How to Become A World-Class Note-Taker
By Janice Robeson
“Very often, gleams of light come in a few minutes’ sleeplessness, in a second
perhaps; you must fix them. To entrust them to the relaxed brain is like writing on water; there is every chance that on the morrow there will be no slightest trace left of any happening.”~Antonin Sertillanges
Are you in the habit of taking notes?
I hear it over and over again:
“I seem to remember it better if I write it down.”
There’s something positively reinforcing about writing down what you hear.
Some of us learned the art of note-taking in school or it was a requirement of our job. Any journalist will tell you that notes are an intrinsic feature of the profession. Not only is it smart for your work environment, but it communicates to other people that you care about what someone is saying, that you are willing to learn and are open to other people’s ideas.
Here are some trends I’ve observed that will help with note taking:
- The process of writing helps solidify the information in your brain.
- Review your notes soon after taking them—otherwise some things don’t make sense later.
- Be consistent in what you use to take your notes with—be it ruled notebook or computer gadget.
- Organize your notes. Separate them into subject headings or by date.
- Leave spaces between notes.
- Write on only one side of the paper to maintain readability and to keep the blank side free for any details that may need to be added later.
Devise a system to help you remember categories, such as:
- Important
- For Follow up
- Do more research
Make up your own icons or ask other people what they use. If you take notes at meetings it’s a good idea to use those categories for your notes and file accordingly. Of course you’ll want to add a reminder to your calendar if something is time sensitive.
Here’s something you may not have realized—taking notes can lead to some very creative writing! I’ve learned from other people that it’s imperative to keep some kind of notebook with you at all times if you want to keep your creative juices flowing. You could hear a particular song that would spark a memory of something you want to write about or hear a child say something which to them is completely “normal” but which strikes you as hilarious!
Some of my best ideas have come to me in the middle of the night. So now I have a notepad by my bed that lights up when I pull out the pen to write down my flash of inspiration. The next morning it’s either something I can expound on or it makes no sense at all!
I try to be observant and jot down impressions of things I see or comments people make on the news and even odd ideas that pop up now and then. I like to write poems, and the inspiration doesn’t necessarily come all at once, there might be days or weeks between the beginning and the end of one.
Another idea that has really helped is learning to abbreviate—inventing your own personal shorthand. Write down enough to capture the main point, but don’t try to record every word you hear.
There are lots of note-taking systems; check them out on the Internet to see what might work for you. The main point is to get into the habit of writing things down, because that might be the key that unlocks the door to your creativity.
For more information on note taking, check out these resources:
- http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/recovering-the-lost-art-of-note-taking.html
- http://www.mantex.co.uk/samples/note.htm
Janice Robeson is the receptionist at WinePress Group and also handles copyright registration and outgoing mail/shipping. She enjoys becoming acquainted with each WinePress author and hearing their particular story.
Six Tips for Editing Your Manuscript
By Christine St. Jacques
Whether you are a first-time author or a seasoned professional, you know there is always room for improvement in a manuscript. As a Project Manager, I have found that my authors can always find just one more thing to tweak, and they are often surprised and pleased when our editors find even more things to improve.
Editing your manuscript can be a daunting task, especially because you are so familiar with the content. You can easily gloss over mistakes when you have already read through the manuscript dozens of times.
In light of that, here are six easy-to-follow tips for editing your manuscript prior to submitting it to a publisher or professional editor:
1. Check your manuscript for flow and clarity.
Be sure that your text is logical and you finish thoughts. Explain or elaborate on any words, thoughts, or phrases that your audience might not be familiar with. Remember, your readers often do not come from the same background as you, and the material needs to be clear enough for them to understand.
2. Don’t vary your style.
For example, make sure that you use commas in the same way and make your capitalization (of pronouns for deity, titles, names, etc.) consistent throughout the manuscript.
3. Avoid repetition.
Use your word processing program’s Search and Replace feature to weed out repetitive sentences, thoughts, and paragraphs.
4. Use the spelling and grammar check in your word processing program.
This helpful tool will catch major mistakes. However, don’t simply make all of the program’s suggested changes, as it will often cause you to make errors. For example, it might tell you to make something singular or plural that should not be or tell you that a full sentence is a fragment or tell you to use “me” when you should use “I.”
5. Find out if your publishing company uses specific style or submission guidelines or style manuals as a standard for editing and formatting.
If they do, follow these guidelines. At WinePress, our professional editors use the The Chicago Manual of Style
6. Never underestimate the importance of a professional edit.
Even the most trained eye can miss things, so having a professional editor team up with you and work on your manuscript is invaluable. At WinePress, our editors are industry professionals who diligently work to make your manuscript the best it can be while maintaining your individual style and message.
