I have the problem that I can edit for “is it saying what I am trying to get across?” *or* “is it saying everything correctly?” But not both in the same pass. So your glitch is exactly what I do to myself all the time. 🫤
I may notice typos in another author's work, but generally dismiss them because I know how tough they can be to spot. My editor says our eyes tend to see what we expect to see and that's how they get past even several pair (or is it pairs?) of eyes.
I worked in the music publishing industry alongside my husband for many years and proofreading music is unbelievably difficult and time-consuming, and mistakes happen. Proofreading text is definitely easier. My fantastic beta readers pick up stuff. My editor of course fixes quite a bit. My final step in preparation is to read through the entire book aloud and I always spot a few things that were missed. So you can understand that by the time I send a book to be published I'm more than ready to throw it against a wall, but I think (hope) it's as ready as it will ever be.
However, my own typos drive me up the wall. When I am re-reading a book for some reason and spot a mistake I fix it. Jump through all the hoops, and yes, it bothers me that people own that book that has the typo iin it. Ugh. However, I don't lose sleep over it. We're all human.
I didn't see any typos! I'm like you. My typos bother me, and I go back and edit and re-edit everything all the time. Every email and every text. I've gotten hooked on "talk to text," because I'm forever busy and in a hurry. But, talk to text butchers everything you say. So, I end up going back over it all and fixing mistakes. It's so silly. I do pride myself on catching typos, but I never would point them out to the author - because I'm human, and I also make typos.
It's funny I sent you a response to yesterday's post about StoryWorth right before I read today's post. It was about how my Dad made a lot of typos as he wrote down his stories for me, and they were his voice, and I loved every single letter. So, don't be so hard on yourself. You're human. :)
I read somewhere that getting worked up about typos is a sign of psychopathy. Unfortunately, that's definitely me. My own typos are an affront to my existence and really annoy me. But, nobody's perfect.
In the mobile/hyper-digital age I've learned to let the first two, maybe three, slide. More than that suggests the author doesn't care about their work, so why should I?
As an indie writer who pays an editor, line editor and formatter in order to present my novels to the world, I'm mortified when maybe two or three years later, I read one of my books and find a typo.
The good thing is that I can re-submit for e-books at no charge. But for print, a new file submitted to Ingram-Spark costs. So yes, I would weep for a minute and then try and forget about it. Life's too short... PS: you did your website yourself? Wow! Go girl! I have a web-man who is my super-hero!!!!!
I can empathize, Ramona. Typos upset me for a couple of reasons: ego and self-esteem. My ego is bruised when I realize readers might’ve come across typos I caught after the fact because I don’t want them to think I don’t know any better. That thought makes me feel shame. My self-esteem takes a hit because I question my attention to detail and my worth ethic when I spot typos after I’ve published a piece of writing.
To be fair to me, I do manage these feelings better as I get older, but the impulses remain. Unfortunately, I think they remain because there’s a part of me that thinks my writing wouldn’t be as sharp without them.
I always go back in and edit any typos, punctuation errors, etc. I cannot help it! Totally understand where you're coming from. I really wish I had an editor.
Jul 29, 2022·edited Jul 29, 2022Liked by Ramona Grigg
Scoot over. I need a spot on that bench! Typos make me butt-clenchy, and I get a lot of gluteal exercise. Once found, I'm desperate to fix them, and I always have a twinge of regret at not being able to go back and fix what gets sent out via email. Thank goodness for the edit option where it exists! Likewise, formatting hiccups (as in Ram-ona) are also troubling and often harder to correct than typos. I could say that I'm working on it, or that I should, but I have a strong hunch that's something about me (us?) that's not going to change. Perfectionists, untie! *wink* (p.s. Edited a typo up there - haha!)
My own typos destroy me. I am convinced that my typos are not only noticed, but savored by my enemies -- though I've yet to consider why my enemies would read my stuff.
Even worse, those I admire, or call my friends, certainly would reconsider any actual or potential association they have with me, and I die lonely and humiliated.
However, other people's typos, misspelling and grammatical errors only make me want to hug them for their beautiful humanity. xo
I'm an English teacher, so my mistakes bother me SOOOO much. I've been known to get a piece published and then write the editor (who also missed my mistake) and have begged them to fix it. Because I'm an English teacher and I just can't have mistakes in public, right???
