Don’t let simple mistakes ruin your book’s chances! If you’re not getting published, you may suffer from foggy writing—writing that’s full of unnecessary, misused, and overused words. Foggy writing drives editors crazy, and it’s the number one reason most manuscripts are rejected on first glance. Let veteran editor Don McNair show you how to clear up your foggy writing and produce sparkling copy that will attract agents, editors, readers, and sales. Editor-Proof Your Writing will show you how to avoid fatal writing mistakes by eliminating unnecessary words—and in the process you’ll strengthen your book’s action, invigorate your dialogue, and make your writing crackle with life. Containing 21 simple, straightforward principles, Editor-Proof Your Writing teaches how to edit weak verb forms, strip away author intrusions, ban redundancies, eliminate foggy phrases, correct passive-voice sentences, slash misused and overused words, and fix other writing mistakes. A must-have addition to every writer’s toolkit, Editor-Proof Your Writing won’t just make your writing clearer; it will make you a better writer — more expressive, more entertaining, and more likely to sell.

Don McNair lays out an easy-to-follow and systematic method for clearing up foggy writing--writing that's full of extra, misused, and overused words--in this guide to producing sparkling copy that attracts readers, agents, editors, and sales. McNair explains the common mistakes made by most writers and shows how eliminating unnecessary words strengthens action, shorten sentences, and makes writing crackle with life.

Are you confused by the feedback you get from your academic teachers and mentors? This clear and accessible guide to decoding academic feedback will help you interpret what your lecturer or research supervisor is really trying to tell you about your writing—and show you how to fix it. It will help you master a range of techniques and strategies to take your writing to the next level and along the way you’ll learn why academic text looks the way it does, and how to produce that ‘authoritative scholarly voice’ that everyone talks about. This book is an easy-to-use resource for postgraduate students and researchers in all disciplines, and even professional academics, to diagnose their writing issues and find ways to fix them. This book would also be a valuable text for academic writing courses and writing groups, such as those offered in doctoral and Master's by research degree programmes. 'Whether they have writing problems or not, every academic writer will want this handy compendium of effective strategies and sound explanations on their book shelf—it’s a must-have.' Pat Thomson, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham, UK

This fiction-editing guide shows authors and editors how to recognize shown and told prose, and avoid unnecessary exposition. Louise Harnby, a fiction editor, writer and course developer, teaches you how to identify stylistic problems and craft solutions that weave showing and telling together, and understand why there's no place for 'don't tell' in strong writing. Topics include: Shown and told prose in different scenarios; the relevance of viewpoint; when exposition serves story and deepens character; and tools that help writers add texture.

OCD sufferers have difficulty concentrating, and often their compulsions--needless checking, excessive worrying, and even repetitive actions like rewashing--make it difficult for them to lead their everyday lives. Misdiagnosed or untreated OCD can become chronic and more severe. It is also hereditary, so parents who have OCD may pass symptoms on to their children. Written by an OCD sufferer with a technical review by a licensed psychologist, this practical guide covers: * Diagnosis and the identification of symptoms * The types of OCD * Current treatment options * Some coping strategies * Support groups * Useful resources like an OCD self-test With The Everything® Health Guide to OCD, people who suffer from the disorder can rest easy, knowing they have the knowledge and medical information to help them recognize and cope with the symptoms and decide upon treatment. AUTHOR: Chelsea Lowe (New England) is a professional writer who has been living with OCD for 7 years (she was diagnosed at the age of 37). She has written about the disorder for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New York Daily News, and TV Guide. Her other publication credits include Newsweek, National Public Radio, Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Technology Review, and the Boston Herald. Judith A. Lytel, Psy.D. (Amherst, MA), is a licensed psychologist who has been in private practice for more than 12 years, treating patients with anxiety disorders such as OCD. She was a Clinical Instructor and Preceptor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine. A graduate of Penn State, Johns Hopkins, and the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Lytel completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Hospital.

Told from the perspective of Sena Quaren, a woman from another star system, this is a story about unifying three very different worlds to create one lasting peace.

"In this eBook, you'll learn the principles of grammar and how to manipulate your words until they're just right. Strengthen your revising and editing skills and become a clear and consistent writer." --