Blogs by Glenda A Bixler
Proofreading and Grammar - Does It Matter?
7/31/2008 6:41:56 AM
Thoughts after working with a new writer...
I do hate it! I hate when I must reject reviewing a book based upon how bad it has been proofread and/or written!
We have a policy that we will not review any book that has more than 30 errors. Sometimes if they are small errors and the book is exceptionally good, we discuss options with the writer...most times to ensure that the errors are corrected.
I had a book come in last week. The writer talked about having been fired and given his age and the market, he was not finding another job. Since I was in this situation a number of years ago, I was immediately empathic and sympathetic toward him, I admit it. He had written two other books and he sent me his most recent, which was his first novel.
I tried, I really tried to help him. First, I notified him immediately that there were problems, since his first page had 24 errors. Now when I say that, I want to be specific:
The entire page was one large paragraph...
The writer moved from first person to third and vice versa
There were typos
There were grammatical issues
There were extra words that showed lack of proofreading
There were formatting problems; i.e., the book's presentation.
In our discussions, since the book was not yet published, I asked him, as I do routinely, whether he was working on a deadline or if he wanted to use a quote, since we normally review published books.
He wrote back and said that he would indeed like to have use and excerpt and we agreed on a LULU copy before his book was published, but he indicated that he had already started to edit/proofread.
The book came, had a beautiful cover and back... I opened it with much expectation, only to, as I wrote above, find the errors.
The writer wrote later that his publisher had agree to have an editor work on the book, that they still wanted to continue toward publishing.
With that vote of confidence, I said I would read it, again thinking I could provide a quote for the cover.
I was heartsick while I read...and, finally decided that I would read to page 50 and stop, for I knew I could not endorse the book.
Now I admit that I've no talent as a fiction writer. I don't have the imagination that many writers have. But I do have all of the basics to write! Skill, talent, perseverance, dedication.
This man had imagination...
Is that enough? I don't think so!
Writing a novel is extremely hard work! I know that! Sure, there are many well-known authors that are spitting out a book a year and have a number of contracts with different publishers, even.
However, they have it all...they have the imagination...and everything else it takes to become an author! And, if they have become an accomplished author, they oftentimes have researchers, readers, editors, experienced expertise assistants, et. al.
Why would a writer try to do this on their own and submit a manuscript without some type of feedback (from other than friends)?
And why would a publisher accept a book that is poorly written?
I hated to tell this man I could not support his book. But if nobody ever tells him...
Would you want to buy a book that was poorly written and full of errors?
Comments (2)
More Blogs by Glenda A Bixler
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• Peer Critical Reviews - Friday, September 26, 2008
• Check It Out! - Saturday, September 20, 2008
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• Honor Defended Coming Soon! - Tuesday, September 9, 2008
• Starting to Read a New Book - Monday, September 8, 2008
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• Critiques - Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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• Yours to Hold.....and Sell! - Saturday, August 2, 2008
• Edit Me, Honey - Friday, August 1, 2008
• Proofreading and Grammar - Does It Matter? - Thursday, July 31, 2008
• Saturday at the Computer - Saturday, July 26, 2008
• Didn't Know, Did You? - Monday, July 21, 2008
• So Many Writers... - Sunday, July 20, 2008
• I'M So Excited! - Saturday, July 19, 2008
• Taking a Break - Friday, July 18, 2008
• Color Me... - Wednesday, July 16, 2008
• Good Morning - Tuesday, July 15, 2008
• Reading A Book a Day - Monday, July 14, 2008
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