Readers/Writers

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Maybe it's my lack of tact, but I get quite a mixed reaction to lists of mistakes. I'm not going to gush praise at someone for selling me a faulty product, but I don't make a big deal about it either.

What I don't understand is why they don't bother fixing them. I'm only a hobby writer, but I would want anything I wrote to be as near perfect as possible. To have a list of mistakes and then not do anything with them makes me think I'm probably the 50th person to point those mistakes out, and I could have had a better reading experience if the writer wasn't so lazy.

These are all indie or small press writers, BTW.

It could be your approach. If you're going to drop a list of mistakes on someone, it might be better to query first and ask if they'd like it. It could also be the professionalism, or lack of professionalism, of the writer. A pro might curse quietly (probably at himself for making a stupid mistake), but he'll want it fixed.

[starrigger]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

I appreciate it. Shows that the reader is paying attention and cares. It would take some major mistakes, though, to get me to delist my book, change it, and resubmit.

J, there's no need to delist a book for an update. (At least at Kindle, Nook, and SW.) You just submit the corrected version, and it quietly replaces the previous. I've done it a number of times when I've found errors. The main nuisance for me is that I have slightly different versions of front and back matter for the three outlets, so it's three times the work.

Now, if the book is through a publisher, then it's a much bigger pain to do, because you have to get the production person involved and you risk having new mistakes created while fixing the old.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

Hellmark was spot-on about the difference between pistols and revolvers. Don't call a S&W model 29 a revolver. You will fail to make Dirty Harry's day.

Crich, to go one more step, "clip" is an incorrect term for magazine that drives many firearm enthusiasts crazy. On the other hand, I find its usage so common I do not stumble over it or fire off angry e-mails. Except this one.

Yeah, clips refer to little strips of stamped metal that held ammunition for quickly reloading guns that had fixed magazines, or cylinders. When different militaries switched over from fixed magazines to detachable magazines, people still called the part with the ammo that you inserted into the gun by the same term the used before, even though there is a technical difference (that being holding the ammo only before putting in the gun, and holding the ammo while being used in the gun, or to be more technical one loads the magazine or cylinder, and the other loads rounds into the chamber). The usage bled out to the general public from there.

[patrickt]

Some errors in fact such as some mentioned make me cringe a bit when I read but the gun nuts or car nuts or civil war buffs or whatever can be painfully pedantic. But, language is important to writers and, to a lesser extent, readers.

[Penforhire]

I tend to agree. The content of a book is only slightly diminished by a handful of such errors. Most of us are passionate about something. When someone writes about that passion and is in error we can't help but notice. I see it the same for authors who get a location wrong or a historical event like, oh, Paul Revere (sorry, couldn't help but add a current reference that nobody will get in a year, lol).

But if we stumble over it while reading and it disturbs our flow, whether language or fact, we owe it to authors we otherwise enjoy to send them a note. Or rant about it in our blogs.


edit - I believe "an historical" is also still correct, if falling-into-disfavor, English?

[wyndslash]

@pen: "an historical"? i don't think i've heard that before. could you use it in a sentence? xP
what about "waiting on?" i think that's wrong unless it's waiters waiting on someone o_O

[Penforhire]

Nope. Still accepted usage but I thought I'd point out that lots of folks, such as yourself, might balk at it. Example -- http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html

[bobavey]

It is much easier to spot an occasional mistake in a book than it is for an author or editor to catch all of them in a particular book.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

Nope. Still accepted usage but I thought I'd point out that lots of folks, such as yourself, might balk at it. Example -- http://www.betterwritingskills.com/tip-w005.html

i guess that's because i don't really hear many people using it my English teacher would correct me

[Assassin]

I disagree.

Any author that wants to perfect their craft should be open to having their mistakes pointed out at any time. Everyone makes them. Things get missed. Writers need to learn that early, and do their best not to continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

By Dusky Rose

I don't disagree with you. What I pointed out is that a beginning writer USUALLY can't afford professional editing. That doesn't absolve us from doing the best we can ourselves. Not using spell check is unforgivable and even a beginning writer should have a decent grasp of his native language. In my case I've published four books, all of which are not mainstream subjects. Until I see profit potential I'm not going to invest $1,000 to have a professional fine tune them. I write for the personal enjoyment, if I make a little money fine, if not that's fine too. I'm also donating all of the earnings from my second book to the Wounded Warrior Project so that impacts earnings too. My choice. By the time I publish six or eight books I should know if there is a future in it or not. The main problem with writing ebooks is not the writing but the depth of effort required to market them. I spend more time on that than on writing. The self marketing is why reader reviews are so important, but unfortunately many readers assume no obligation to reciprocate even when the books are given for free.

[G J Lau]

As someone whose first novel had more errors that I would have believed possible given the hours I spent poring over the drafts, I quickly learned the value of constructive criticism and a thick skin. I was grateful for the people who took the time to comment. As others have said in this thread, once I am rich and famous I will hire professional editors. Until then, I am more than content to rely on the kindness of strangers who are willing to take the time to help me out.

[montsnmags]

Interestingly apropos:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/06...-be-armed.html

"May I suggest that Mr. Bond be armed with a revolver?

Late-May of 1956, James Bond author Ian Fleming received a politely critical letter from a firearms expert named Geoffrey Boothroyd. It began:

..."

It's an interesting story, touching on reader-author-contact and specifically about a gun.

FWIW, I think it's an interesting blog too.

Cheers,
Marc

[Penforhire]

Thanks for the link. That was great!