Proofreading hints and tips

Hello fellow writers

It’s the start of May, the sun is splitting the sky, and we are at the start of Hysteria’s eleventh writing competition with the choice of topic up to YOU. There is a lot wrong with the world, but that first sentence is a reason to smile. I’m also smiling because I’m honoured to be the writer-in-residence for this year’s competition.

So, first, a little about me and then down to business. I hail from Cumbria, the coast rather than the famous Lake District, although I’m incredibly lucky that the lakes are also on my doorstep. A love of writing and one of those rabbit holes that you often find when sitting ‘working’ at your computer led me to Linda and Hysteria. I’ve now been involved with the Hysteria Writing Competition for several years, both as an entrant and as a reader for assorted strands. I love both aspects.

With a body that feels ninety and a mind that has yet to come of age, I spend a lot of time sitting reading, writing, and ‘meeting’ characters from all over the world. I write a lot of poetry and have been published in several anthologies and magazines. I also enjoy the satisfaction of completing Flash Fiction. Ooooh, that final full stop. Always a When Harry Met Sally moment. (Now I’m showing my age.) I’m also in the midst of my first novel which I hope to complete this winter. My garden beckons in the summer, and, like Oscar Wilde, I can resist everything except temptation.

I read the Hysteria entries outside in the cool of the evening. Being a competition reader is an enlightening experience and one that has really developed my writing because it’s given me access to so many styles and features of flash/poetry/ short stories. I’ve seen ways of tackling a themed/open competition that would never normally enter my orbit and … I’ve also seen what NOT to do when entering a competition! Over the next few blogs I’ll share some of those tips and pitfalls with you.

Do you get fired up by comps.? (I hope so)

Does your brain go into overdrive forcing your poor fingers to tpye faster and faster?

Then are you determind to finish despite your eyes needing props the size of knitting needles?

Accompanied by a groan of, ‘Are you never coming to bed?’ do you then press send and stagger to your pit?

I think we’ve all been there at some time, and it spells disaster. When tired, typos like the ones above can happen to the most literate, intelligent person on this earth, and the cure is proofreading. Proofreading not only by you, but also by a fresh pair of eyes, for research has shown that proofreading your own work can be very difficult. Your brain and eyes see what they want to see. If you like, your eyes read your brain rather than the page in front of you.

Using fresh eyes isn’t cheating. The other person isn’t writing your story or using their imagination. It’s the human equivalent of running your computer’s spelling and grammar check over your work, and it’s probably much more reliable!

Of course, before you hit SEND, you hopefully read the rules and guidelines.

No?

I know they can look daunting and incredibly boring (sorry, admin.), but they are essential if you want your hard work to be accepted by the administrator(s) of the competition. You’d be amazed how many entries never reach my desk because they’ve been disqualified for rule infringements.

Whilst I want to save trees, I do find that printing out the rules and guidelines is a big help to me. It means I can physically tick off each followed instruction and so know that done is done. It also saves flicking between my work and the competition page all the time. I hate most rules. Abhor them, especially petty, jobsworth ones. but, in the spirit of fairness, they are often necessary and that applies to competition rules. So, if I want my entries to stand the slightest chance, I know I must adhere to them… and so must you.

Phew! End of sermon.

Now your fun can begin. Whether it be a flash, a poem, or a short story, now is the time to write, write, write. Grab your partner in crime – coffee, chocolate, wine, the cat? – turn off the TV, and disappear into your marvellous imagination. I wish you joy.

Gillian Scholey