Writing Prompts

Learning Grammar through Reading: What Harry Potter Can Teach Us about English Grammar Rules (Week 5)

Introduction

We’ve made it to the fifth book of the Harry Potter series and the fifth week of our lessons learning grammar through reading. This is where things get intense. So intense, in fact, that we don’t . . . know . . . if we’ll be able . . . to go on . . .

Okay, okay, so we can go on. So far, we’ve looked at homophones and evil Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, commas and basilisk fangs, interrogative sentences and boggarts, and subject–verb agreement and gillyweed. Now it’s time to study ellipses. (I know it’s not as exciting as learning the stupefying charm or Petrificus Totalus, but, alas, it is important.)

If you haven’t read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix just yet, I advise you to do so before you continue reading this post. Unless, of course, you’re a fan of spoilers, in which case, please do read on.

Ellipses and the Order of the Phoenix

In non-fiction, ellipses (. . .) serve specific functions. They can either be used to show that something has been omitted from a quotation, or they can be used to show that the writer has taken a pause. The former use is much more common in academic writing of any kind. There are different ways to format ellipses. These vary depending on the style guide being used. Some style guides require a space between each period in an ellipsis, while others require no spaces at all. (In case you’re confused, ellipses is the plural form of ellipsis.)

What purpose does the ellipsis serve in fiction writing? This type of punctuation is usually found within character dialogue. It usually indicates a pause. Basically, it helps the reader imagine exactly how characters are saying their lines of dialogue. Let’s look at a few examples from Phineas Nigellus, Nymphadora Tonks, and Ron Weasley.

“You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts . . . but you cannot deny he’s got style . . .“

Phineas Nigellus—or, rather, his portrait in the Headmaster’s office—is commenting on Dumbledore’s impressive disappearance. Nigellus is not Dumbledore’s biggest fan, so he’s somewhat reluctant to compliment Dumbledore’s “style.” Ellipses are used in this quotation to show that Nigellus is reluctant to make this statement; it is as if he is trying to stop himself from saying it. If you were a disgruntled former Slytherin Headmaster, you might find yourself relying heavily on hesitant punctuation as well.

Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in Harry’s right hand. It was his pride and joy, a gift from Sirius, an international-standard broomstick.

“And I’m still riding a Comet Two Sixty,” said Tonks enviously. “Ah well . . . wand still in your jeans? Both buttocks still on? OK, let’s go.“

Tonks is jealous of Harry’s broomstick. An ellipsis is used here to show that Tonks is changing the topic, as there is no point in her brooding in envy over Harry’s Firebolt when they are about to embark on a very dangerous journey. On a more serious note, all wizards- and witches-in-training should heed Mad Eye Moody’s previous warning about keeping wands in their back pockets. After all, “Better wizards than you have lost buttocks, you know!”

“I’ll make Goyle do lines, it’ll kill him, he hates writing,” said Ron happily. He lowered his voice to Goyle’s low grunt and, screwing up his face in a look of pained concentration, mimed writing in midair. “I . . . must . . . not . . . look . . . like . . . a . . . baboon’s . . . backside.“

The ellipses used in this quotation give the reader information about the way Ron is saying his line. He is adding long pauses between each word because he is imitating Goyle. He is poking fun at the length of time it would take Goyle to write lines. This surely isn’t Ron’s most mature behavior, but what else could Dumbledore have expected when he made Ron a prefect?

Conclusion

Sometimes in life, you just . . . don’t quite know . . . what to say. Even wizards and witches have to take a bit of a pause sometimes, and that’s where ellipses come into play.

What is Freelance Proofreading and What Job Opportunities Exist?

Tips about how to land your next freelance proofreading job

What is freelance proofreading?

A proofreader is someone who examines a manuscript for errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure after an editor has gone over the work for tone and style. The proofreader corrects basic errors so the work can be typeset, and he or she may review it again after it has been typeset to confirm that it is error-free.

Freelance proofreading is a form of proofreading in which you work independently, taking in work from a wide variety of clients. You are not employed by a specific publisher or company but are self-employed and offer your services to several businesses on a temporary basis.

Many proofreaders choose to do freelance proofreading because they enjoy its flexibility. You can set your own work hours; you may like to work at night, for example, while others may prefer to work early in the day. Without having to report to an office or an employer, you can work on freelance proofreading while minding children or running another business. You can accept proofreading jobs directly from authors or take contract work from publishing houses or printers. Freelance proofreaders can negotiate prices directly with their clients. Freelance proofreading also allows you to decide how much or how little work you want to do and to decide which clients you want to work with. There is no formal contract of employment involved in freelance proofreading; therefore, there is no obligation on the part of an employer to provide work or on the part of the freelance proofreader to accept work.

Freelance proofreading obviously lacks the security of formal employment, including health benefits, company pensions, and paid holidays; however, many freelancers are willing to accept these disadvantages in exchange for the opportunity to work from home and avoid a daily commute. Plus, freelance proofreading is a skill that is always in demand!

To be successful at freelance proofreading, you should:

be appropriately trained for the clients you are targeting,
be able to network effectively,
be disciplined,
work well independently, and be happy doing so,
have strong relationship-building skills,
be able to effectively balance your work and personal lives,
market your business, and
continually update your skill set.

How can I find opportunities in freelance proofreading?

