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Passive voice
How to Save Money on Editing Services
by, Jill Swenson
September 13, 2016

Many aspiring authors think they can’t afford to hire an editor. If your plan is to publish, then the truth is you can’t afford NOT to hire one. Anyone can call themselves an “editor,” yet not all editors are the same. There is no test or certification process. Be choosy when you hire one. Instead of looking for the cheapest rate, look for editors with… [Read More]

Filed Under: copula spiders, editor, Manuscript format, Paragraph indents, Passive voice, purple prose, Spelling & Grammar
3 Comments
Take the Passive Voice Test
by, Jill Swenson
January 20, 2015

Passive voice weakens your writing. It obscures responsibility for action. Those who learn English as a second language struggle to make sense of the many ways in which Americans use passive verb constructions in everyday speech. It often finds its way into our writing. Rarely is the writer conscious of this problem in their writing. Passive voice is used by victims. Instead of actors, they… [Read More]

Filed Under: Active Voice, actor, Passive voice, recipient of action, subject-verb-object, victim
8 Comments
Don’t Write ‘That’ and other advice from an editor
by, Jenna Goodman
March 14, 2014
Jenna Goodman provides editorial services for Swenson Book Development, LLC

I read a lot, for both work and pleasure. When I read for work, my eyes scan every line, sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, and full manuscript for different criteria. I check spelling, grammar, punctuation, style, voice, tense, pacing, continuity, plot, narrative arc, tension, climax, resolution, and other less definable qualities such as honesty, heart, and whether the work might bring something new and necessary into… [Read More]

Filed Under: extra space between sentences, just, over used words, Passive voice, really, That, very, zombies
5 Comments
Eliminate Passive Voice: How?
by, Jill Swenson
June 12, 2012

As an editor, I see the use of passive voice as a red flag in a manuscript. It strips out all the action and agency. Makes the text boring. Passive voice frequently appears in academic writing. The stuff no one wants to read. You can edit your own book manuscript for passive voice and hone your talents as a powerful writer with a few simple… [Read More]

Filed Under: action, Active Voice, agency, Passive voice, reader comprehension, Verb tenses, voice of victims
No Comments
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