licentious affairs of the ton’s randiest rakes. Now the unrepentant libertine Jeremy Vaughn, Duke of Kilgrath, has been selected to put an end to the prudish lady’s interference. Jeremy will join Penelope’s war against immorality, all the while showering her with anonymous erotic missives designed to titillate even the coldest, most unwilling maid. He will break down her defenses and inflame her repressed desires by escorting her to London’s most notorious pleasure palaces. And he will visit her boudoir—masked—during the night to school her in the deliciously sinful arts she wishes to abolish. Then he will expose her hypocrisy to the world.
But the handsome rogue’s scheme is doomed to go awry, even as the lovely Penelope sheds her every inhibition and freely gives in to his every whim. For in this sensuous game of hearts, it’s the seducer who becomes seduced . . .
Masked By Moonlight
Allie Pleiter
Steeple Hill Press
Love Inspired Historical
June 2008
ISBN 978-03738278
When night fell on the lawless streets of old San Francisco, Matthew Covington—seemingly just another wealthy society idler—became the mysterious crime-fighter known as the Black Bandit. Nothing could tempt him to reveal his secret identity, until the English gentleman met Georgia Waterhouse, whose pseudonymous newspaper accounts had made his daring exploits famous. He was coming to care deeply for this woman, who shared his passionate devotion to justice—and the Lord—but she could never know he was her shadow-shrouded hero. What would become of their growing love if he revealed the truth that lay behind the mask…?
Using “Find” on Overused Words
By Fredericka Meiners
It’s easy to fall into the “overused words” habit. Whether we know it or not, we have our “favorite” words, ones we use without even realizing it—until a critique partner or editor points them out. It’s also easy to find those words and root them out by using the “Find” function in MS Word.
First, make a list of the words, terms, and phrases you think you overuse. Mine include: this, any, just, well, so, now, but, thing, back, as, “And.”
Use the Find function: CTRL+F on the keyboard, or click on Edit, Find in Word before Word 2007.
That displays this box that floats over your text:
Enter the word or phrase in the “Find What” field.
Be sure your document is on page 1 and your cursor at the top of the page.
Note where you are by the info at the bottom of the screen—page and line number.
Click on the Find Next button.
The next instance of the word will be highlighted. (Mine’s in blue, but yours may be in black.)
Go through your document, clicking on “Find Next.” Note how far apart the use of the word or term is, and make changes as necessary.
Example: A “but” might be on page 3. If the next one doesn’t show up until page 8, then you might want to leave them alone, since there are so many words in between use of the word. That is why you need to watch which page and line you’re on.
Start from the top with the next word or term. Repeat as necessary.
Word will find exactly what words or terms you put in the Find What field. Exactly as you have typed them. If you have made a typo there or in the body of the text, it will not find that word.
Unless you tell Word to “Match Case,” (click on the More button to open up the choices), Word will find all instances of the word, both upper and lower case. Word will find the word if inside other words. For example, “now” is inside “know.” Therefore, Word will find it.
Yes, this is tedious in the extreme, but you may be surprised how often you use some of these words and terms. And isn’t it better to spend some tedious time so your readers don’t?
