Ask a REAL question!

When I was removing the word 'NOT' from the 2000 some places I'd used it in Angel On Board, I found hundreds of places where it was just an extra word. Whether you used it or left it out was irrelevant to the meaning of the sentence, but it did change how the sentence was received.

Case in Point: The question:

1. "Isn't that going to cause you a problem?"

vs.

2. "Is that going to cause you a problem?"

Question 1 is a leading question. The asker of that question knows the answer they expect the questionee to give. It is a manipulation and it felt harsh to read - or frankly, to write.

Question 2 is a genuine question. The asker of that question allows the person being questioned to actually answer it the way they need to. When writing and when explaining this point to people, it feels good to actually ask a question to which a sincere answer can be given.

I was able to eliminate literally hundreds of "not's" out of the book this way. It was easy. The book felt better to read after I did. The conversations felt more open and the characters responded more freely than before. The storyline actually improved with this change alone.

This epiphany really led me to believe that the word "not" is unnecessary in the English language.

I hope you enjoy reading the new, better feeling version of Angel On Board.

Thanks,
EJ