Open to writers, authors, and anyone interested book publishing

Flo Selfman, wordsmith, copy editor extraordinaire, and co-founder of Words Ala Mode

A note from Kathleen Kaiser

If you are good at grammar, then you have something on me. I never learned it in school and have relied on editors my whole career. After meeting Flo Selfman ten years ago, I learned a few basics with her gentle nudgings, At my age, I’m quite proud that I can incorporate many of the tips she has given me.

We were talking the other day about many simple mistakes even the best writers make and I decided that she would make a great speaker for our July meeting, especially since her webinar that week will go more in-depth on the topic.

ABOUT THE MEETING TOPIC…

We all know the same words. How we put them together is what makes a good, even a great, writer.

Our language is constantly changing. It was always so, but with the rapid pace of today’s media and the internet, it’s hard to keep up.

For us as writers, though, some things don’t change. Sentences still usually have a subject, verb, and object. Verbs still express action (run, jump, sleep) or state of being (I am…). A question still ends with a question mark and an exclamation ends with an exclamation point.

But that’s just the easy part. What are some of the ways language is changing? What’s the difference between regular English and adspeak? What are some of the most common errors people make, both in the media and in writing? What are some common pronunciation errors? Why shouldn’t my husband/wife/best friend proofread my work? What are some frequently “confused and abused” words? Why are prepositions so tricky? Any punctuation tips?

About Flo Selfman

FLO SELFMAN, is a veteran public relations and marketing consultant who has created and implemented PR campaigns for celebrities, authors, and events. She received the IRWIN Award for “Best News Tie-In Campaign” and her press kits have won awards. She is a copyeditor/proofreader for many award-winning books in all genres. She conducts lively on-site grammar and punctuation

review workshops for adults – and can spot a typo at twenty paces! An Ohio native, Flo has a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA, a California Secondary Teaching Credential, and the Instructor Development Certificate from UCLA Extension. She served as IWOSC president, pro bono, 2003-2016. See wordsalamode.com.

Register Now!

JULY MEETING, MONDAY, JULY 19
7 PM PACIFIC
FREE BUT YOU MUST
REGISTER IN ADVANCE

The meetings will be held via Zoom, every third Monday of the month. The morning of you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting.

Please log in early to set up your microphone and video links if you wish to participate. There is no fee or requirement to attend the meeting, just people who want to know more about the book publishing world and what it takes to succeed.