Catherine E. McLean says, "BEWARE OF IT!"

"It" seems like such a tiny word but far too many writers gloss over this pronoun's affect on their storytelling. Fewer remember the proper English grammar rules for pronouns, let alone the definition of:  a pronoun is a class of words that function as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and designate persons or things asked for, previously specified, or understood from the context.

Okay, so that definition sounds convoluted to anyone who isn't an English teacher. Because I'm for simplifying things, let me explain it in simpler, more useful terms— When writing fiction, a pronoun takes the place of the last noun, thing, or name used.
The most serious infraction when using "it" is, of course, a Pronoun Reference Error. Such mistakes cause various calamities, faux pas, awkwardness, hilarity, and downright confusion when a reader encounters such errors.

Why? Because CLARITY ensures the reader doesn't stop reading to puzzle out what the pronoun refers to. After all, nothing should ever stop a reader from enjoying what they are reading. Here is a correct example of pronoun use—

    "Marsha loved ice cream. It was her comfort food."  ("It" refers to the ice cream.)
Now for an example of what can go wrong—

    He dropped the thermometer, securing it to the side of the boat so it dangled in the water. The temperature held at forty-eight degrees. It was cold enough to make him shudder.

Now let's translate those "its" to show what they refer to—

    He dropped the thermometer, securing the thermometer to the side of the boat so the boat dangled in the water. The temperature held at forty-eight degrees. Degrees was cold enough to make him shudder.

The humorous image of the boat dangling is one a reader should not conjure in their mind. And the last sentence makes no sense because "Degrees" is the subject. This passage also has what's called a crop of "its."  Crops of are unnecessary repetitions and should be ruthlessly weeded out. So, let's look at this passage for what was actually meant—

    Using string he'd attached to the top of the thermometer, John lowered the digital device over the side of the dingy. When the thermometer was half submerged in the water, he secured the line to an oar mount. He leaned over, watching, waiting, noting the digits slowly winked down until they held at forty-eight.
        Forty-eight degrees. Would his wet suit keep him warm enough, long enough?

In your mind, you had no trouble with the correct example. You easily followed what happened as it happened. You didn't stop and go back to puzzle anything out. This re-edited passage shows (instead of tells).

Which brings me to—"it" often peppers a page because "it" is one of those "shorthand words" grabbed in the heat of drafting. Take a moment now to test your writing for the use of "it." You can use a sample of five or ten pages, or one of your short stories, or a chapter of your novel. Use your computer's search-find feature and type in it — however —  be sure to put a space before and after the word so the computer doesn't find words with "it" as part of the word.

Since your computer highlights the word "it," what do you see? Did you pepper a page?  Do you have "crops of?" You should also do a ratio (divide the total number found into the total number of words checked, which will net 1 "it" every ____ words). Nothing beats a visual to actually see what's what. And nothing beats doing a ratio to discover repetitions that are detrimental to the story or which showcase overuse of crutch words (words unknowingly relied on).

Oh, and do consider this—if you have a problem in those few pages you sampled, it's likely there are hundreds more in the rest of the manuscript to weed out.
  
For those who don't seem to have a problem with "it," take no chances. Add a "pronoun reference error check" on your Revision To Do List when you get to the polishing stage for your story. You do have a check list for your revision process, right? After all, you want the best possible manuscript to present, one that's free of repetitions without purpose.

By the way, "it" is number four on my free Writers Cheat Sheets list of 10 Red Flag Words.
  
And lastly, I collect ratio data on repetitions of Red Flag Words like "it." If you do an "it" check, please share your findings with a comment.

Catherine E. McLean website:  http://www.CatherineEmclean.com
Email: catherinemclean00@gmail.com
Writers Cheat Sheets website: http://www.WritersCheatSheets.com
Writers Cheat Sheet Blog:  http://jewelsofthesky.wordpress.com
Linked-In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catherine-e-mclean/7/70b/372  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/catherine.e.mclean.5

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMcLea7
                 Revision is a Process hashtag: #revisionisaprocess

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Interview with Casi McLean, Author of Wingless Butterfly: Healing The Broken Child Within

What made you decide to be an author? My mother said I dictated stories to her before I could read, so in a sense, I've written all my life. I was Editor of my high school magazine, taught English, creative writing, speech and Drama for many years and wrote to relieve stress so writing evolved naturally. But it wasn't until I unraveled the secrets and lies of my past that I felt compelled to tell my story.

What do you like best about being a writer? I love the WOW factor. When people read my work and really get it. Whether it's my nonfiction work that inspires someone to live their dreams or stop bullying themselves, or my fiction that spirals them into another world where the impossible feels possible, I'm thrilled and their comments feed my muse.

