by Tammy Ditmore | Apr 12, 2013 | Events, Uncategorized
I’m table sitting on Saturday, April 13, at the Ojai WordFest’s “A Celebration of Words”
at Libbey Bowl Saturday. The event will feature stage readings and performances by authors, poets, playwrights, songwriters, improv players and other word-artists as well as a...
by Tammy Ditmore | Apr 8, 2013 | Editing, Events, Uncategorized
I learned a lot this past weekend at my first National Conference of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). I learned that people look up the words affect and effect in the online Merriam Webster’s Dictionary more than any other words—although qi is often tops at...
by Tammy Ditmore | Apr 2, 2013 | Editing, Events
I’m packing (OK, thinking about packing) today for my trip to the 17th National Conference of the American Copy Editors Society in St. Louis. This is my first trip to an ACES meeting and my first trip to St. Louis, so I’m experiencing a double dose of anticipation,...
by Tammy Ditmore | Mar 15, 2013 | Editing, Language, Publishing, Writing
Adequate stupidity? Yes, I think that about sums up “spinning,” a process that uses software to generate what Spinrobot.com claims is “legible, grammatically correct … syntax” with a single click. Spinning software is designed to allow you to revise written material...
by Tammy Ditmore | Mar 3, 2013 | Editing, personal reflections, Publishing
Last summer I proofread a book that taught me a lot about aging and how small adaptations can make regular houses safer and more comfortable as we get older. Staying Power: Age-Proof Your Home for Comfort, Safety and Style by Rachel Adelson has now hit the shelves;...
by Tammy Ditmore | Feb 14, 2013 | Editing, Writing
Like most writers and editors I know, I work in Microsoft Word most of the time. And like most writers and editors I know, I have a love/hate relationship with the capital W Word program. But today, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided to focus on the love side. So...
by Tammy Ditmore | Jan 18, 2013 | Editing, Language
Found some advice this week that made me smile. And it came from an unlikely source—the SBL Handbook of Style: For Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies. I’m editing a book of essays on the Apostle Paul and his writings, and needed to know how...
by Tammy Ditmore | Jan 8, 2013 | Editing, Language, Writing
#Hashtag. The American Dialect Society voted last week to dub #hashtag the Word of the Year for 2012. When I first heard that news, I winced. The word seems too trendy and tech-focused. I know a lot of people who have never used Twitter and never plan to use Twitter....
by Tammy Ditmore | Jan 1, 2013 | Editing, New Year's Resolutions, personal reflections
I began 2012 with a post publicizing the resolutions I was making for myself and eDitmore Editorial Services. Today, I want to revisit those resolutions and determine how I have fared in the past 366 days. 2012: I resolve to find a way to meet with other editors and...
by Tammy Ditmore | Dec 25, 2012 | personal reflections
It was harder than usual for me to think about celebrating Christmas this year. Work and family responsibilities competed for my time. Minor issues captured too much of my attention. Watching friends and family members wrestle with seemingly intractable problems...
