‘There will be no more professional writers in the future’

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The way I look at it, language is an author's toolbox, and he or she needs to know how to use those tools correctly, just as much as a carpenter needs to know how to use his tools. Without a knowledge of how to use the tools, in both cases the result is going to be a botched job.

True words, but a botched ebook I can deal with by not reading it. A botched home reno maybe not so easy.

Of course a botched ebook may affect many others in countless traumatic ways and can usually be avoided with proper care.

Just saying that some authors are unaware that their spelling and grammer sucks, perhaps as some carpenters are convinced it is your fault and that they can sue when their own foot goes through the hole in the floor they just fixed as they are presenting you with the bill.

We do take our chances in life

Helen

[bigjantailor]

The article is exactly what the scribes said when the printing press was invented.

I am for the revolution, the more people that write the better the world is.

As I've said before I'm dyslexic (I'm not looking for pity, it how my brain is organized). Years ago working a graveyard shift I started writing to get better at writing. I have gotten better at writing but by no means am I perfect. The more feeling I have for a piece of work the less likely it will be mistake free. However, I have got to a point where I can work in field needing high literacy and excel in it. The ability to publish online, communicate with writers online and be able to work at that dream with more tangible results than the when traditional or vanity polishing were the only choices has made me write more and be a better person.

If there is one person on a thousand out there who betters them self with the help of easy access to forum for their writing, the world is a better one. More writing combats the dumping down our leaders and the market tries to do to us every day. So if a few people lose a lively hood from the revolution so be it... if they made it as writes they won't be working at Mcdick's.

As for the flood of content, in a long run it's a good thing. Right now we are a few years into new world that has not been mapped. The organization that is out there to show what writing goes where has not evolved enough to get writer’s work to the right places. That is why we are here on the forum to sort out where we fit and finding our markets. One thing about the writing market is that is one of the few where a niche market could make someone successful. For example a best seller in Canada is like 10,000 books that 1 sold to every 3,000 Canadians. Now, with the ability to publish book on almost anything a specialized group like model train lover could number 40,000 and you bet they’d like to buy my new mystery on the Model Orient Express. The market will start to stratify. More specialty areas will arise that should make for more opportunities to write the book you really want. Or you can call me Candide.

The proof reading thing I do get. You’ll be happy to know that I get an editor to copy edit the stuff I publish. A certain level of professionalize should be expected. I think it will work itself out in the same way the market will stratify. And venues for buying books will have expectations of the quality of the product.

But I hope you haters of bad grammar can put some context into the your reasoning for hating bad grammar. At least look at writing and writer and say, ‘is this a person I should come down on because they had the ability and resources to make it perfect or is it someone who is a neophyte, who needs guidance.’ Truly, not easy to do but if you do that I'll read more stuff by haters of bad grammar.

Oh, with all that stuff about the market regulating its self, I still lean toward Marx rather than Freadman.

I also question anything in the Globe and Mail.

Have fun, Jan

[BeccaPrice]

Jan, I'm sorry you're dyslexic, and I appreciate the steps you go through to make sure your writing is error free.

But if an author is asking me to pay for a book, I don't care whether the author is dyslexic, or knows English as a second language, or has any other kind of disability. What I care about is a good story well told, with a minimum of grammar and spelling errors. If we're talking fan fiction or something like that, that's different. But if I'm asked to pay for it, I expect professional output. If I'm paying for it, the author shouldn't expect me to provide guidance for them to learn better.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Jan, I'm sorry you're dyslexic, and I appreciate the steps you go through to make sure your writing is error free.

But if an author is asking me to pay for a book, I don't care whether the author is dyslexic, or knows English as a second language, or has any other kind of disability. What I care about is a good story well told, with a minimum of grammar and spelling errors. If we're talking fan fiction or something like that, that's different. But if I'm asked to pay for it, I expect professional output. If I'm paying for it, the author shouldn't expect me to provide guidance for them to learn better.

Exactly. Any guidance the author needs should be sought prepublication; the author can find a class or a support group or beta readers. Paying customers deserve a finished product as close to perfect as the author can make it.

