...not capitalizing the first letter at the start of a sentence... I know I have a lot of those as well as run on sentences,...
Check your word processor. A good one has the option of automatically capitalizing the first word of a sentence, fixing that problem for you. If yours doesn't, consider downloading the FREE LibreOffice which does.
Run-on sentences cure: if a sentence is longer than 1.5 times the width of your editing screen (assuming 80 character width), then SHORTEN THE SENTENCE! You will find some you can't do that to, but this will work 90% of the time. If you have used a comma more than three times in a sentence, you've used it two time too many (unless you are listing things). If you have more than one and in a sentence, the second and should be the start of a new sentence (and not using the word and).
Another trick is one verb per sentence. When you change a thought, you need a new sentence. Take a good look at the edits rikithemonk suggested below in message #20. you'll see each of the periods he suggested marked a change in thought.
Finally, when someone suggests an edit change -- do it! your readership is low enough that making the edits in chapter one will have a big impact on future readers staying with the story.
8564498
Check your word processor. A good one has the option of automatically capitalizing the first word of a sentence, fixing that problem for you. If yours doesn't, consider downloading the FREE LibreOffice which does.
Run-on sentences cure: if a sentence is longer than 1.5 times the width of your editing screen (assuming 80 character width), then SHORTEN THE SENTENCE! You will find some you can't do that to, but this will work 90% of the time. If you have used a comma more than three times in a sentence, you've used it two time too many (unless you are listing things). If you have more than one and in a sentence, the second and should be the start of a new sentence (and not using the word and).
Another trick is one verb per sentence. When you change a thought, you need a new sentence. Take a good look at the edits rikithemonk suggested below in message #20. you'll see each of the periods he suggested marked a change in thought.
Finally, when someone suggests an edit change -- do it! your readership is low enough that making the edits in chapter one will have a big impact on future readers staying with the story.
8945671
Thanks for the advise I will definitely keep that in mind as I edit the chapters.