There's something so delightfully vulnerable about putting an editor's note into my manuscript, pointing out the obvious that I couldn't see for myself, and then that note getting picked up by the indexer. I feel so good about all of that--good because it's true, I do love em dashes, but also good because it'll help other writers lean into their punctuation preferences or smile big when they get similar edits instead of feeling sheepish.
Your gentleness has always been your forward face. I appreciate that so much. Since I’m working an a very small piece about punctuation, I’d like to say that I believe that the copious use of m dashes is not so much a signal of but a companion to a neurodivergent mind. I revise most of mine out, but they help me corral the fractal thinking.
Thank you so much, Lea. I love that you're writing a punctuation piece and that you see em dashes as "a companion" to neurodivergence. That's beautiful. Please let me know when/where I can read your piece once it's out! I tend to revise a lot of my dashes out too, but my first editor Liz Prato pointed out that there were still a LOT. And then I wrote that into the manuscript. And then Alyssa added it to the index, where it shines delightfully as a piece of language and a marker for how my brain works.
I want to point out that I myself use a lot of em dashes--like, I foresee Laura & her copyediting team flagging more than a few in my book! So I am by no means anti-em dash! That's what was kind of funny about it. I was like whoa, this is a lot even by my standards. But we all have these tics and tricks that mimic the way our ideas exist in our head. And sometimes it totally works to put it on the page exactly the way it's in our head, and other times it's a little bit clearer for someone else's brain if some of those pieces get smoothed out. And I think that's the essence of editing, there's not good or bad. There's just the way it is, what works and what might work better.
Yes--that's what made it so funny! By your standards, which are very pro em-dash, I STILL was overdoing. Who knew?! I definitely think in em dash language, stuffing more than is necessary into each thought, so it's not too surprising you caught that on the page and suggested I cut some. THANK YOU for that!
I heard gentle most about my book as well. Surprise! We are all very excited for Imagine A Door. And not just because I love imagining and I love doors. Much needed. Also I’m interested in Alyssa. I predict writing about illness being an important genre moving forward.
Alyssa is fabulous. I think there's a lot of power for us to discover as women writers with illness, chronic pain, and/or disabilities in conversation with each other. I am not surprised that "gentle" has come up in your book journey too. It's such a needed quality right now, you know? When our nervous systems are constantly bombarded with scary stuff.
I wonder and worry as we get closer to pub date. Did I do what I set out to do? Will this help enough? What will I wish, six months or a year from now, that I had put in the book? And yet: I see this index, and realize, okay, that's in here, and this is in here, and this too... and my nerves are transmuting into excitement. Who knew a strong index could do that?!
Ditto on the em dashes and congrats on the upcoming book. Can't wait to get my hands on it. As for late year reading, I was reading a bestselling, much loved novel in which I found an error that just floored me. It's a good read, but I can't seem to make myself care. So now, I'm onto book one of Cher's memoir. She doesn't disappoint.
Lori, I know what you mean about certain mistakes throwing us out of a book. Sometimes I find them humorous or slightly eye-rolling and can just move on. But a couple of years ago I was reading an historical novel that had a character reaching for and drinking a Coors during Prohibition, and I couldn't get past it!
Love where the ups and downs have brought you and that you are embracing the much needed compassion and quiet in taking on this project and future projects. You are truly inspiring. Life changes us all and hopefully for the better -- onward we all go! I look forward to more and more and more from your big brain.
Oh gosh, the em dash says so much...
And I'm very excited about your book.
Love all of this, though my very favorite-est part may be:
overuse of em dashes by
#IndexGoals
Congratulations, Laura! Can't wait to see the book.
There's something so delightfully vulnerable about putting an editor's note into my manuscript, pointing out the obvious that I couldn't see for myself, and then that note getting picked up by the indexer. I feel so good about all of that--good because it's true, I do love em dashes, but also good because it'll help other writers lean into their punctuation preferences or smile big when they get similar edits instead of feeling sheepish.
Your gentleness has always been your forward face. I appreciate that so much. Since I’m working an a very small piece about punctuation, I’d like to say that I believe that the copious use of m dashes is not so much a signal of but a companion to a neurodivergent mind. I revise most of mine out, but they help me corral the fractal thinking.
Thank you so much, Lea. I love that you're writing a punctuation piece and that you see em dashes as "a companion" to neurodivergence. That's beautiful. Please let me know when/where I can read your piece once it's out! I tend to revise a lot of my dashes out too, but my first editor Liz Prato pointed out that there were still a LOT. And then I wrote that into the manuscript. And then Alyssa added it to the index, where it shines delightfully as a piece of language and a marker for how my brain works.
I want to point out that I myself use a lot of em dashes--like, I foresee Laura & her copyediting team flagging more than a few in my book! So I am by no means anti-em dash! That's what was kind of funny about it. I was like whoa, this is a lot even by my standards. But we all have these tics and tricks that mimic the way our ideas exist in our head. And sometimes it totally works to put it on the page exactly the way it's in our head, and other times it's a little bit clearer for someone else's brain if some of those pieces get smoothed out. And I think that's the essence of editing, there's not good or bad. There's just the way it is, what works and what might work better.
Yes--that's what made it so funny! By your standards, which are very pro em-dash, I STILL was overdoing. Who knew?! I definitely think in em dash language, stuffing more than is necessary into each thought, so it's not too surprising you caught that on the page and suggested I cut some. THANK YOU for that!
I heard gentle most about my book as well. Surprise! We are all very excited for Imagine A Door. And not just because I love imagining and I love doors. Much needed. Also I’m interested in Alyssa. I predict writing about illness being an important genre moving forward.
Alyssa is fabulous. I think there's a lot of power for us to discover as women writers with illness, chronic pain, and/or disabilities in conversation with each other. I am not surprised that "gentle" has come up in your book journey too. It's such a needed quality right now, you know? When our nervous systems are constantly bombarded with scary stuff.
I’m so pleased that your voice will be in this work, about this work. It will be wonderful to read and reference again and again. 💕
I wonder and worry as we get closer to pub date. Did I do what I set out to do? Will this help enough? What will I wish, six months or a year from now, that I had put in the book? And yet: I see this index, and realize, okay, that's in here, and this is in here, and this too... and my nerves are transmuting into excitement. Who knew a strong index could do that?!
Ditto on the em dashes and congrats on the upcoming book. Can't wait to get my hands on it. As for late year reading, I was reading a bestselling, much loved novel in which I found an error that just floored me. It's a good read, but I can't seem to make myself care. So now, I'm onto book one of Cher's memoir. She doesn't disappoint.
Lori, I know what you mean about certain mistakes throwing us out of a book. Sometimes I find them humorous or slightly eye-rolling and can just move on. But a couple of years ago I was reading an historical novel that had a character reaching for and drinking a Coors during Prohibition, and I couldn't get past it!
Love where the ups and downs have brought you and that you are embracing the much needed compassion and quiet in taking on this project and future projects. You are truly inspiring. Life changes us all and hopefully for the better -- onward we all go! I look forward to more and more and more from your big brain.
This piece makes my indexer heart so happy! It was such a joy to index this book. Also, em dashes are best.
Off to preorder your gentle guidance now!
(Editor raising hand) 😂