Get write right when you write
I admit it. I have been goofing off the last couple of days. Instead of writing I’ve been reading. (It’s my opinion that reading makes one a better writer.) Some of the books I read were stunning and well written.
Other of the books I read could’ve had their writers spend more time reading. At the very least, they should’ve had someone read their books before they published them. Glaring spelling and grammar errors jumped out at me. One was so bad all I can think of is that writer did a lot of cut and paste and never read it through afterwards. It had too many disjointed paragraphs and sentences that made no sense at all.
When my books get out there, I do hope I am giving you the very best that I can do. I’d be ashamed to give you anything less.
Nothing makes me scream in frustration more when reading a book than to see careless errors.
Do NOT depend on your spell checker to catch all mistakes. There are words that sound alike but have completely different meanings. Take for example the words write, rite, and right. If, you aren’t sure what spelling is correct, do use a dictionary and look up the word.
Read, read, read, and reread your book. Then have others read it before you send it off.
Posted on February 3, 2011, in Writer, Writing and tagged Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Reading, Spelling and Grammar, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
Doggonedmysteries 
Oh, I couldn’t agree more!
Thanks!
And make sure your readers can spell, know vocabulary and grammar;). I totally agree. I cringe when I see glaring mistakes in books, magazines, newspapers and web pages. If a book or article leaves you saying “huh?” it’s not worth reading, imho. The web pages I’m referring to are actual web articles that have those glaring mistakes….not the comments sent in by readers. THAT is a totally different story.
Yeah, it is. I am known for hitting the send button before re-reading my comment, then finding a mistake, make a second comment to correct my first one. I wish there was a way to edit comments after you send them without looking like an idiot…LOL!
The comments I’m referring to below web articles look like they were written by totally uneducated people. Misspelled words, fragmented sentences, using to, two, and too incorrectly as well as their, there and they’re, etc. They’re also the people who’ll use “ones” as in these ones and thoses ones. And those errors are all in the same comment and just the tip of the iceberg!! That is like dragging your fingernails down a chalkboard for me…Argggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
And then be prepared with good humor for the big one that everyone misses. As I got to witness at a book signing when a devoted but eagle eyed fan of the author demanded to know where the jeep came from that they used when escaping from the wilds.
The author without batting an eyelash, said that the “Jeep Fairy” left it for them.
Later on he told us that was the first time anyone had found that one. He then asked the man if he wanted to be on his reading committee.
I love the Jeep fairy! I’m glad to have you as one of my readers…
So true. I am something of an instinctive proofreader, I can’t help noticing errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. And it irritates me because it interrupts the reading process every time it happens. it’s like running along smoothly with the wind in your hair and then tripping over a log and falling on your face.
Great analogy! I do the same thing. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
So, so true!
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