Monte Enbysk

My newest article on my publishing Substack shows authors how to get a strong start at gathering reviews from your release team and through pro reviewing sites. https://lnkd.in/gF7dA_7r

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New blog post: Nonfiction book a-comin' - KEYS and the history of American manufacturing (this is not the title, though). Stay tuned! https://lnkd.in/edVd8p8Q #amwriting #nonfiction #history #design #manufacturing #metallurgy #ironandsteel

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Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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#Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but that doesn't mean #writers should toil alone from start to finish. Communities like these provide support, education, and sometimes credibility. Browse this roundup and see if one or two groups might be a good fit for your needs. https://lnkd.in/gMfC7vAX #writetip #writingtip

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The Midpoint (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7 of 12) via Helping Writers Become Authors #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/ewEiumuZ

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It’s important for both writers and editors to understand the nuances of the phrase "to have" and its past participle "had," as they reveal deeper connections between subjects and actions. https://lnkd.in/e4QXnABb #Writing #Editing #Usage #Language #CopyEditing #RightTouchEditing

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Hire a Professional Writer 🚀 Get a Solved Solution💡. examining the components of the most common sUAS platforms and determining a real-world use for one of them based on its design capabilities.

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"For many archivists, alarm bells are ringing. Across the world, they are scraping up defunct websites or at-risk data collections to save as much of our digital lives as possible. Others are working on ways to store that data in formats that will last hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years. The endeavor raises complex questions. What is important to us? How and why do we decide what to keep—and what do we let go? And how will future generations make sense of what we’re able to save?" #history #archives #socialmedia #digital

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We all write content. This may include books, articles, marketing material, emails, memos, contracts, policies, and other documents. Plain language is valuable in all writing. Get your copy of the ISO #PlainLanguage Standard today. bit.ly/42PqTdA

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7 Ways to Eliminate Wordiness in Your #authorsoftwitter #writer #writingcommunity #amwriting #inventingreality

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The Power of a Pitch "Publishing credentials, well-researched comp titles, and a bit of personalization will certainly help your case, but your pitch is currency." https://buff.ly/3Yv3wqF #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writerslife #amwriting

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New blog post on IndirReader.com

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Authors, if you're working on a #BookProposal you've probably heard that you need to include "comps." Here's the truth-- - fail to include comps or include the wrong ones and it will hurt your chances. - include the right kind of comps and it will help publishers see what you're doing. It's not hard, but do NOT go ahead until you understand what publishers look for in comps. Here's my perspective, as an academic publisher of nearly 20 years: https://lnkd.in/eM8YnWsJ

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