What do you like the least? That's easy, promotion!

How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for writing? Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, I write what I know and sprinkle all my work with a touch of the inspiration I gleaned from digging into my past.

Have you ever felt as if you were being dictated to while you wrote a book--as if the words came of their own accord? If yes, which book did that happen with? Oh my gosh, yes. Sometimes I have so much to write, hours slip away until I find myself sitting in the dark, my fingers glued to my keyboard. Many nights I awakened at two or three in the morning, my mind spinning with my work in progress. I finally set my smart phone by my bed with an open recording app waiting for my midnight inspiration.

You've written five short stories and one novel, Beneath The Lake. The sequel, Beyond The Mist is my WIP and it's almost ready for edits. Between the Shadow's, book three in the series is in the works. Wingless Butterfly is my memoir, and I have several nonfiction works in progress as well.

What is your favorite time management tip? Schedule your day to allow for all your priorities or you will be overwhelmed and slip into oblivion.

Are you a plotter or a pantser, i.e., do you outline your books ahead of time or are you an organic writer? Definitely a panster when I write fiction. My stories whirl in my head and flow through my fingers. When the ideas slow, I just pull back for a while and the next direction finds me. My nonfiction is a bit more organized, but I'm not much on creating a road map. Outlines confine creativity for me.

If you had one take away piece of advice for authors, what would it be? Follow your dreams and never give up!

Did music help you find your muse with this book? If yes, which song did you find yourself going back to over and over again as you wrote? For Wingless Butterfly my muse kept singing A Whole New World, from Disney's Aladdin.

Tell me more about Wingless Butterfly.

"YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW HIM;

HE'S THE KIND OF MAN WHO PULLS WINGS OFF OF BUTTERFLIES."

Her mother's warning haunted her through a childhood steeped in mystery, and sparked a domino effect reflecting what she perceived was true. Until she uncovered secrets and lies in her past that changed everything.

A TRANSFORMATIONAL SELF-HELP MEMOIR

Wingless Butterfly shares a lifetime of secrets like whispers from a best friend and unveils the metamorphosis of a broken child, her struggle to escape a silken chrysalis cocooning her heart, and her desperation to find love, validation, and self-worth. When the mist of a new dawn settled, the fragmented little girl emerged confident and secure with wings to fly in a whole new world––that child was me.

Intimate stories linger within each of us; a unique saga that is ours alone with twists, turns, hopes, and dreams. Some people thrive on messages perceived through childhood; others splinter. But as different as each individual may seem, we all love, hurt, and bleed the same. The distinctiveness of our past develops who we become.

So can we change and, if so, is it possible to erase a lifetime of beliefs? Perspective is reality. When I shattered the broken reflection in the mirror of my past, I finally healed and followed my dreams. This is my story.

How about an excerpt from Wingless Butterfly?

Chapter 1

 Our self-image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become.

Maxwell Maltz

 Her warning still echoed in my mind. “He’s the kind of man who pulls wings off of butterflies.” The faceless man haunted me for as long as I could remember. I shuddered, clenched my eyes as tightly as I could, but the admonition refused to be silenced. My life was drenched in betrayal, a virtual revolving door of insincere men. I married two of them, but one autumn morning in 1989, as I sat sipping coffee in my kitchen, I decided I wanted—no, needed to know why...

A week passed since the adoring voice on our answering machine confirmed Zack’s affair. My husband called repeatedly begging me to listen to his lame excuses, but the scenario was all too familiar and I wasn’t ready to endure that drama again. The soft whir of a distant train murmured a somber song shooting a sudden chill rippling through me. As I reached for the sweater draped across the desk chair, I noticed a book peeking from beneath the crumpled letter that forewarned his illicit relationship. “I guess the wife really is the last one to know.” I grumbled, reaching for the book then flipped through the pages.

Someone had highlighted the final words of the novel and the florescent yellow caught my attention. “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” Anne Frank lived through hell, but despite her suffering, she remained adamant that people were innately good. Her diary, a solace for her, ultimately inspired hope in millions of people who faced their own demons. I closed the book, laid it back on the desk and wandered toward the kitchen. My struggles paled in comparison, but I shared her passion and kindred spirit. Still, when it came to trusting people, I wasn’t so sure. Not anymore.

I'd like to offer 2 FREE chapters to your readers. If any one wants to read more, they can click this link:  http://eepurl.com/ccQ64v

Where can readers find more about your stories, books and you on the Internet?

Website     Twitter     Facebook    Goodreads     Amazon Author Page     Blog

Buy Links:

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bJLp7C

Wingless Butterfly: http://amzn.to/2cf6AB9

Casi, thank you so much for being with us here today. I know my readers will enjoy your work and your interview.