Restraint: Why Editing is Important

Edit. Edit. Edit. 

Erica Chilson has written, rewritten, and rewritten Restraint some more, until it no longer resembles its original edition. 

In an earlier posting, she listed the chapter amount and word-count difference. In tonight's post, she's sharing the errors found AFTER the beta copy of Restraint. The beta copy is the final draft, already been read and edited dozens of times. After the author received the Betas' findings, she fixed those, and then she loaded Restraint on her Paperwhite for another read-through for the final ebook edition. The next to the last read-through. 

Erica Chilson will have to read Restraint one more time when she does copy-edits on the Print Proof, where whatever is found will also be fixed on the ebook edition. Just one more read-through... le sigh.


Erica Chilson has grown exponentially in her craft, and this is the main reason she had to take the M&M of Restraint series off-sale and rewrite it in its entirely... and this is why.


As proof of what was found in the Beta Copy of Restraint, here is a list of all errors spotted, from both the betas and the author herself. 

Betas' Findings

*Intuned x 3. (I swear to God, I fixed that, but managed to use another doc to copy and paste right over it. Smdh) <Jacki, Linsey, Liz, Sandy>

*Threatening (Threatened)* <Jacki, Alexis, Alicia, Liz, Diane, Shelby>

*Supportive bra is remove(d) <Jacki, Liz, Sandy>

*Aaron rip(s) <Jacki, Alicia, DI, Liz, Sandy>

*Gun(remove *-*)metal <Alexis>

*f(l)ight-or-flight <Alexis>

*Reevaluating/re-evaluating* I have no idea if this is correct or not, as I get conflicting responses on Google, says both are correct. Shrugs <Alexis> Any guesses which is correct?? Anyone??

*PWNT* (Snickers) <Alexis, DI, Liz, Sandy>

*Forcing me wraps (forcing me to wrap) <Alexis, Alicia>

*Gone/Went* (Kick my ass. LMAO. I suck) <Alexis, Liz, Diane>

*I actually feed (feel) pretty dang good. <Alexis, Alicia, DI, Diane, Darcy, Sandy>

*Disclaimer not including the word rape* (That is a no-no on Amazon. Great way to get blocked. Dubious consent was used in its place. <Alicia>

*Alecia* (Alicia. I also made it Alicia P (unless you would like it to remain B?) <Alicia>

*Tessie* (Tassie- apparently I was drunk that day. LMAO. Two misspelled beta names. smdh) <Tassie>

*F(f)riendship* <Alicia, Linsey, Jonelle>

*Human(remove space)Kind* <Alicia>

*I reminds(remind) us* <Alicia, Darcy>

*I think (thank) the heavens above* <Alicia>

*There are monster(s)* <Alicia, Liz, Diane, Jonelle, Shelby>

*floor to sit(s) next to Monica* <Alicia>

*I've never see(n)* <Alicia>

*I(t) has nothing* <Alicia, Liz, Diane, Darcy>

*It will always (be) your decision* <Alicia, DI>

*toe(s) curl* <Alicia>

*to(at) home (Hillybilly me says to home, not at) <Alicia>

*He sound(s) content* <Alicia>

*lend me strength(.)* <Alicia>

*This is why I stopping (stopped) feeling* <Alicia, Darcy>

*To trigger(remove s)* <Alicia>

*fragment* <Alicia>

*plural/singular hand/palm* <Alicia>

*I would have feel(felt)* <Alicia>

*only touch woman(women)* <Alicia>

*seductive growl(s)* <Alicia>

*burier X 2 (barrier)* <Alicia, Linsey, Liz, Diane, Sandy>

*I(It) will be like...* <Alicia, Liz>

*in in (flow disruption. While correct, I rewrote sentence* (right alongside the adult decision of what my college major would be) <DI, Jonelle>