[MikeOxlittle]

What about Cormac McCarthy?

He doesn't bother with much punctuation because he doesn't like ' mucking up the page with unnecessary marks. "

Does that ruin Blood Meridian, The Road, NCFOM for some of you?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MikeOxlittle

What about Cormac McCarthy?

He doesn't bother with much punctuation because he doesn't like ' mucking up the page with unnecessary marks. "

Does that ruin Blood Meridian, The Road, NCFOM for some of you?

No, because he knows what he's doing. But you've got to know what "the rules" are before it's OK to break them .

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

My problem is that I just can't read books that have poor grammar, punctuation and spelling, and sadly in the few independently-published books I've tried reading, those things have been all too common. No matter how good a story-teller the author is, for me, he or she needs to get those things right. Perhaps that's a failing on my part, and I'm being too picky, but I can't help it.

You might find this interesting.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=7343

It explains what I have seen with corporation-published books over the last 7 years or so. They have just as many mistakes as most self-published books.

[MikeOxlittle]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, because he knows what he's doing. But you've got to know what "the rules" are before it's OK to break them .

Well said.

Guess he's the exception to the rule.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

You might find this interesting.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=7343

It explains what I have seen with corporation-published books over the last 7 years or so. They have just as many mistakes as most self-published books.

The gentleman who wrote that interesting article (and thank you for posting the link!) is clearly a professional who's doing things the right way; he stresses how absolutely essential it is to employ a good copy editor. The problem is that the overwhelming majority of independent authors' books have never gone near an editor - and it shows.

[bigjantailor]

Do be sorry for me becasue I'm dyslexic, it is a much an advantage as a disadvantage. The worse thing about something like dyslexicia or autizm or any preceived disablity is to focus on the limitations thus defining the person by the limitations rather than the capablities.

Dyslexcia is a different organization of how the brain process thought leading to many dyslexics be very gifted in spacial imaging, seeing the big picture, be able to solve problems in novel ways, and many other areas. Every teacher and parent should read the book Dyslexic Advantage it show a better way to view dyslexcia. However, it burst my bubble becasue I wanted to by the best dyslexic writer but it seem every successful example of a dyslexic in that book has written one.

If it is paid for it should be the best it can be.

I don't get you have to know the rules to break them... is it something like this: I know robbing a bank is wrong but if I do with style I can get away with it. (I'm being an ass)

Have fun, Jan

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

You might find this interesting.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=7343

It explains what I have seen with corporation-published books over the last 7 years or so. They have just as many mistakes as most self-published books.

What this guy says about copyeditors and how mss. are assigned is completely off the wall.

And he's nuts if he thinks a copyeditor gets $10,000 for a single assignment.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

I hear this being repeated quite often, that it is harder to find "good books" from self-published authors than from traditional. But I've been going to the library for 40 years and have filled bags with recommended reads I've had trouble getting into.

The ratio of books I download from Smashwords vs that which I actually consider a keeper is really no different, I am starting to find.

So what is the ratio? 1/10? 1/100? 1/1000?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by hidari

So, Harry T and LuvReadin would you stop watching a movie if there was poor grammar on the part of the screen play, after all it is just a story like most Fiction out there?

No, but if the film grammar is poor I would stop watching. And if the screen play's dialogue have poor grammar for the purpose and it is used in the film I would stop watching.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The way I look at it, language is an author's toolbox, and he or she needs to know how to use those tools correctly, just as much as a carpenter needs to know how to use his tools. Without a knowledge of how to use the tools, in both cases the result is going to be a botched job.

Unless an editor can fix it. There are a lot of famous authors that are dyslectic for example. The important thing sometimes is to be able to tell an engaging story. Spelling and grammar can always be fixed by an editor.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by tompe

So what is the ratio? 1/10? 1/100? 1/1000?

I don't know.

I was only speaking from my perspective of choosing books, both self-published and traditionally published.

The ratio of good to bad SEEMS to be the same to me because the experience of "some good, some bad" is pretty much the same, no matter where I get books.

So if the experience is going to be the same, and it costs less, and is DRM free, then I will seek out smashwords and other customer-friendly e-book sellers.