#editortips for 08.29.12

 @smoulderingsea: Though "free reign" is apparently more common now, the original term was "free rein." As in, letting loose a horse's reins. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: On that note... rein: tether(n), draw back(v); rain: falling water(n), fall upon(v); reign: rule(n), to rule(v). #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Vain: conceited, or futile. Vein: branch, as in a blood vein or ore vein. Vane: weathervane, etc. It's not "hoped in vein/vane." #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Don't wait for others to inspire you to write. Seek out your own inspiration. You'll be surprised where you find it. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Just for @laurakcurtis: A peek at a mountain's peak piques my interest, but incorrect use of peek/peak/pique piques my temper. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Don't organize your book like a term paper or an essay. Those are about information. Your book is about emotion & storytelling. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Read the greats to understand the foundation of literature that made modern publishing. Don't directly copy them. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Sarcasm should come across clearly in dialogue and narrative. If you have to tell us it's sarcastic, it failed. #editortips #notsarcastic

@smoulderingsea: Semicolons are for separating independent clauses. Do not tack one on before a dependent clause. I will bite you. #editortips #notforeplay

@smoulderingsea: If you rush your story's ending to stay under a certain wordcount, it shows. Make sure your ending comes naturally. #editortips

@smoulderingsea: Cross-genre fiction can be amazing, but know the difference between "cross-genre" and "trying to do too much." #editortips

@smoulderingsea: You'll write a million things that will never see the light of day. Never see it as a waste. Those ideas will fuel you later. #editortips

And thanks to @Saycaity for pointing out hordes (correct) vs. hoardes (incorrect) of minions and @ericamchapman for reminding us "irregardless" is not a damned word.

About #editortips:
#editortips is a daily rash of tweets from an only partially crazy editor, chock full of random chocolatey morsels about writing, editing, and querying vaguely disguised as helpful pointers and/or really bad humor. I tweet as @smoulderingsea, and try to post with some consistency every weekday at 6PM CST. Weekends optional, depending on if I’m spending yet another Saturday night editing because my social life consists of Netflix and apparently being the Terminator.