@ Devor. That's two jinxes I'm calling haha. What's up with that? You're a faster typist than I am and I tend to be really wordy, saying the same thing.
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The Importance of Eliminating Typos?
- Thread starter BWFoster78
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BWFoster78
Mythic Scribe
Caged Maiden,
I have specific goals in mind for my writing. My measure of goodness is twofold:
1. Is my writing engaging? Is it hard to put down? Does the reader want to return to it as soon as possible when they do have to put it down?
2. Does it envoke an emotional response? Does the reader care about the characters?
These are the two things that I look for in a book, and, if a book meets one of those two criteria, I consider it a success.
I'd love to meet both those goals, but, truthfully, I've found few books that do. I don't know if I'll ever achieve #2 to the level that I desire, though I'll keep striving.
Right now, I think that my writing achieves #1 well enough to be of an acceptable quality. That's going to be my "good enough."
I have specific goals in mind for my writing. My measure of goodness is twofold:
1. Is my writing engaging? Is it hard to put down? Does the reader want to return to it as soon as possible when they do have to put it down?
2. Does it envoke an emotional response? Does the reader care about the characters?
These are the two things that I look for in a book, and, if a book meets one of those two criteria, I consider it a success.
I'd love to meet both those goals, but, truthfully, I've found few books that do. I don't know if I'll ever achieve #2 to the level that I desire, though I'll keep striving.
Right now, I think that my writing achieves #1 well enough to be of an acceptable quality. That's going to be my "good enough."
It certainly sounds like you're ready to pull the trigger then. I'd say give it your last effort and do it!
I think if you're ready, it's as ready as you'll ever be, right?
I think if you're ready, it's as ready as you'll ever be, right?
Strange! It's supposed to go to post #25 in this thread, but when I click it now, I don't get a URL at all, but text from Dragon's Egg. No, not deliberate!
@BW, I like the focus you have. Good luck with your debut novel!
I just like to show off my type-jitsu.
Journeyman
I was taught a long time ago this bit of wisdom: there is no such thing as typos, there are only mistakes.
Put another way, to the author it's a typo, but to the reader it is a mistake. I can think of no reason to allow mistakes out the door if I can prevent it.
Put another way, to the author it's a typo, but to the reader it is a mistake. I can think of no reason to allow mistakes out the door if I can prevent it.
GrandmasterTypos happen. Even professionally edited books by well known authors have them. Of course ideally they shouldn't but they do. No book is perfect, someone will always spot something - that pesky typo, a slightly weak character, an inconsistency the author my not even have considered. Look at any well known book and I bet you it has a mix of reviews. Someone won't like it. Badly written books can become best sellers (I am not saying they should do but the fact that is so) and well written but slightly... rough books may not. New writers often find their book might not be as strong as it might be but that is usually discovered AFTER the event.
I agree an author needs to do the best they can with the resources available (whether that includes a professional editor or not) but they also need to be realistic. Writing gets better with experience.
My own book I know needs... a little polishing and that is something I am intending to work on. Book 2 is better in many ways and I learned a lot, hopefully what is learned from that will be taken onto subsequent works.
Do the best you can do, then learn from the mistakes which will be there and then make the next one better. At least with e-books they are easy to upload again if you do find something.
I am not saying you should just toss out a rough book but if you do the best you can then that is all which can be asked.
I agree an author needs to do the best they can with the resources available (whether that includes a professional editor or not) but they also need to be realistic. Writing gets better with experience.
My own book I know needs... a little polishing and that is something I am intending to work on. Book 2 is better in many ways and I learned a lot, hopefully what is learned from that will be taken onto subsequent works.
Do the best you can do, then learn from the mistakes which will be there and then make the next one better. At least with e-books they are easy to upload again if you do find something.
I am not saying you should just toss out a rough book but if you do the best you can then that is all which can be asked.
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