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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Have You Misplaced Your Modifiers? Do Your Participles Dangle? #ASMSG




Have you misplaced your modifiers?
Do your participles dangle?

Do you feel your editors and readers are laughing at you behind your back? Are your scenes of dramatic climax causing your critique partners to dissolve in gales of hilarity? Well, come see Dr. Editor and let’s look at your dangling participles and misplaced modifiers.

“I didn’t know my modifiers had wandered,” you said. “What IS a dangling participle?” you ask.
There have been reams written in English grammar texts about participial phrases – present participial phrases, past participial phrases – please read them. But if it sounds like so much gibberish, step into my office and hop up on the table. My job as Dr. Editor is to guide you to a healthy manuscript in language EVERYONE can understand. 

Do you need to know what aspirin is to have it cure your hangover?

No.

 
I’m going to remove the mystique. So here, down and dirty, is all you need to know about participial phrases:
·         It is a group of words (a phrase) that are meant to modify a noun (person, place or thing) that is the subject or object of your sentence. The phrase will commonly begin with a verb (action word) with an “ing” ending or an “ed” ending. 
 BUT! BEWARE! A participial phrase clings like white cat hair on a black suit to the closest noun.

And this, my dear patient, is the crux of the problem. This is what results in those hilarious dangling bits. Here are a few choice examples. I have underlined the participial phrase for you.

·         The burglar was about 30 years old, white, 5' 10", with wavy hair weighing about 150 pounds.
. . . now, I’m thinking this fellow has some serious hair . . .

Okay. What did the writer mean to say? (In this case from a police report that was unintentionally funny.) He meant the burglar weighed about 150 pounds. BUT that pesky present participial phrase clung to the closest noun – hair.

This is how the sentence should have been written:

Weighing about 150 pounds, the burglar was about 30 years old, white, 5’10", with wavy hair.

·         Hunting can also be dangerous, as in the case of pygmies hunting elephants armed only with spears.  . . . um, yeah. I’d say if the elephants are armed with spears they are definitely dangerous.

Again, what did the reporter mean to say? He meant the pygmies were armed only with spears when hunting elephants. BUT that pesky past participial phrase clung to the closest noun – elephants.




You can go wrong with more than participial phrases. Here are a few examples of misplaced modifiers.  Find them and then find the closest noun and you will have identified your problem.

·         We spent most of our time sitting on the back porch watching the cows playing Scrabble and reading. Methinks those are well-educated cows!

What the sentence should have said was:
 
We spent most of our time sitting on the back porch playing Scrabble, reading and watching the cows.

In order to “fix” it, all you need do is move the wandering modifier closer to the noun it modified, “time”. Stripped to its basics this is the sentence:  We spent time sitting.

Here are the modifiers:
Where did we spend time? Prepositional phrase: “on the back porch”
How much did we spend? Qualifier: “most of our”
In what way we spend time sitting? Gerund: reading and participial phrases: playing Scrabble and watching cows.

This example was a little tricky because you have a gerund operating as a noun, “sitting”. (Don’t worry about what a gerund is, just think “action” words ending with “ing” that take on other roles). Just remember, identify what you are describing – almost always a person, place or thing – and don’t let your modifiers wander too far or you will have unintended hilarity.



One last example:
·         Organ donations from the living reached a record high last year, outnumbering donors who are dead for the first time. Do they have donors who are dead for the second time?

Here we have an example of a misplaced prepositional phrase: “for the first time”. What the writer meant to say was:

Last year, for the first time, organ donations from the living reached a record high and outnumbered those from donors who are dead.

 And yes, you will accuse me of rewriting, but I want my verbs to “parallel”. Here is your sentence stripped of all modifiers:

Donations reached and outnumbered. Full stop. Everything else is modification.

So, there you have it, my lovely patients. Tuck those dangling bits back where they belong. Round up those wandering modifiers and put them as close to what they modify as an alcoholic is to his bottle and go forth to create healthy manuscripts!


------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------
“Dr. Editor” is also known as Patricia A. Knight, erotic romance author of the Verdantia Series:
------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------

Release Date June 4, 2013



Patricia A. Knight is the pen name for an eternal romantic who lives in Dallas, Texas surrounded by her horses, dogs and the best man on the face of the earth – oh yeah, and the most enormous bullfrogs you will ever see. Word to the wise: don’t swim in the pool after dark.

I love to hear from my readers and can be reached at http://www.trollriverpub.com/ or  http://www.patriciaaknight.com. Or send me an email at patriciaknight190@gmail.com. Check out my latest “Hunk of the Day,” book releases, contests and other fun stuff on my face book page: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.knight.71619


If you enjoyed Hers To Command, look for Sophi DeLorion’s story, Hers To Choose, coming out in mid-July 2013 and Steffania Rickard’s tale, Hers To Cherish coming in early August, 2013.

