This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

[GWL]: Query Openings & "I"


Mary Lynn wrote:
> Avoid beginning paragraphs (and most sentences, if you can) with "I."  
> These
> are, above all, sales letters which should focus on "you" (as in you, 
> the
> editor or you, the potential readers).  e.g "Your readers would benefit 
> from
> my expertise in skunk cabbage culture" as opposed to "I have years of
> experience in studying skunk cabbages."

For the list in general --
The basic object to the ban on the word "I" is to avoid putting editors 
or readers off by sounding self-centered or arrogant.  It shouldn't be 
considered a hard and fast rule, though.   When the query or article is 
based upon your own original research, for example, you either use a 
judicious number of "I"s or you creat confusion, clumsiness, or even 
unreadable writing.  Scientific papers are the ultimate in avoidance of 
"I" as well as the ultimate in turgidity and unreadability.  

The instruction to focus on "you" (the editor or the reader) instead of 
"I" is a common one in courses, seminars, and articles for beginning 
writers.  I usually don't go along with this either.  One of my own 
personal rules:  NEVER tell an editor what he is going to think.  I 
really resent it when an article or ad tells me what I'm going to think. 
 When you tell an editor what his readers are going to think, it's right 
next door to telling him what he is going to think.  The editor 
undoubtedly thinks he has a much better idea of what his readers need or 
are going to think that I do, and probably does.  (He reads letters to 
the editor; freelancers don't.)  Also, I try to avoid self-praise.  
"Your readers would benefit from my expertise in..." seems too close to 
self-praise to my tastes. 

If I were a skunk-cabbage expert proposing a story I might start my 
query with something like "For the last twenty years I have spent most 
of my waking hours in the skunk cabbage patch.  My story "Life among the 
Skunk Cabbages" will be..."  This approach uses "I," but deemphasizes it 
by moving it to the interior of the sentence.    

Note, by the way, the use of "my story...WILL," not "my story...WOULD."  
To my ear, "would" sounds pessimistic and insecure. "Will" projects 
cheerful confidence.  This editor is going to buy the story, it 
projects; if not, some other editor will.   

Carol Deppe
Author of BREED YOUR OWN VEGETABLE VARIETIES:  THE GARDENER'S AND 
FARMER'S GUIDE TO PLANT BREEDING AND SEED SAVING (See table of contents, 
excerpts, & reviews at http://www.chelseagreen.com.)  

============================================================
Explore the jungle in your backyard -- FREE! eNature has
bird sounds, Animal Finder, Field Guides, experts, activities
and more for a suburban safari you’ll never forget.
http://click.topica.com/caaadxFbUrGSSbVSZwBf/eNature
============================================================

Pass the word to garden writers, editors publishers, horticultural businesses about our list.

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bUrGSS.bVSZwB
Or send an email To: Gardenwriters-unsubscribe@topica.com
This email was sent to: topica.com@spamfodder.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index