*what she says next stop(s) my heart* <DI, Darcy>

*another instance of 'to' versus 'at' home times two* <DI>

*Tuesday(s) afternoon...* <DI, Liz, Shelby>

*play around on (with)* <DI>

*rent (too much his-ro coming out of me* <DI, Alicia>

*bringing you (your) friends X 3* <DI>

*clearer-headed (more clear-headed) <DI>

*when he speaks (to) his son* <DI>

*Awkward sentence about Alec* <Tassie>

*which (who)* <Linsey>

*Welcome to (the) Restraint* <Linsey>

*Restraint membership, reworded to remove brackets* <Linsey>

*as sex (awkward. Missing a word earlier in the sentence)* <Linsey>

*effecting (affecting)* <Linsey>

*always (replace with almost)* <Linsey>

*subtly (subtlety)* <Linsey, Sandy>

*(A) Spork* <Linsey, Liz, Darcy>

*chose (choose)* <Linsey>

*chose (chosen)* <Linsey, Liz>

*never imaged (imagined)* <Linsey>

*hope (wish) them the best* <Linsey>

*(a) baser level* <Linsey>

*redundant 'outside'* <Liz, Sandy>

*too (to) keep* <Liz, Diane>

*bare (bear)* <Liz, Diane>

*redundant myself* <Liz>

*anymore (any more)* <Liz>

*Intoxication (intoxicating)* <Liz, Sandy>

*messages (messaged) me* <Liz, Diane, Darcy>

*in (a) just a* <Liz>

*exactly as he says (said) X 2* <Liz>

*just came (come)* <Liz>

*awkward sentence* <Liz>

*anyone (someone)* <Diane>

* punctuation x 12* <Diane>

*Traveling (to)* <Diane>

*weight (weigh) more than* <DIane, Sandy>

*accidently (accidentally) x 3* <DIane, Sandy>

*shaper (sharper)* <Diane>

*it *them)* <Diane>

*comma and (instead I added a comma and a yet) <Diane>

*(H)is very presence* <Diane>

*bark of laugh(t)er* <Diane>

*missing is* <Diane>

*missing to* <Diane>

*Jipped (Gypped) X 2* <Liz, Diane>

*un(in)escapable X 3* <Diane, Sandy>

*Utter (Udder) (I'm LAUGHING SO FUCKING HARD I'M CRYING!!!!!!!!) <Diane>

*(a)waking hours* <Diane, Sandy>

*by (be) lying* <Diane>

*chauffe(u)r X2* <Diane, Sandy>

*(h)ears* <Diane, Sandy>

*I yank you (her) closer* <Diane, Darcy, Shelby>

*(a)way* <Diane, Sandy>

*Pussycat* <DIane, Sandy>

*dam(n) breaks* <Diane, Sandy>

*Next (time) we meet* <Diane, Darcy>

*(pro)perspective* <Diane, Jonelle, Sandy>

*high(-)handed X 2* <Diane>

*u(p)tmost* <Diane>

*on (an) average* <Diane>

*then (than) X 2* <Diane>

*package(d) deal* <Diane>

*Dexter get(s)* <Diane, Darcy>

*O(f)f* <Diane, Sandy>

*w(h)ere* <Diane>

*Em(im)bedded X 3* <Diane, Sandy>

*carabiner* <Diane>

*in reverse than (then)* <Diane>

*threated (threatened)* <Diane, Sandy>

*un(in)surmountable* <Diane>

*Around & round* <Jonelle>

*murder(ers)* <Jonelle>

*tend(s)* <Darcy>

*awkward sentence* <Darcy>

*remove and* <Darcy>

*that (than)* <Darcy>

*cock(ed)* Darcy>

* tights (thighs)* <Jonelle,Darcy> (That was a horrific error. Damnit! I feel like a moron)

*belong (to)* <Jonelle>

*more redundant 'myself'* <Jonelle>

*then(than)* <Jonelle, Sandy>

*payback(')s a bitch* <Jonelle>

*hammer(ing)* <Darcy>

*repetitive use of force in a paragraph* <Darcy>

*Aaron mumble(s) <Darcy>

*hold(s)* <Darcy>

*conversation(s)* <Darcy>

*remove as* <Shelby>

*Three of them w(h)ere very young* <Shelby>

*Fairytale versus Fairy tale. I googled it and found both on different dictionary sites. No clue which is correct.* <Sandy>

