Cathy C. Hall Writes

Oh, I know your type, writer. You’re a real whiz with grammar, know all the punctuation rules, you even know a couple of those cool proofreader marks. You’ve often said to yourself (particularly after being raked over the editing coals), Pooh! I could do that.

And I know this, writer, because I am that writer.

But after spending about 20 minutes taking the Society for Editors and Proofreaders Self Test, I threw in the red pen. Not so much because I didn’t know what was what, proofreading-wise (though I’m not ruling out that possibilty). It was more of an eyes-glazing-over and not knowing what was what until my head slammed into the laptop and woke me up.

For crying out loud, how many times was I going to have to correct the same &*^% page?

Turns out, proofreading and editing require a ton of patience, an attention to detail, and the singular ability to find every stinking thing wrong on the page. Who knew?

Anyway, I think I’ll just stick to being a writer. But you all go right ahead and give it a go.

(P.S. I think I found this link on my Writing World newsletter–you should give this site a go the next time you’re looking for writing info. And to all those hard-working editors/proofreaders, I’m very, very sorry. I take all those Poohs! back.)

I love, love, LOVE used book sales! Look at all the books I picked up for just a couple bucks! One of my favorite books in the pile is that Treasury of Wit & Wisdom. Because a. I love a good witticism and b. I can use all the wisdom I can get.

Sadly, I do not always have time for wit and wisdom. But then, in what can only be called a witty and wise moment, I had a thought. I bet you like wit and wisdom, too! So I’m going to share here, on the blog; that should motivate me. Occasionally. And possibly, I’ll share a bit of trivia about the person I’m quoting. Because I love, love LOVE bizarre factoids about people, too. I’m not sure why.

To wit:

“A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.”

~Groucho Marx

I’m pretty sure I could have used this line earlier today, trying to figure out something on the Internets. And now a few odd tidbits about Groucho. He dropped out of school at the age of 12, but wrote several books and was friends with T.S. Eliot and Carl Sandberg. He was also friendly with Elton John (though he called him John Elton). And for many years, on stage and the movies, that trademark moustache? Greasepaint.

What about you? Got a favorite Groucho Marx quote or story? Do share!

(P.S. That’s a candy scarecrow necklace, propped up there, on top of the books. Though when I wore it, I felt like it was this cute, little candy person, swinging by its poor little candy neck. Ew.)