Listen for my old teacher voice as you read. Ha! Routinely, I find a certain error throughout manuscripts. If you make this mistake, you are not alone.
Often, when a writer makes this mistake, he/she makes it hundreds of times in a manuscript. Stop now to make sure you understand this common issue and eliminate it from your writing.
The issue? MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Here’s the rule. Descriptive
words and phrases (modifiers) need to be as close as possible in the sentence
to whatever they are describing. If they are misplaced, the sentence’s meaning
changes.
Your writing goals deserve attention to detail. This article explains the types of misplaced modifiers and includes examples. If you have to read this article a few times, do it. Keep a cheat sheet handy while you write.
https://www.blinn.edu/writing-centers/pdfs/Misplaced-Interrupting-and-Dangling-Modifiers.pdf
Misplaced modifiers can be hard to spot in your own writing, but try to pay attention and correct these before you send them to your editor, who should be getting your best draft. You don’t want to pay a chef to wash dishes. Start scrubbing those manuscripts so that the editor can focus on word choice, pacing, authentic and consistent characterization, story arc, tone, mood, voice, conflict, dialogue, clarity, and other issues that will make your book excellent.
If you are committed to creating the best possible book, you should routinely review grammar, mechanics, and syntax. Crippled Beagle Publishing has created an easy-to-follow cheat sheet to help you. Download our Proofread Like a Pro Checklist, which also includes our submissions guidelines, a list of dead words, and many tips. This invaluable tool can be found in the Author Shop at www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com. Here is the direct link: Proofread Like a Pro Checklist
Happy writing and revising!
Xoxoxo
Jody
