Smashwords Question

bhartman36 · 01-04-2011, 07:55 PM

I got a review on one of my short stories on Smashwords. To my great embarrassment, the story had a typo in it that the reviewer caught. I went in and fixed it, and uploaded the fixed version, but it pains me that the review is out there w/ the mention of the typo. Is there any way to respond to a review on Smashwords? Is there any notation I can put on the story that the typo's been fixed? Any advice would be immensely appreciated.

P.S. -- Anyone got a rag for the egg on my face?

kcmay · 01-04-2011, 10:19 PM

Gasp! One whole typo?! Shame for shame!

No, there's no way to respond. Try to forget about it and move on. You've fixed it, so all subsequent readers will get the updated version. No biggie. Software has bugs, books have typos. It happens.

bhartman36 · 01-04-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmay

Gasp! One whole typo?! Shame for shame!

No, there's no way to respond. Try to forget about it and move on. You've fixed it, so all subsequent readers will get the updated version. No biggie. Software has bugs, books have typos. It happens.

Thanks.

I could've sworn I went through the damn thing with a fine-toothed comb before I uploaded it. I don't know if I just missed it, or if it got screwed up on the upload, or if maybe it just got screwed up in the format that the reviewer downloaded. He claims he saw the same mistake more than once, which makes me believe it's a transmission problem, because the problem he noticed ("he" instead of "The") only appears once in the copy I have on my machine.

Thanks for the encouragement, though. He said he liked the story otherwise, except for the ending.

James_Wilde · 01-05-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I got a review on one of my short stories on Smashwords. To my great embarrassment, the story had a typo in it that the reviewer caught. I went in and fixed it, and uploaded the fixed version, but it pains me that the review is out there w/ the mention of the typo. Is there any way to respond to a review on Smashwords? Is there any notation I can put on the story that the typo's been fixed? Any advice would be immensely appreciated.

P.S. -- Anyone got a rag for the egg on my face?

It's not much of a review if (s)he felt compelled to comment on one typo. Nobody will pay attention. Can't you add a comment to the effect that it's fixed to the review page if it really worries you?

I'm already making a list (length 1!) of the changes I need to make to my book if I ever get around to putting up a revised version. In fact, two lists - one for the paper version, one for the ebook version.

bhartman36 · 01-05-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

It's not much of a review if (s)he felt compelled to comment on one typo. Nobody will pay attention. Can't you add a comment to the effect that it's fixed to the review page if it really worries you?

I'm already making a list (length 1!) of the changes I need to make to my book if I ever get around to putting up a revised version. In fact, two lists - one for the paper version, one for the ebook version.

It was actually two typos. Both the same one, oddly enough. Twice, I had meant to type "The bartender" when what ended up on the page was "he bartender". I don't know why I didn't notice that on the first upload.

I'm uploading a revised version now. When that's done, I'm going to add to the description the fact that I modified the story to fix the typos. Hopefully that'll be it.

DArenson · 01-05-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I got a review on one of my short stories on Smashwords. To my great embarrassment, the story had a typo in it that the reviewer caught. I went in and fixed it, and uploaded the fixed version, but it pains me that the review is out there w/ the mention of the typo.

That happens. My advice? Ignore it and don't worry about it. Just be more careful next time

bhartman36 · 01-05-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DArenson

That happens. My advice? Ignore it and don't worry about it. Just be more careful next time

Thanks.

It was pretty disheartening, but I'm uploading a repaired copy of the story to Smashwords now.

James_Wilde · 01-05-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

Thanks.

It was pretty disheartening, but I'm uploading a repaired copy of the story to Smashwords now.

The problem with that is the length of time it takes to get all the approvals and the new copy out to all the distributors. Still, I suppose, sub specie aeternitatis, it's not that long.

bhartman36 · 01-05-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

The problem with that is the length of time it takes to get all the approvals and the new copy out to all the distributors. Still, I suppose, sub specie aeternitatis, it's not that long.

I haven't seen it at any distributors yet. I've been checking the Sony ebookstore and it's not listed. I'm going through the same process (re-uploading) on Amazon, and waiting for it to be updated there, too.

Hopefully this stuff gets me some exposure so I can go about putting together a compilation and have a reasonable chance of selling a few copies.

