If you have doubt, Mr. Brohaugh, of how much I enjoyed your book, you have only to look how deep into it I was before I found something to pick on.

Thanks for dropping in!

Looks like I may have to come up with a different example when I revise Write Tight, but I otherwise stand by my advice to weigh pronouns carefully and remove doubt as to what they refer to when such doubt is possible. I agree absolutely that context and previous setup (and, in this case, physical likelihoods) can and do clarify pronoun connection. Establishing such elements so that you don’t have to spell everything out is one of the core points of Write Tight. But consider in the case of Sarah and the doll that the reader can fully understand who has the doll and still be momentarily distracted by the amusing image–yes, while understood not to be true–of mom reverting to childhood. Rivers may have been working to preclude that momentary distraction.

Sometimes such balancing is even trickier that spinning a ball on one’s nose . . .

But you and Katie both are great writers, so you know what I’m talking about–rules are the most valuable, irritating, restrictive tools we writers have.

I totally agree with using words where people have to stop and look them up. I’m really fond of my hubby’s statement, “keep it simple stupid.” I have a large vocabulary, but if I don’t know the word and I have to think about it, be pulled out of the reading, then pooey on the author, cause I probably won’t read them again.

Oh, the joys of the publishing world. Rules, rules, rules, oh and you can break them if you’re really good at it. Ha!