 


 ------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------
 CONTINUE READING TO PARTICIPATE IN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY OF SIGNED COPIES
 ------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------

 OFFICIAL GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
Signed Paperbacks


 
Take a look at the HOT, SMEXY, NEWLY RELEASED,
Sci-fi/Fantasy Romance novel
by Patricia Knight:

 





Goodreads Book Giveaway

Hers to Command by Patricia A. Knight

Hers to Command

by Patricia A. Knight

Giveaway ends June 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win

Friday, June 21, 2013

HELP! Vote for cover art on the Nightlife Series Box Set!

 HELP!  I CAN'T DECIDE

I have the most phenomenal cover artist, Ida Janssen with Amygdaladesign.net.  She created 3 covers for me to choose from for The Nightlife Series Box Set (Books 1-4).

I LOVE THESE COVERS, I WANT THEM ALL...

Please vote on my poll here:




*If you'd like to know more about Amygdaladesign.net cover art design packages and services--premade covers, custom covers, banners, and even book trailers--click on the image below:

*

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

What is Google+ good for? EVERYTHING. #AuthorsRT #WritersRT #ASMSG

 
 
If you were ever looking for a reason to post on Google+, as much or more than you post on any other social media, read on....

Google+ has been compared to other social media in all kinds of ways. I don't need to bore you with statistics and all that drivel. But if that's your thing, here's some data for you  http://www.businessinsider.com/google-plus-is-outpacing-twitter-2013-5  
 
So, according to all the number crunchers and bean counters from businessinsider.com, Google+ has lots of active users, more than Twitter. Cool. Groovy.
 
Then you say, "But Travis, I rarely talk to anyone on Google+ like I do Facebook and Twitter, and my Google+ shares and +1 activity doesn't even hold a candle to the hundreds of RT's and Facebook shares I get every week."
 
Yep, you're right. 
 
So why use Google+? 

Here's a little something the number crunchers didn't seem to understand:
 
Take a look at this Google search for the novel HERS TO COMMAND by Patricia A. Knight, published June 4th, 2013 (2 weeks ago).
 

There are several results from a book published in 2006, from a different author.  BUT, its plain to see, within the first 6 results, there are 2 Google+ postings from 10 days ago. How do a couple postings on social media, with no significant number of shares or retweets, get into the top 6 results of Google's search engine in only 10 days?  These Google+ postings have a higher ranking than the Goodreads giveaway for signed copies of HERS TO COMMAND!!!

 
Well, it is Google's search engine isn't it?  And its their social media....

Google, being the megamonster search engine, has given Google+ an unnatural,  instant and viral rankingGoogle+ posts for a given subject matter always show up in the first page of search engine results. This is not organic SEO, like what websites are forced to go through over months and months of backlinks and other time-resource consuming junk. Its an instant, mouse-click SEO, with a very unusually high ranking.

Google gives preferential treatment to posts in Google+. Why? Well, most likely, to compete with Facebook & Twitter. And its their search engine, so they can do what they damn well please.
 
Another example, a Google search on my novel THE NIGHTLIFE PARIS, published May 1st, 2013, by Travis Luedke (me). 
 
 
You have some actual stuff on the nightlife in Paris, tourist stuff, and my own website twluedke.com (needs updating badly). That comment in my website, about THE NIGHTLIFE PARIS being scheduled for release, has been there for the past 8 months.  Took 8 months to get that kind of SEO on the words THE NIGHTLIFE PARIS for my website. And yet we see there in the  #6 placement on the search, my good 'ole Google+ post about my book release, on May 4th 2013.

Amazon and Goodreads listings of my novel have not yet seen the same level of SEO rankings that my Google+ post received instantly.


Conclusion:

If you never speak to anyone on Google+, if you never add people to circles and friends and post those hilarious GIF images like the one I posted a few days ago,




 
If you never have a single ounce of fun with Google+, at least make damn sure you POST EVERYTHING RELATED TO YOUR BUSINESS, WITH LINKS. Instant SEO rankings, like that which Google+ receives, cannot be purchased for any amount of money. But it can be had for FREE, with a couple mouse clicks on Google+.
 

