Loving and Living with Language: An Editor/Author’s Story
“Don’t let aging get you down. It’s too hard to get back up.”—John Warner
As a lifelong lover of language, I wanted to start this Spunky Seniors blog with a quotation about aging. I picked one that I think is both funny and—in my case at least—true. This quotation illustrates how a few words, carefully chosen, can help us find humor in a truth that is sometimes less than humorous.
I’ve always enjoyed the power of words and the beauty of language. Like most writers, I’m sure, I possess an intuitive grasp of grammar, and this has led to my being associated with publications such as my high school newspaper, county newspaper, and college newspaper. As you might suspect, all of this newspaper experience steered me toward a bachelor’s in journalism, then to a master’s in English Education, and finally to a career as an academic editor.
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| At Carolynn Carey's retirement party |
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| Carolyn with grandson |
But while I enjoyed my stints first as a copyeditor and later as an editor, I always wanted to write fiction. I tried on a few occasions when I could carve out some time between raising a daughter, caring for a home and husband, and keeping up at work. Unfortunately, I discovered that knowing grammar doesn’t equal understanding the craft of writing. Learning to write fiction well required a new skill set and many years of practice.
When I was finally published (by Avalon Books in 2005), I maintained my interest in sharing what I knew about grammar. I wrote articles for the newsletter of my local Romance Writers of America chapter and contributed a monthly blog called “Carolynn’s Clues” to a website for writers (WeWriteRomance.com). I still enjoy grammar but as my writing career heats up, I’ve had to cut back on writing about grammar. My last “Carolynn’s Clues” column appeared on February 14 of this year. Not coincidentally, my most recent contemporary romance was released earlier in that month.
Prognosis for Happiness is a sweet romance set in a small Tennessee town. The hero and heroine were high school classmates fourteen years before the story begins. He was the “Boy Most Likely to Succeed” and she was the class nerd. He went on to become a successful plastic surgeon in Hollywood while she stayed at home as a small-town pediatrician. Then he comes back to town to oversee her work with his young niece and… Well, I won’t give the entire plot away here. The book is available as a paperback on Amazon or as an electronic book for the Kindle, Nook, or on Smashwords. The links to buy the book follow, as do links to my homepage and blog. I hope you’ll visit both, and thanks for allowing me to guest blog here today.
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B0073J1I34
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prognosis-for-happiness-carolynn-carey/1108801627?ean=2940014025089&itm=1&usri=prognosis+for+happiness
Smashwords:
My website and blog:
Welcome to Spunky Seniors, Carolynn. About grammar - some of what I learned in grammar school is with me. What I don't remember I rely on my editor to catch.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Thanks for allowing me to visit today, Morgan. This is a fun blog!
DeleteInteresting that an editor has to back away from looking at the manuscript with that editorial eye. I know as a writer that I can really short circuit the creative phase if I'm using my editing eye to read it (I call it the "everything is crap" phase :-)
ReplyDeleteLove your cover for Prognosis for Happiness.
I agree, Kelly, that it's often difficult to just write rather than revising sentence by sentence. I can always think of a better way to word my work, it seems. And I really identify with your "everything is crap" experience! :-)
DeleteGreat post. I still have a problem with commas.
ReplyDeleteActually, Miss Skunk, so do I. Part of the reason, I think, is because of the changing preferences of publishers. One of my publishers insists on as few commas as one can legitimately get by with. That goes against the grain a little with me, but they say commas slow the reader down. I can't prove otherwise. :-)
DeleteLike Miss Skunk I have a problem with commas. I was fine until 10th Grade English when we studied comma splices I think and then it all went haywire in my head and I was afraid of using them wrong. However, I think over the years I've learned to not be so afraid of the comma. And, I hope I'm using them correctly now.
ReplyDeleteWonderful blog. Thanks for sharing, Carolynn.