No typos in your letter, Ramona! 😊
I have the problem that I can edit for “is it saying what I am trying to get across?” *or* “is it saying everything correctly?” But not both in the same pass. So your glitch is exactly what I do to myself all the time. 🫤
I may notice typos in another author's work, but generally dismiss them because I know how tough they can be to spot. My editor says our eyes tend to see what we expect to see and that's how they get past even several pair (or is it pairs?) of eyes.
I worked in the music publishing industry alongside my husband for many years and proofreading music is unbelievably difficult and time-consuming, and mistakes happen. Proofreading text is definitely easier. My fantastic beta readers pick up stuff. My editor of course fixes quite a bit. My final step in preparation is to read through the entire book aloud and I always spot a few things that were missed. So you can understand that by the time I send a book to be published I'm more than ready to throw it against a wall, but I think (hope) it's as ready as it will ever be.
However, my own typos drive me up the wall. When I am re-reading a book for some reason and spot a mistake I fix it. Jump through all the hoops, and yes, it bothers me that people own that book that has the typo iin it. Ugh. However, I don't lose sleep over it. We're all human.
I didn't see any typos! I'm like you. My typos bother me, and I go back and edit and re-edit everything all the time. Every email and every text. I've gotten hooked on "talk to text," because I'm forever busy and in a hurry. But, talk to text butchers everything you say. So, I end up going back over it all and fixing mistakes. It's so silly. I do pride myself on catching typos, but I never would point them out to the author - because I'm human, and I also make typos.
It's funny I sent you a response to yesterday's post about StoryWorth right before I read today's post. It was about how my Dad made a lot of typos as he wrote down his stories for me, and they were his voice, and I loved every single letter. So, don't be so hard on yourself. You're human. :)
I read somewhere that getting worked up about typos is a sign of psychopathy. Unfortunately, that's definitely me. My own typos are an affront to my existence and really annoy me. But, nobody's perfect.
In the mobile/hyper-digital age I've learned to let the first two, maybe three, slide. More than that suggests the author doesn't care about their work, so why should I?
As an indie writer who pays an editor, line editor and formatter in order to present my novels to the world, I'm mortified when maybe two or three years later, I read one of my books and find a typo.
The good thing is that I can re-submit for e-books at no charge. But for print, a new file submitted to Ingram-Spark costs. So yes, I would weep for a minute and then try and forget about it. Life's too short... PS: you did your website yourself? Wow! Go girl! I have a web-man who is my super-hero!!!!!
I can empathize, Ramona. Typos upset me for a couple of reasons: ego and self-esteem. My ego is bruised when I realize readers might’ve come across typos I caught after the fact because I don’t want them to think I don’t know any better. That thought makes me feel shame. My self-esteem takes a hit because I question my attention to detail and my worth ethic when I spot typos after I’ve published a piece of writing.
To be fair to me, I do manage these feelings better as I get older, but the impulses remain. Unfortunately, I think they remain because there’s a part of me that thinks my writing wouldn’t be as sharp without them.
I always go back in and edit any typos, punctuation errors, etc. I cannot help it! Totally understand where you're coming from. I really wish I had an editor.
Scoot over. I need a spot on that bench! Typos make me butt-clenchy, and I get a lot of gluteal exercise. Once found, I'm desperate to fix them, and I always have a twinge of regret at not being able to go back and fix what gets sent out via email. Thank goodness for the edit option where it exists! Likewise, formatting hiccups (as in Ram-ona) are also troubling and often harder to correct than typos. I could say that I'm working on it, or that I should, but I have a strong hunch that's something about me (us?) that's not going to change. Perfectionists, untie! *wink* (p.s. Edited a typo up there - haha!)
I'm a bit mixed on the issue.
My own typos destroy me. I am convinced that my typos are not only noticed, but savored by my enemies -- though I've yet to consider why my enemies would read my stuff.
Even worse, those I admire, or call my friends, certainly would reconsider any actual or potential association they have with me, and I die lonely and humiliated.
However, other people's typos, misspelling and grammatical errors only make me want to hug them for their beautiful humanity. xo
I'm an English teacher, so my mistakes bother me SOOOO much. I've been known to get a piece published and then write the editor (who also missed my mistake) and have begged them to fix it. Because I'm an English teacher and I just can't have mistakes in public, right???