Editing Contest!

Another guest blog by author John Rosenman

FELLOW WRITERS AND READERS, here are the rules for this week’s contest. Please observe the following:

1. Read the page below from my novel featuring overused words, phrases, etc. It might help to reread my blog, “The Hidden Killers of Your Writing,” remembering that not all repetition is bad or avoidable.

2. Only one entry per person.

3. Send an explanation to me by e-mail ( jroseman@cox.net ) no later than Monday, July 8 at midnight. Be certain to identify precisely all the instances of overused words, phrases, etc. that you find and, in some cases, the obvious remedy.

4. I’m offering THREE prizes to three different individuals. Just click on this link, peruse the eight MuseItUp books I’ve published, and decide which ones you want to win and in what order and format. Third place gets the first book on their list. Second place gets the first two books on their list, and first place gets all three books on their list. BE SURE TO SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES IN ORDER!

5. In case of a tie, multiple prizes may be awarded.

6. I am the only judge, and winners will be announced here on Wednesday, July 10.

* * * *

PAGE FROM NOVEL

From the first draft of Inspector of the Cross (It is available here.) Our hero is reluctantly about to make love to his beautiful alien bride who is a member of the enemy.


“This is so much,” she said. “All these irrational human emotions, not to mention what Turois . . .” She sighed. “I will have to think about them, Turtan. Reach a conclusion.” She paused and then placed her six-fingered hand on his cheek. “Will you be able to copulate with me?”

“Make love.”

“All right. Make love.”

“I’m not sure, but if I did, it wouldn’t really be you, Yaneta. It would be some other woman I’ve known. I wouldn’t have anything at all for you.”

She rose, naked, and swept her gaze over him. “Perhaps I’ll have enough for both of us.”

He gazed at her, then removed his hands from the covers. Pulling them down, she examined him.

“You know, I don’t think that you’re going to have any trouble at all, Turtan.”

“Just a moment,” he said as she knelt on the bed. “Before we go any further, there’s something that I’d like to know. How do you . . .”

“What?”

He swept his eyes over her body, so human-like and yet so different. “I’ve always wondered how you Cen had babies. I mean, are they like ours?”

“Yes, only much smaller.” She held two of her fingers wide apart.

“That small?” He paused, feeling dazed. “And where do they . . .”

She laughed, then leaned down and whispered in his ear.

“Really?” He reached up and touched her hair. “Just a moment. You mean they come from your head? That’s amazing! You know, there’s a Greek myth about Zeus that’s like that.”

Roughly she straddled him and slid him into her, her face intent. “Did anyone ever tell you,” she said, starting to move, “that you talk too much?”

*****

Start editing! Be sure to send your email by midnight on Monday, July 8. And don’t forget the list of books you want to win!

John B Rosenman has published nearly twenty books, including SF action-adventure novels such as Beyond Those Distant Stars and Speaker of the Shakk (Mundania Press), A Senseless Act of Beauty (Crossroad Press), and Alien Dreams (Drollerie Press and Crossroad Press). Shorter books include A Mingling of Souls and Music Man (XoXo Publishing), Here Be Dragons (Eternal Press), The Voice of Many Waters (Blue Leaf Publications), Green in Our Souls (Damnation Books), and Bagonoun’s Wonderful Songbird and Childhood’s Day (Gypsy Shadow Publishing). Visit his website or blog to learn more.