Several methods are suggested for finding work in the freelance proofreading industry:

Use personal contacts. If you have already had an in-house proofreading job, tell everyone—at your old company and elsewhere—that you are going freelance, giving them all your contact details and a good idea of what you can offer.
Network. Search for networking opportunities by attending local groups, forums, professional meetings, and annual conferences. You might also wish to join your local chamber of commerce or other business forums. Join LinkedIn. Set up a Facebook business page. Contact publishers.
Use directories. Various online directories list people offering freelance editing. Be cautious when using these, however; their success rates are erratic, and they might be ploys by spammers to elicit e-mail addresses.
Advertise. Making up business cards and creating your own web site are effective ways to promote yourself. Advertising in the Yellow Pages is free, although this might make you the target of marketing campaigns. You can send leaflets to local businesses or get together with freelance workers in related fields, such as designers, typesetters, or translators, and offer one-stop shopping. Professional proofreading societies are sometimes willing to advertise your skills and availability to members or other associations.
Obtain an industry-recognized qualification in proofreading. There are numerous proofreading courses offered. Make sure you choose the right one for you.
Join relevant professional organizations. This is an avenue for networking that will also help you grow your skillset, learn about new opportunities, and increase your professional credibility. Consider joining the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, or a professional group within your field of specialization.

What freelance proofreading opportunities are available?

There are literally thousands of publishers all over the world. There are also thousands of specialized journals that are published monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. All these publishers require copy editors and proofreaders. Publishers make use of freelance proofreading for at least two reasons: (1) the flow of work through a publishing house can be erratic, so it makes sense to employ labor only when needed; and (2) some books and journals, especially if highly technical, require the experience of a specialist in a particular subject. Such expert knowledge is not always available in-house, so a freelance specialist is contracted.

In addition to publishing companies, there are a number of other possible places to advertise your freelance proofreading skills, such as businesses, students, bloggers, web site developers, and school or organizational newsletters. Use your imagination; the possibilities are endless!

Still, it is not always easy to find freelance proofreading work. Even though a great deal of work is to be had, there are many people chasing it. The good news is that publishers always need new freelance proofreaders for a variety of reasons: retirement, illness, maternity leaves, holiday relief, or even a sudden excess of work. As with any other job, you just have to be able to convince a prospective client that you are the most qualified person for the job.

One of life’s greatest privileges is to work at what you love. With a little training and dedication, you too could be working at your dream job from home, perhaps wearing your fuzzy bunny slippers. Best of luck with your quest!

How to Write for Social Media

Engaging Your Audience in 140 Characters or Less

Ten years ago, no one would have guessed that businesses would have to master the art of writing for social media. But in this digital age of selfies and hashtags, learning how to write for social media has become more than just a good idea—it’s a necessity. So what can you do to engage your audience in a short social media post?

1. Establish a consistent voice.

The voice you use when writing for social media should be consistent across different social media sites and posts. Specifically, this voice should be positive and goal-oriented. Of course, it should also be personable and likable; you don’t want your writing to sound as if a robot could have written it. Add the appropriate amount of cheek to suit your audience, based on your targeted buyer personas, but remember that achieving your post’s goal is more important than getting a laugh. (Unless, of course, you happen to be a stand-up comedian or someone else whose brand depends on humor. In that case, being funny is pretty essential. But, you know, no pressure or anything.)

What should your post’s goal be, you ask? Well, generally speaking, a social media post should aim to educate, entertain, or redirect. You can give your readers knowledge, give them a smile, or send them to another page that aims to accomplish either the first or the second goal.

2. Appeal to your readers’ needs.

As with most content marketing principles, completing this step will be much easier if you have a good idea of your target audience. Linking to posts or sharing information that will actually help your readers achieve something will garner respect for your business. Social media sites are great tools for attracting new visitors to your site and raising brand awareness, but people are not going to follow you on Facebook if all you post about is how great your business and its services are. Writing for social media should be a social affair—don’t just talk about yourself! Providing your reader with useful (or entertaining) information is a great way to develop trust in your brand. It’s okay to redirect readers to your home site sometimes, but if every post does this, what reason does anyone have to follow you? They might as well just skip the middleman and go straight to your main site. Your social media pages need to have value of their own to make people stick around.

3. Choose the ideal length.

When it comes to writing posts of ideal lengths, the secret is that there is no secret. Disappointing, I know, but true. Determining the perfect length for a post is one of the many challenges of writing for social media. Different sites lend themselves to different lengths, which means that each post should be catered to the site you are posting it on. A hashtag-heavy, 96-character post may triumph on Twitter, but it’s likely to annoy your followers on Facebook. There are some guidelines about the best length for each medium, but the general rule to follow is this: convey your message and tone as concisely as possible within the confines of that particular medium. Don’t be long-winded, and don’t be vague: say what you need to say, then stop talking.

4. Keep your posts error-free.

Unless your goal is to lose followers or to lose the respect of the followers you already have, you need to make sure your social media content is completely free of errors. I don’t think I need to explain why it is unacceptable for a 140-character post to have a mistake in it. Take yourself and your business seriously by checking your social media posts before they go live. If you need to enlist the help of a proofreading service, do so.

Clearly, writing for social media is not an exact science. A basic understanding of the principles behind content marketing is required if you are going to master the perfect attention-grabbing 140-character (or less) post.