Worldwalker · 01-06-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I could've sworn I went through the damn thing with a fine-toothed comb before I uploaded it.

You can never proofread your own work. You always see what you think you typed, and what you wanted to type, which might not be what is actually there. That's why you always need a proofreader, preferably one who has never read that story in any form before.

neilmarr · 01-07-2011, 06:17 AM

Worldwalker is absolutely right. Cutting a corner by self-proofing ain't a good move. Do bear in mind, though, that some error does sometimes creep in during the automated file conversion (the meatgrinder) process. Smashwords itself doesn't claim it's foolproof. Cheers. Neil

mr ploppy · 01-08-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

It was actually two typos. Both the same one, oddly enough. Twice, I had meant to type "The bartender" when what ended up on the page was "he bartender". I don't know why I didn't notice that on the first upload.

Whoever complained about 2 typos has obviously never read any other ebooks. Or any print books published in the last 3 years, come to that.

jhanel · 01-11-2011, 01:13 AM

Just let it go... To answer your question directly, no... It's there for life. But that's okay. As a reader (not just an author), when I see posts like that, I think to myself: "If that's all they can complain about, that's a $%^& good book. Where's the 'buy' button, again??"

That'll probably be your #1 best advertisement.

RCcoleinger · 01-16-2011, 12:46 PM

Your ebook must be incredible if the only thing the reviewer could find wrong with it was a couple of typeoos. I have paid hundreds of dollars to have works proofread and edited, only to find a typo or two in the final published work. Take a deep breath and continue to do your very best to prevent a repeat. However, I must tell you right now that you will find more during your writing career.

Best wishes

Ronnie Coleinger

G J Lau · 02-11-2011, 06:25 PM

I've read and reread, written and rewritten nearly every word in my novel many times. Other people have read it numerous times. Still I find the odd typo, although out of 99,000 words I think it is down to nearly nil at this point. It's like weeding a garden. The work never seems to end.

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01-04-2011, 07:55 PM	#1
bhartman36 Wizard Posts: 1,323 Karma: 1515835 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey, USA Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021)	Smashwords Question I got a review on one of my short stories on Smashwords. To my great embarrassment, the story had a typo in it that the reviewer caught. I went in and fixed it, and uploaded the fixed version, but it pains me that the review is out there w/ the mention of the typo. Is there any way to respond to a review on Smashwords? Is there any notation I can put on the story that the typo's been fixed? Any advice would be immensely appreciated. P.S. -- Anyone got a rag for the egg on my face? Last edited by bhartman36; 01-04-2011 at 07:58 PM.

01-04-2011, 10:19 PM	#2
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	Gasp! One whole typo?! Shame for shame! No, there's no way to respond. Try to forget about it and move on. You've fixed it, so all subsequent readers will get the updated version. No biggie. Software has bugs, books have typos. It happens.

01-07-2011, 06:17 AM	#11
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Worldwalker is absolutely right. Cutting a corner by self-proofing ain't a good move. Do bear in mind, though, that some error does sometimes creep in during the automated file conversion (the meatgrinder) process. Smashwords itself doesn't claim it's foolproof. Cheers. Neil

01-11-2011, 01:13 AM	#13
jhanel Death Has a Name Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	Just let it go... To answer your question directly, no... It's there for life. But that's okay. As a reader (not just an author), when I see posts like that, I think to myself: "If that's all they can complain about, that's a $%^& good book. Where's the 'buy' button, again??" That'll probably be your #1 best advertisement.

01-16-2011, 12:46 PM	#14
RCcoleinger Member Posts: 12 Karma: 502012 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan Device: nook	Your ebook must be incredible if the only thing the reviewer could find wrong with it was a couple of typeoos. I have paid hundreds of dollars to have works proofread and edited, only to find a typo or two in the final published work. Take a deep breath and continue to do your very best to prevent a repeat. However, I must tell you right now that you will find more during your writing career. Best wishes Ronnie Coleinger

02-11-2011, 06:25 PM	#15
G J Lau Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 415116 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Frederick MD Device: Nook	I've read and reread, written and rewritten nearly every word in my novel many times. Other people have read it numerous times. Still I find the odd typo, although out of 99,000 words I think it is down to nearly nil at this point. It's like weeding a garden. The work never seems to end.

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