*day(space)trips* <Sandy>

*Sandy suffers from a condition which gives her a great loathing of the hyphen. Forever when I use a hyphen, I will think of her.  & determine if it's necessary* <Sandy>

*You instead of ya* <Sandy>

*NIN should be typed out* <Sandy>

*awkward sentence* <Sandy>

*as-is (I found both on a search, but for Sandy's sanity, I removed the hyphen)* <Sandy>

*Jenna Jam(e)son* <Sandy>

*trustworthy* <Sandy>

*Intrigu(es)* <Sandy>

*re(-)enters* <Sandy> (The irony is not lost on me how Sandy wanted me to use a hyphen)

*Quacking (quaking)* <Sandy>

*beached (beach)* <Sandy>

*Tipoff(don't kill me. tip-off is correct)* <Sandy>

*Me (my) heart & soul (I'm channeling my ancestors. Kris usually spots my "ME")* <Sandy>

*Not an error. But I will explain right here. Ironic that Ava chose Hillbrook on her own, without knowing it was where her father attended. Fated* <Sandy>

*bit(e)able neck* <Sandy>

*Note to Sandy: the reason Roman Alexander & Dalton & Daniel Whittenhower II have plaques on the doors is because they were already Masters of Restraint by the time Kat comes there. Kat is the newest member, even as of Integrated. Aaron eventually becomes a Master. Queen is training him and Roman during Checkmate for Marcus(happened around the same time as Kat)

*good(remove space) bye* <Sandy>

Author's Findings

0% - 20% 

Error: (remove possessive) Master Ez’s had on me clears with his absence. 
Error: Upper-arm (remove hyphen) *every hyphen had Sandy's beautiful face on my mind  *
Error: possessive on a proper noun (Boss's) (remove the s) 
Error: wrong place and (at) the right time. 
Error: Dexter's deep voice (the sadist's) *Dexter's name hadn't been given yet* Uh-oh! 
Error: child size (child-size)
Error: I feel like (a) part in a game
Error: its charm (is) another crown. 
Error: flashes of moist pink (is) an... 
Error: fear that (the) reality... 
Error: for many reason: (reasons) 
Error: 21 punctuation errors 


21% - 37% 

Error: I never want to hear those words (uttered) from your mouth
Error: 27 punctuation
Error: 41 word replacements
Error: (about) how one-sided...
Error: I need (to have) answered
Error: to (take a) shower
Error: 3 capitalization. 
Error: or (the) brush of my mouth
Error: like (a) predator
Error: (with) an inborn instinct
Error: every time we meet (we've met) 
Error: redundant myself
Error: 5 missing (I) when dealing with then (then I) 
Error: time (for) you (to) get properly acquainted
Error:9 missing ANDs
Error: and (for) no other reason
Error: told (to do), like a good girl
Error: to (too) depend (dependent) 
Error: (Enter to unbury dialogue) 
Error: rearview (mirror) 
Error: after (when) ... settles (settled) I (I've)
Error: But I'm sure there might (must) be sweetheart sociopaths. 
Error: (in the) opposite direction of me
Error: he sound (sounds) content
Error: feel (feeling) as if more is going (on) around me
Error: preventing (preventative) measure
Error: and release (by releasing) 
Error: my own (ONLY) barrier
Error: loses (his) patience with me
Error: with (remove THE) brutal force. 
Error: his face (comma) like (the one) he wore... 
Error: stalker in your (my) room
Error: but my heart (is) beating (so) loudly in my ears, (it) removes..



