September
was a busy, busy, busy month. The highlight was a five day Immersion with Margie Lawson.
We met at the top of her mountain in Colorado. Donna, Julie, Mary, Peggy,
Vanessa, and I showed up with laptops and binders expecting to work, how much
work Donna and Vanessa knew because they had attended Immersion before. The
rest of us had no clue.
Immersion
is working to improve a manuscript using rhetorical devices, finding words that
need to be axed, adding high impact phrases, and other choices to add punch.
Immersion is not an editing course. It is so much more . . .
It is
working nine to twelve hours a day on a manuscript. It is sharing. It is
feeling like a champion one moment and like your face just slammed into a brick
wall the next. It is having great meals and snacks at Margie’s cabin. It is reaching
a level of fatigue you never knew you could reach and still keep on working.
And, it is meeting new friends. We named our group Lightning on the Page. It
was suggested that we call ourselves Chick Peas, because I discovered Hummus,
and I ate it every chance I got.
I think we
all remember rhetorical devices such as Simile,
Alliteration, and Hyperbole. Do you
recall things like:
The dirty
dog died in Dallas (alliteration).
The mumps
made her cheeks look like a chipmunk had hidden its stash in her mouth. (simile)
I am so
hungry I could eat a horse. (hyperbole)
But, have
you heard of other devices such as Anadiplosis—repeating
the last word of one sentence at the beginning of the next sentence.
Anaphora—Repeating a
word or phrase at the beginning of three or more successive phrases or
sentences.
There are
several more rhetorical devices that punch up and maximize an author’s words.
Enjoy some photos from my stay on the mountain. Beauty at every turn. History
in the Rockies.
I hope I can attend another Immersion with my next book. Learn more about Immersion with Margie at www.margielawson.com
Journey of Honor is moving along well. I expect to type The End soon. Then,
it goes to Pamela Thibodeaux for first round edits. Then, I make repairs based
on Pam’s suggestions. Then, it goes to Alicia Dean for the last edits. Then, I
make changes again and again and again. Then, Journey of Honor will be
available for others to enjoy. It’s been a long journey.
Have a
wonderful Fall Season. Watch for creatively costumed creatures when your door
bell rings on Halloween. Enjoy the cooler weather. Enjoy Friday Night Football.
Until next time...Journey
Onward to your destination.
Love,
Nona