 
Until next time,

Travis Luedke
Author of The Nightlife Series novels

 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Now Scheduling a One Month Tour for HERS TO COMMAND by Patricia A. Knight



Now scheduling a one month tour: 

 

Hers To Command 

  by Patricia A. Knight 

 Tour runs through July 15--August 12 (weekdays only)

http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/06/now-scheduling-one-month-tour-for-hers.html 

Now scheduling guest blogs, interviews, reviews and spotlight stops
pdf, epub and mobi available for reviewers 
 

To participate in this tour please send:

Your blog name and url
A couple suggested dates during the tour
Type of stop you wish to host
 *Please advise if you wish to review*
http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/06/now-scheduling-one-month-tour-for-hers.html 

 ATTENTION BLOGGERS:
For Arrangements, please contact RoxanneRhoads,
 RoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com
 
 

Hers To Command
Verdantia Series Book One

Patricia A. Knight
Genre: ♂♀♂ Erotic Romance, Sci-fi/futuristic
Publisher: Troll River Publications
Date of Publication: 6/4/2013
ISBN: 978-1-939564-10-8
ASIN: B00D5KVIV2
Number of pages: 193
Word Count: 73,428
Cover Artist: Truenotdreams
Book Description: 
Conte Camliel Aristos deTano, Ari, has long spurned the marriage forced upon him. Princess Fleur Constante, his contractual bride and the beautiful future queen, though young and inexperienced, is willing to risk everything – including her own sanity – to save her planet.
The inhabitants of the sentient planet, Verdantia, are poised on the precipice of extinction following a brutal invasion by an off-world, nomadic horde. Verdantia’s capital, Sylvan Mintoth, must have its failing energy shield restored, or the planet is doomed. The Elders know the shield can draw energy from only one thing—a very arduous and grueling coupling of two specific people pre-chosen by the planet, Herself,  and promised by prearranged marriage contract. 
Verdantia draws strength from the duo, but the sentient planet whispers to Ari that a third is necessary – Ari’s aide de camp, Visconte Doral deLorion, an angelically handsome, skilled assassin who silently surrendered his heart to Ari long ago.

The trio struggles to make this surprising partnership harmonious, pushing through pride, scars of past abuse, fears of inexperience and distrust. To save Verdantia, they must overcome their individual weaknesses and realize their full potential. Only the tetriarch and their combined synergy, can harness Verdantia’s immense power to shield its citizens from invasion.

About the Author:
Patricia A. Knight is the pen name for an eternal romantic who lives in Dallas, Texas surrounded by her horses, dogs and the best man on the face of the earth – oh yeah, and the most enormous bullfrogs you will ever see. Word to the wise: don’t swim in the pool after dark.

I love to hear from my readers and can be reached at http://www.trollriverpub.com/ or  http://www.patriciaaknight.com
Check out my latest “Hunk of the Day,” book releases, contests and other fun stuff on my face book page: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.knight.71619
Website:       http://www.patriciaaknight.com/home.html  
 

 ------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------
 CONTINUE READING TO PARTICIPATE IN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY OF SIGNED COPIES
 ------------------------------------------ ♂♀♂ --------------------------------------------

 OFFICIAL GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
Signed Paperbacks


 
Take a look at the HOT, SMEXY, NEWLY RELEASED,
Sci-fi/Fantasy Romance novel
by Patricia Knight:





Goodreads Book Giveaway

Hers to Command by Patricia A. Knight

Hers to Command

by Patricia A. Knight

Giveaway ends June 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win


Be part of the Tetriarch! If you can't wait for the giveaway, get your copy today at the promotional release price: $2.99!
(Price is going up in a few days)
 

What reviewers are saying about HERS TO COMMAND:
★★★★★ "Verdantia and its cast of characters are presented as living, breathing three-dimensional props that support not only the reason for the very heated intimacy, but also a story and world that has a long standing history, a complex present and an uncertain future."
★★★★★ "Patricia Knight seamlessly weaves a whole new world, society, and culture through tantalizing, steamy scenes that make a woman yearn to experience a man (or two)..."
★★★★★ "This book was so much fun ~ and such a wild ride, can I go again?"
★★★★★ "Made me regret being at work while reading. Talk about steamy."

Released June 4, 2013




Patricia A. Knight is the pen name for an eternal romantic who lives in Dallas, Texas surrounded by her horses, dogs and the best man on the face of the earth – oh yeah, and the most enormous bullfrogs you will ever see. Word to the wise: don’t swim in the pool after dark.

I love to hear from my readers and can be reached at http://www.trollriverpub.com/ or  http://www.patriciaaknight.com. Or send me an email at patriciaknight190@gmail.com. Check out my latest “Hunk of the Day,” book releases, contests and other fun stuff on my face book page: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.knight.71619

If you enjoyed Hers To Command, look for Sophi DeLorion’s story, Hers To Choose, coming out in mid-July 2013 and Steffania Rickard’s tale, Hers To Cherish coming in early August, 2013.


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