I'm glad you're no longer afraid of commas, Leanne. I still see comma splices when I'm judging in various contests for unpublished writers. I was fortunate to have an excellent English teacher in tenth grade, and I think that can make a great deal of difference in how we learn grammar.
DeleteIt's great to read about your journey as an editor and storyteller! I came through school at a time when it wasn't fashionable to teach formal grammar, so I don't know how to diagram a sentence and I don't know what a preposition is. I just know when something sounds right -- or doesn't. I've worked as a content editor but don't have the knowledge or eye to copyedit. It is interesting to examine ALL the skill sets that are necessary to create a good piece of writing. And since most of us don't have them all, it is essential to have the help of others. Great post! And best of luck with the new book (I did not know you wrote contemporaries, too!)
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
DeleteGood to hear from you. I once knew how to diagram even the most complex of sentences. It's not a skill one uses often and I'm not sure how I'd do if I tried it again. But I do believe that lovers of language have an intuitive grasp of grammar. As you say, you know when something sounds right or when it doesn't. I usually go by intuition and only check style manuals when I need backup. :-) And yes, I write both contemporaries and Regencies and enjoy both. It's fun to switch back and forth. Thanks for reading the blog and for commenting. I'm glad to know you enjoyed it.
Nice going, Carolyn. I always love your Spunky Seniors column, Morgan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jacqueline. And I, too, enjoy the Spunky Seniors column. Thanks to Morgan for that!
DeleteHi Carolyn, I love your quote about aging. My mother had a different one, similar. "You are as old as you appear to be." She always insisted on dressing elegantly, reading, and staying active, and she looked twenty years younger than her age.
ReplyDeleteHi Mona. I'm glad you enjoyed the quote. Thanks for sharing the story about your mom. I love her quote too. And it's certainly true. My mom was 101 last month. Physically she is growing very weak, but mentally she's still pretty amazing. She loves keeping up with local and national news, which contributes to her youthful attitude I think.
DeleteLove your books lady, you are the spunkiest senior I know!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. I return the compliment about loving your books. You have such a great sense of humor!
DeleteGreat post! I love the picture of you and your grandchild. I can attest that Carolyn has super spunk. And so do her characters!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Juli. I'm glad you think my characters have spunk. You create some pretty great characters yourself.
DeleteHello Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, and am happy to make your acquaintance here as a Spunky Senior!
I taught (every subject) for thirty years, and in my last years was known as the "Grammar Nana" even though I was teaching history then. I had taught sixth graders to diagram simple sentences in an effort to recognize the basic parts of speech in sentences. It was fun! There were no grades involved in diagramming sentences; I presented more as a challenge activity, and made a game of it.
I've written non-fiction, but am ready to start fiction ... a mystery I'm working out in my head first, and then will let the characters lead me to the end.
Thanks for sharing your story here!
http://terrysthoughtsandthreads.blogspot.com
Hi Terry,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you too. And thanks for sharing your story about teaching students to diagram sentences as a challenge. I do think it was helpful in learning the parts of speech. I wonder if anyone teaches diagramming these days. It would be interesting to know.
Good luck with your mystery. That's a genre I love to read but don't think I could write. I hope you have fun with it.
As an editor and a writer, I, too, find it hard sometimes to turn off that editor role and just be creative. I enjoyed meeting you, Carolynn, and love the cover of your book.
ReplyDeleteHi Maryann,
DeleteThanks for dropping by. It's good to hear from another editor/writer. And yes, it is certainly difficult to turn that editor role off.
I'm glad you like the cover. I was delighted with it myself. It's the work of one of my favorite designers. I admire anyone who can create such beautiful work. I have zero talent along those lines. :-(
I loved this post, and I like your cover and the not-enough-information you included about your story. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Liz,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed the post and that you like the cover. For more information, feel free to visit my website (link is provided at the end of the post). You'll find more information there, and you can read an excerpt if you wish. In fact, I wish you would. :-)
Thanks for commenting.