[stylist] lessons learned

Tue Jun 23 06:15:57 UTC 2015

I don't think it really matters how you edit as long as you know what you're
doing and can make necessary corrections. Relying too much on tools like
Spellcheck and Grammarcheck can be problematic and only address about 5 to
10% of editing. If you are carefully reading a story or document, noting
errors or possible places needing another looksy at, that's what is
important. Whether reading in print or using JAWS on a computer, any decent
writer and/or editor needs to be able to just read and re-read and re-read
again, carefully with a fine-tooth comb and find errors and places for
revision.

A method I used during my writing classes in school and one I still use when
editing is to turn off certain features on JAWS and Word and edit one thing
at a time. For example, I like to read sentence-by-sentence and par-by-para
to get a careful look at syntax and structure and voice. I read this way.
Then I turn on all punctuation with JAWS and go back, reading each part and
hearing all the punctuation. This allows me to first focus on idea and
sentence structure, are verb-noun agreements okay in each sentence, check
phrasing and diction, etc. Then I can go back and ensure punctuation is
correct and placement makes sense. The all punctuation feature reads out
every instance of punctuation including colons, apostrophes, dashes, etc.

And formatting comes last. Whether my work or others, I do not even care
about format until all other editing has been done. Margins, page set-up,
page numbers, font, all that good stuff comes last. Even when working on PR
things, I write, edit the text, then format. I then go back several times
and double check the document as a whole. For our affiliate's annual
walk-a-thon, I wrote the text for the donation letter and walk info email,
then later worked on formatting, which included placing the logo, some
colored lettering in the title and some bullets for a few sections with
lists. But before I did any of this, I wrote, revised and edited.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of EvaMarie
Sanchez via stylist
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 9:52 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List
Cc: EvaMarie Sanchez
Subject: Re: [stylist] lessons learned

Jackie, It is nice to hear that I am not alone in my low reading speed.
Thanks for that.
Edward, I like your hands on approach to self editing. I really think that
is more effective. I think it also gives more genuine work, less computer
generated in feeling.
Eve

 President, National Federation of the Blind Northern Arizona 2nd Vice
President, National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Committee
Chair, Arizona Association of Guide Dog Users Affiliate Member, National
Federation of the Blind Legislative Committee Affiliate Member, National
Federation of the Blind Membership Committee Member, Slate & Style Editing
Team

"You do not need to have vision to see the stars."

On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 10:44 AM, Edward Green via stylist <
stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I agree that it's imperative to get formatting right as far as 
> possible and have come a cropper many a times when I've failed to do so.
>
> While in some instances it makes writing and editing more laborious, 
> I've found it easier to disable all of MS Word's 'helpful' auto 
> formatting features.  I then retrospectively apply styles to the text 
> that I want to format.  While I initially did this to prevent 
> erroneous formatting appearing that my screen reader may not have 
> picked up, I was interested to read this as a best practice tip on a site
that converts books to epub.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jackie 
> Williams via stylist
> Sent: 22 June 2015 04:41
> To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
> Cc: Jackie Williams
> Subject: Re: [stylist] lessons learned
>
> Eva,
> This is very good advice, both aspects of it.
> I have my spell check set automatically on my e-mails before they go out.
> Every time I find many errors in no space between a period and the 
> capital following, or double letters, and other things I would not
ordinarily hear.
> Formatting is often terribly time consuming if one is not automatic 
> with the hot keys. It is absolutely necessary in terms of poetry.
> Thanks for the tips.
>
> Jackie Lee
>
> Time is the school in which we learn.
> Time is the fire in which we burn.
> Delmore Schwartz
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> EvaMarie Sanchez via stylist
> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 7:19 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Cc: EvaMarie Sanchez
> Subject: [stylist] lessons learned
>
> Hello compatriots, I was just talking with Mr Leslie Newman about lessons.
> After going off to something else, I had a thought. It came to mind of 
> how the lessons learned could help, not only with writing, but with 
> everything we do. I only took a moment to ponder this before deciding 
> that I would share with y'all. It may be common sense, but like a wise 
> man said, "Common sense is not that common."
>  Hey, a virtual gold star for who ever could name that wise man.
> Well, getting back to the lessons; I did something last night that 
> changed what I was working on and I failed to recheck all formatting 
> after making the seemingly small alteration. It would have taken me 
> approximately 20 seconds to recheck things before sending out, but I 
> didn't. This cause more work for another.
>  So lesson here is to check and recheck what everr we do. For our 
> writing, why rely on editors for instance? We could get things done 
> before ever sending things out. My own private motto that I live by is 
> "If you are in a hurry, slow down." I did not slow down.
> Second lesson kind of relates. Do not take short cuts in what you do.
> Someone else used what I am sure is perfectly viable technology to 
> clean up a document and the results were horrendous. Yes, it was 
> quick, but we can only trust our own abilities. Technology may work, 
> but if is not infallible.
> Neither are humans of course, but maybe the best solution is the two 
> working together.
> Just something to think about. It may mean nothing to you, but it may 
> be just what someone needs to hear.
> Well, Blessed Solstice (Litha).
> Eve
>  President, National Federation of the Blind Northern Arizona 2nd Vice 
> President, National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division 
> Committee Chair, Arizona Association of Guide Dog Users Affiliate 
> Member, National Federation of the Blind Legislative Committee 
> Affiliate Member, National Federation of the Blind Membership 
> Committee Member, Slate & Style Editing Team
>
> "You do not need to have vision to see the stars."
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