We believe that having a professional editor review your work is always important, and we strive to provide quality editorial services to all of our authors. But it is also beneficial for you to have your manuscript in the best shape possible prior to sending it to a publisher or editor. This will produce a better final product, save time, and potentially help you avoid additional editing costs.
Christine St. Jacques is a Project Manager for WinePress. As the liaison between the author and all of the other departments involved in making a manuscript into a book, she assists authors with each step of the publishing process. Christine feels privileged to work one-on-one with authors to produce a high-quality book and make their vision a reality.
Tweet This!Two Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid
By Mike Owens
Writing, as an artistic outflow of one’s thoughts, experiences, and creativity, can be burdened by the author’s attempts to use rich, vibrant words.
Overusing similes or metaphors is a common mistake among new authors.
The weight of Jon’s thoughts crushed him like the force of a seagull landing on a crab.
That unusual word picture doesn’t move the storyline forward; rather, it causes the reader to stop and ponder the simile itself (thus, drawing attention from the message).
Another common mistake is the use of overly descriptive dialogue tags.
“Hand over your purse,” the thief snarled menacingly.
Can someone snarl her words? Can she simultaneously sigh, laugh and sneeze? I’ve never seen it happen.
A good rule of thumb: If it doesn’t move the story along, get rid of it. No matter how much you like the word, phrase, sentence, or chapter, if the story slows down, it’s got to go.
Keep your writing real.
Mike Owens is a Project Manager for WinePress Publishing. He enjoys working with authors from the start of their book to the final product.
A Few Words on Manuscript Formatting
A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.”
G. K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936)*
By Tammy Hopf
When you’ve finished writing (and rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting) your book, the next step is to format your manuscript appropriately. It would be sad to have done everything right in your manuscript, only to lose credibility because it was not formatted correctly.
Keep in mind that there is no set standard—no one size fits all. The best way to make sure your manuscript fits the proper format is to find out from the publisher. Most publishers offer guidelines online: Go to the publisher’s Web site and check for Manuscript Submission Guidelines. If you don’t see it right away, do a search.
You can also check out the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) area. Failing that, contact the publisher directly via phone or e-mail.
Here are some general rules of thumb for formatting your manuscript:
- Don’t be tempted to make your manuscript “stand out” by using colored ink or fancy scripts. You may think that a bright red fancy cursive might be just the thing to catch the editor’s eye, but it will make your manuscript harder to read and easier to throw in the “circular file.”
- On the title page include all your contact information (name, address, phone number, cell number, e-mail address, etc.).
- Double space the lines and leave one inch margins on all sides.
- Number each page, and put your last name and the title on every page as a header.
- Print on letter sized, white paper (typically 20#) with black ink.
- Use a standard font, like Times New Roman, size 12. Don’t make it hard for the editor to read.
- Use three number signs (#) or asterisks (*) to indicate scene or section breaks.
- If the publisher prefers the manuscript to be submitted electronically, save your manuscript in the universally standard .rtf format.
- Use your word processor’s spell check, and even better, have your manuscript professionally edited. A polished manuscript shows you take your writing seriously.
Tammy Hopf has worked with WinePress Publishing Group since 1999 and has been a project manager for eight years. As the liaison between authors and the design, typesetting, editing, and other production departments, she helps coordinate all the different aspects that transform a manuscript into a beautiful book. She enjoys working with authors to make their dreams a reality.
* http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/G._K._Chesterton/
Additional resources on manuscript formatting:
- http://manuscript-submission.suite101.com/article.cfm/submitting_a_manuscript_for_publication
- http://resourcesforwriters.suite101.com/article.cfm/submitting_your_novel_to_publishers
- http://www.charlottedillon.com/ManuscriptPreparation.html
- http://peachtree-online.com/inner/ManuscriptGuide.aspx
- http://www.writingwriteaway.com/ART-WR-003.htm
- http://www.matilijapress.com/articles/pod-publishing-alternatives.htm
Master Your Craft
I think the first duty of all art, including fiction of any kind, is to entertain. That is to say, to hold interest. No matter how worthy the message of something, if it’s dull, you’re just not communicating.
-Poul Anderson
By Mike Owens
God gives each of us unique gifts in the way we share the message of the Gospel. Authors share most effectively through the written word.
If you’re writing a theological dissertation, you work to share your God-given message with little subtlety or worry whether the audience will accept or reject your message.
If you’re writing a novel, however, you’ll likely share the message in a subtle, but profound style. Readers don’t want to open a novel and find the words preaching at them. They want a good story.
The message you share in your novel won’t hit home if your book reads poorly. Learning – and using – proper style, character development, and plot structure makes your message sing.
Give readers a good excuse to explore Christian fiction by capturing the heart of the greatest storyteller who ever lived. Write fiction that demands to be read and understood.
Mike Owens, a Solutions Advisor, works with new authors to choose the best package for their needs. He also has the privilege of working with authors throughout the process, as a Project Manager.
