by Jens Petersen

Here are some more common errors I encounter when editing text. Writers could save themselves money if they carefully reviewed their own manuscripts or articles before submitting them for editing. There are many useful sites on the Internet that list common grammar and usage problems (like my list below). Create your own list and use it to check your manuscript. The “Find & Replace” function in Word is great for finding individual words in a document.

Now you have a checklist to go through, like a pilot preparing to take off—only in your case, you're preparing to send your manuscript off to the editor.

1. its    it's

“its” is a possessive pronoun adjective like my, her, his, our, etc., and does not have an apostrophe (except for one's), for example, “The dog wagged its tail.” If you use the apostrophe, what you are really saying is, “The dog wagged it is tail.”

“it's” is a contraction of it is or it has, for example,“It's not my dog”, or “It's got a cute face.”


2. Their   there   they're

I often find writers confusing these three words.

“their” is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership, for example, “Their house is for sale.”

“there” is used with the verb “to be” to indicate the existence of something, for example, “There is a sale at the mall.”

“they're” is a contraction of they and are, for example, “They're closing the mall.”


3. loose   lose

“loose” is an adjective (and also a verb). As an adjective, it means the opposite of tight or contained, for example, “I have a loose tooth.”

“lose” is a verb that means to suffer the loss of, or miss, for example, “Don't lose your keys.”

One way to remember the difference between the two words is to think that "Lose has lost an 'o'".

4. Many writers nowadays have a terrible time forming plural nouns and possessive nouns.

Here is how to form plural nouns. When you are talking about more than one boy, you simply add an “s”, for example, “The boy came this morning”, becomes “The boys came this morning.” (DO NOT USE AN APOSTROPHE WHEN FORMING A SIMPLE PLURAL, i.e. DO NOT write, “The boy's/boys' came this morning.”)

Here is how to form singular and plural possessive nouns. If there is one boy with a hat, you would write, “The boy's hat is red”, or if there are several boys with hats, you would write, “The boys' hats are red.” For nouns that are already plural, like “children”, you form the plural this way, “children's.”

Jens Petersen is an editor with a wide range of clients. He primarily edits books. For more information, check his LinkedIn profile at
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jens-petersen/21/58a/791
He can be reached at PetersenEditing@yahoo.ca

Jens Petersen is an editor with a wide range of clients. He primarily edits books. For more information, check his LinkedIn profile at
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jens-petersen/21/58a/791
He can be reached at PetersenEditing@yahoo.ca

by Kathleen D. Mailer

Today I'm going to tell you how easy it is to become known as an expert in your industry. Here's a tool you can implement without much effort to boost your sales!


THE AUDIO PRODUCT


Start by adopting a simple “SERVANT ATTITUDE”.

It is imperative that you broaden your perspective. Ask yourself: How can I serve MY clients/ customers better, faster, and more easily?

There's a lot to that question, my friend! It is also one of the THE BEST QUESTIONS to ask yourself every week!

One answer is to create an Audio Product to sell

Here are some ideas of WHAT you can do on Audio:

1. A keynote: A 30-45 minute talk that provides your clients with tons of information that they will need to make changes in their lives. They can soak up your wisdom while driving to the office or perhaps cleaning up.

2. If you've written a book, put your book on audio. I know it is hard to believe, but MANY people don't like to read—actually, they don't mind reading, but “too much” is sometimes just “too much”. It is easier for them to multi-task and listen to your book on audio.

3. Interview someone: Yes, gather together business owners, professionals, or exciting individuals who have a message/testimony/help for your perfect client. Create an audio and make it part of a program. (Perhaps charge $9, $29, or $99 per month, depending on how valuable the information is!) Think about this: If you get 10 clients paying you $99/month, that is almost $1000 per month for you to interview someone and mail out the copy! Do the math for 100 clients!

4. Recite poetry, special prayers, devotions. Create an audio workshop.

There are so many things you can do with the audio CD/mp3. Take some time TODAY to evaluate what you have to offer. Charge for the CD.


How To Create an Audio Product In FIVE Easy Steps:

1. Purchase or download a program that can record and burn CDs.

2. Record yourself reading your keynote or tape your speech while giving it live.

3. Burn the mp3 file to a CD (please make sure that the files are compatible with all CD players).

4. Create a cover design and CD label. REMEMBER: It is important that you package it correctly! Make sure that you have a professional design your cover/CD label and other promotional materials. After all, the quality and professionalism of this material will be the impression people will get of your business.

5. Price it accordingly. If it is an audio book, don't forget the Library of Canada rules.

You are good to go. In almost no time at all, you can produce something with very little investment and make a LOT of money!


The “Create Your Own Audio Book” Package

This Package consists of a DVD case insert, designed to match the front and back covers of your printed book, an Audio Book bar code created for the back, and a matching CD label. Aurora Publishing will do it all and send a proof to you. You may print the components yourself, if you have a high-quality printer, or have them printed at a place such as Staples or Business Depot.

The Package also includes an Instructional Guide, not only giving information on the printing and assembling of the Audio Book, but also giving instructions on recording the CD using the Program, Cakewalk PYRO.

$797.00

Are you producing your book through Aurora Publishing? If so, we offer this Package at the discounted price of $397.00.

This article was taken from the Spring 2011 issue of Today's Businesswoman magazine and used with permission.
http://www.todaysbusinesswomanmagazine.com/subscribe.html

by Jens Petersen

If you need to brush up on your English, there’s an easy and painless way to start. Here are four common errors I encounter when editing books. Study them well and check them in your own work.

1. your you're

“your” is a possessive adjective like my, her, his, our, etc., for example, write “Here is your book.”

“you're” is a contraction of “you are”, for example, “You're welcome” really means “You are welcome.”

Remember: “Your writing will improve if you’re careful about this.”


2. peak peek pique

“peak” can be a noun, referring to “a high point”. It can also be used as a verb meaning “to reach a high point” or an adjective meaning “excellent”.

Write “He is at the peak of his career.” “That mountain has a high peak.”

“peek” can be a noun meaning “a quick look” or a verb meaning “to take a quick look.”

Write “Take a peek at my website.” “Close your eyes; don't peek.”

“pique” is a verb meaning “to arouse or stimulate”.

Write “Her speech piqued my interest.”


3. off of, could of

The preposition “of” is often misused.

In the phrase “off of”, the word “of” is redundant.

Write “He jumped off the pier.” NOT “He jumped off of the pier.”

“could of” should be “could've” or “could have”. In speech the “ve” in “could've” sounds like “of”—hence the misspelling.

Write “I could've come to the party.” NOT “I could of come to the party.”


4. lie lay

To use these verbs properly, you must first memorize their principal parts.

lay laid laid

The action of this verb always acts on some other object. There is always an answer to the question “Laid what?”—it's a transitive verb.

“He lays [what?] the book on the table.”
“He laid [what?] the book on the table yesterday.”
“He had laid [what?] the book on the table before you came in.”

In these examples, the book is the object acted upon.

lie lay lain

The action of this verb does not act on some other object. You cannot “lie” something. The verb is intransitive.

“He lies on the bed.”
“He lay on the bed yesterday.”
“He has lain on the bed for several hours.”

The tricky bit with these verbs is that the present tense of the first verb (to lay) is the same as the simple past of the second verb (to lie).

Write “He lay down on the bed yesterday.” NOT “He laid down on the bed yesterday.”

Write “Why don't you lie down on the bed.” NOT “Why don't you lay down on the bed.”

Jens Petersen is an editor with a wide range of clients. He primarily edits books. For more information, check his LinkedIn profile at
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jens-petersen/21/58a/791
He can be reached at PetersenEditing@yahoo.ca