tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post114259006704267613..comments2023-09-11T04:28:51.223-07:00Comments on Writings, Musings & Other Such Nonsense: Insecure Writer's Support Group...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-82821051836810440332013-01-08T03:30:31.349-08:002013-01-08T03:30:31.349-08:00I have been reading a string of free ebooks, most ...I have been reading a string of free ebooks, most self published, and its infuriating how many grammatical and spelling errors got through the gate, so good advice.sjphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772883091207430753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-24875447563507013152013-01-03T16:56:53.132-08:002013-01-03T16:56:53.132-08:00@ Jamie ~ Lol! I know, right? Leave well enough al...@ Jamie ~ Lol! I know, right? Leave well enough alone!<br /><br />@ Charmaine ~ Wow, a Grisham book? Incredible! But I agree, we do have such a support, we need to use it no matter what!<br /><br />@ Elingregory ~ Wow, I will never look at fanfic the same way again. But you're right, there is no excuse for poor editing. Even if you're broke, you can work something out.<br /><br />@ Hart ~ It is tricky. And editing is such a long process with just one MS, I can't imagine several at once. But I bet I'll be in that spot some day and I'll have to remember to rotate them out like you do. Good plan!Mel Chesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200734886454147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-77172274965398342802013-01-03T12:24:56.346-08:002013-01-03T12:24:56.346-08:00Glad you're writing the second book. Good luck...Glad you're writing the second book. Good luck. I agree with the first one. Nothing bugs me more than a sloppy book. Jessica Salyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00227752359369023249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-67177149451849496502013-01-03T07:05:31.875-08:002013-01-03T07:05:31.875-08:00Man, such a tricky thing, eh? I totally agree on h...Man, such a tricky thing, eh? I totally agree on hiring an editor. I really think we do ourselves a disservice letting anything OUT THERE when it still has pretty big problems. And if we've done it, then we CAN let it go once it's gone... I have several MSs though, that still need work. I just keep writing, and even through I technically spend more time editing, it takes even MORE time to edit ENOUGH. I rotate through projects and still it seems like nothing is quite done.<br /><br />Glad your Hellfire experience is going a lot better!Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-18819854696452214682013-01-03T06:07:46.082-08:002013-01-03T06:07:46.082-08:00I stop reading poorly disguised fan fiction and ha...I stop reading poorly disguised fan fiction and hate it when I get the feeling that I'm reading someone's sexual fantasies. But as for poor editing ,my tolerance varies according to how gripping the story is. If it's a real romp-along tale I'm much more inclined to be forgiving.<br /><br />Interesting post. I've never considered self publishing because I know I need editorial back up and I'm utter pants at marketing. :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-81203040587874337392013-01-03T03:10:07.004-08:002013-01-03T03:10:07.004-08:00Editing is the big thing that needs addressing, no...Editing is the big thing that needs addressing, not just with grammar, structure, but I read many books that seem like a great start but just needed to be tightened to be really fantastic. This is not just self-pubbed books, I had to put down a John Grisham book just last week (unfinished) because it read like a first draft. Writers have a great supportive community, we need to make the most of that and accept help to produce the best work we can.<br />Happy 2013 -- Year of the Writer!Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-1483421891433577822013-01-02T22:49:04.241-08:002013-01-02T22:49:04.241-08:00Poor/lack of editing is usually what makes me put ...Poor/lack of editing is usually what makes me put down a book. It irritates me that it feels like the author never got anyone to look at the book before it was published (more often than not these are self published works, which is why I stopped reading self published).<br /><br />You're right about not going back and rehashing older novels. George Lucas did that with his films, and look where it got us. Ewoks with eyelids and that infamous Darth Vader "Noooooooooooo!"<br /><br />JamieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-43361532138294665442013-01-02T22:35:50.497-08:002013-01-02T22:35:50.497-08:00Editing is so very important. I hate when I invest...Editing is so very important. I hate when I invest in a book and find inconsistencies, problems, etc. <br /><br />Terrific post with great advice. happy New Year!