37% - 61% 

Error: 19 punctuation errors
Error: 7 'enter' to make new paragraphs to unbury dialogue
Error: 5 italicize specific words
Error: this (firsthand), but I've taken care... 
Error: 11 words turned into contractions 
Error: 3 deleted 'that'
Error: 14 word replacements
Error: 8 pronouns replaced with proper nouns
Error: 4 hyphen removals (Sandy) 
Error: 2 hyphens added
Error: days (when) I want to act like a skank, skank panties do not manifest in my dresser (drawers)
Error: further than (from) the truth
Error: paying (close) attention
Error: trashy, skany (skanky) pose
Error: 4 word order (word moved in the sentence) 
Error: fiance (fiancee) 
Error: 2 (cum) changed to come. (Cum as the noun is valid. Cum as the verb is not) Despite my heritage, if it's ME cum, it's wrong. If it's MY cum, it's correct. 'me come' 'my cum'
Error: wouldn't need two(,) or (else) he.. 
Error: 2 'tense' errors
Error: 6 reworded awkward sentences
Error: sleep if (IT) off
Error: (as) an added bonus
Error: (Supportive hand disappearing), Master Ez just walks away
Error: 3 singular to plural
Error: 6 remove unnecessary, redundant pronouns
Error: is in (within) arm's reach
Error: 4 'and' replaced with 'to' (instead of a chain of events, it's denoting an action- verb)
Error: (to) accidentally moving (move) the pieces
Error: pull his fingers from my hair (pull my hair from his fingers) 
Error: removed 2 more gunmetal eye descriptors for Darcy.
Error: pursuing (perusing) 
Error: persecute (prosecute) 
Error: it's (is) proof-positive
Error: asked (me) to have sex



61% - 78%

Change: He's very (highly in place of very) skilled and controlled
Error: (by) being born in a small town
Error: 17 word replacements
Error: 28 punctuation errors
Error: 9 restructured sentences
Error: 11 word placement (move a singular word in a sentence to another part of the sentence)
Error: 3 word replacement (redundant use/click the thesaurus) 
Error: 6 'enter' to break up paragraphs and to unbury dialogue
Error: (the) both of us *3 instances of this* 
Error: 7 pronouns changed to proper nouns
Error: 11 contractions created
Error: 2 compound words (I feel like I'm writing the 12 days of English Grammar... ♫ 1 brain dead author ♫ )
Error: 4 tense errors (... and a partridge in a pear tree ♫ )
Error: 6 removed hyphens ( ♫ because I love Sandy ♫ ) 
Error: kept (to) his word
Error: 3 singular/plural
Error: The masters earned their own room(s)
Error: a door in the back corner of the comfort side (,) beckons (remove to) me (add forward)
Error: 4 italicized words
Error: my eyes slips (slip) shut
Error: we don't have to (do a) scene or anything
Error: and (the) others
Error: palms smooths (smooth)
Error: the wood (woods) on a rampage
Error: his hand (hands) trying
Error: I shouldn't be (left) alone
Error: My eye (eyes) are glazed
Error: SHIT (we all missed this time and time again. I found it while reworking a sentence) SHIRT. It's a mofo SHIRT!
Error: appeared (to be) 
Error: A (remove a) disappointment 
Error: I thought (being) gay meant
Error: why are you (being) so mean to me? 
Error: one (who's) playing a game with you
Error: with (the) direction the conversation is going
Error: saw (him) on the street
Error: 4 remove that



78% - 100% 

Error: failure to NOT indent on the first paragraph of a new chapter
Error: 17 'enter' to break up paragraphs and unbury dialogue
Error: (out of) from (remove from) my mind
Error: we comes (come) to rest 
Error: 7 word replacements
Error: 21 pronouns replaced with proper nouns
Error: (to) in (remove in) the chest
Error: 9 delete unnecessary words
Error: 14 word order (rearranged the sentence) 
Error: 11 change the tense
Error: 23 punctuation 
Error: 2 remove unnecessary profanity
Error: 5 uses of the wrong pronouns
Error: 3 awkward sentences restructured
Error: 6 contractions
Error: please bring (in) our misbehaving... 
Error: toes (tips) of his shoes
Error: or it needs (to) not be at all
Error: 2 italicized words
Error: 4 uppercase/lowercase
Error: Cort warms (warNs) 
Error: the bird (birdS) and the bees
Error: 4 'that' removed
Error: thoughts has (have) centered