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-82099446282314460512013-01-02T19:28:07.707-08:002013-01-02T19:28:07.707-08:00Great advice! I'll read anything. I don't ...Great advice! I'll read anything. I don't care if it's indie, big house, or small house, just as long as I'm hooked on the first page. If not, well, that's the kiss of death. I'll put the book down and walk away. I think a lot of writers make the mistake of trying to spill a whole bunch of info. in the first chapter, info. that could be left to unfold as the story progresses. I don't need to know how tall, how cute, or how smart the protag is in the very first paragraph. I don't want to be told these things. I want to be shown these things at a nice pace. Okay, I'm done blabbing! Happy New Year and Happy writing on that second book! :) Thanks for the great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14326522346206157210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-908879402304529222013-01-02T15:50:17.937-08:002013-01-02T15:50:17.937-08:00'Nuff said. ;)'Nuff said. ;)Mel Chesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200734886454147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-7346928376176651342013-01-02T14:30:50.733-08:002013-01-02T14:30:50.733-08:00I can so relate, but that is all I'm saying. G...I can so relate, but that is all I'm saying. Great advice. I totally agree, hire an editor!!Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-29339844005402706492013-01-02T14:18:26.944-08:002013-01-02T14:18:26.944-08:00@ Alex ~ I am so excited to be moving on to book t...@ Alex ~ I am so excited to be moving on to book two! And yes, no is going to be a big word for me this year.<br /><br />@ Charity ~ I know, right!? They need to have fresh eyes on that stuff! And woohoo to book two! You go girl!<br /><br />@ Analisa ~ Wow. May have to tell me who that was so I can avoid them... but yes, I want people to like my stuff, not think it is cheap crap.<br /><br />@ Randi ~ But you learned from this, right? That's the most important thing!<br /><br />@ Julie ~ Thanks for stopping by! And THANKS for adding my humble little book to your TBR. :D<br /><br />@ Allison ~ I've read both indie and traditional pubbed authors and find issues in both, sometimes. I really have to pay attention to the reviews, though.<br /><br />@ Tony ~ I agree! They have to keep that fire, or you can tell right when they lose it. If they lose interest, you betcha your reader will too.<br /><br />Thanks for dropping by everyone!Mel Chesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200734886454147170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-31751850353395292592013-01-02T13:56:08.786-08:002013-01-02T13:56:08.786-08:00What bothers me about any book I can't finish ...What bothers me about any book I can't finish reading is that the author always loses their own trail. They forget what was supposed to make the book interesting and instead just keep writing and are clearly no longer inspired. You have to treat the whole story the way you treat the original idea of the story.Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-66506319125181432202013-01-02T11:38:58.445-08:002013-01-02T11:38:58.445-08:00I am always wary of indie publishing because anyth...I am always wary of indie publishing because anything can be published, so it is just less likely that it will be good than if I went with a traditional publisher. That being said, I have read some great indie books, that have been beautifully written.<br /><br />Allison (<a href="http://www.alsgeekbanter.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Geek Banter</a>)Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02586970076965983267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-76225679413169562322013-01-02T11:10:55.177-08:002013-01-02T11:10:55.177-08:00Just stopping by from the IWSG as I'm glad to ...Just stopping by from the IWSG as I'm glad to learn of your book, sounds great and I'm definitely putting it on my TBR list! Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-84378407231810002792013-01-02T09:00:07.960-08:002013-01-02T09:00:07.960-08:00I'll admit it---I did not hire an editor for m...I'll admit it---I did not hire an editor for my first self publish and I regret it. It's ripped off the shelves these days, but I look back at my younger self and wonder just what I was thinking. Great advice!randi leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14207001299508931034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-16863106149184649152013-01-02T08:52:15.764-08:002013-01-02T08:52:15.764-08:00Editing is so important. I used to follow a blogge...Editing is so important. I used to follow a blogger who admitted she just threw any rubbish onto Kindle because if it was cheap someone would buy it... I didn't follow her for long. I am a perfectionist, and I want my work to be the best it can be, each and every time. So my most helpful advice would be, don't be in a hurry, make sure it really is your best!Annalisa Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-21245308568427450862013-01-02T07:32:11.287-08:002013-01-02T07:32:11.287-08:00Amen to hiring an editor! I've put down severa...Amen to hiring an editor! I've put down several self-pubbed books because of the major things that would have been easy fixes. I can get over a few (a few!) typos and slip ups if the story is really good. However, when you have 10 main characters with similar names who don't act anywhere near their age--that's my biggest pet peeve. I don't even care what the story is about. <br /><br />Sorry, can you tell I'm reading one of those right now. <br /><br />I'm with you on that second book as well. I've got two half way finished. One is a sequel, the other something new. Here's to getting them finished, beta read, revised, edited, and polished this year!Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10722111911442589.post-80660539973099660722013-01-02T07:10:06.709-08:002013-01-02T07:10:06.709-08:00Just say no!
Glad you can finally tackle the secon...Just say no!<br />Glad you can finally tackle the second book, Mel. That is a long time to wait.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com