An impossible problem? -

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George Hamilton

17 Aug 2012, 04:29 PM | Post: #11

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RE: An impossible problem?

This post was last modified: 17 Aug 2012 04:30 PM by George Hamilton.

Do you have all of the grammar features of MS Word switched on, as I would have thought it would have picked up some of the problems pointed out by, Lynda.

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Mollyc

17 Aug 2012, 05:23 PM | Post: #12

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RE: An impossible problem?

Hi George,
Yes, all of them are checked. Except now I've changed it from standard to formal. See if that makes any difference. I'm now rewriting, line by line, the novel which concerns me the most.
Best wishes and thanks for the suggestion. I've sold thousands of copies of this thing, and it upsets me a great deal to see it go so very wrong. One would hope that after all the word processors and grammar checkers I have put this through, these issues would no longer be a problem. But I have to take responsibility. I had hardly any education. All self-taught.

Molly

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alexroddie Reading "Pompomberry House" by Rosen Trevithick

17 Aug 2012, 05:37 PM | Post: #13

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RE: An impossible problem?

Hi. I've had a look at the book and I've got to say I think it's really badly written. I know this forum is usually an immensely supportive place for writers and I have no wish to change that, but in my view many of these errors are unforgivable in a published book and indicate the need for both a really thorough line-by-line rewrite and the services of a paid editor.

Sorry to sound so negative but I think honesty is best here.
All the best, and good luck with it!

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alexroddie Reading "Pompomberry House" by Rosen Trevithick

17 Aug 2012, 05:38 PM | Post: #14

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RE: An impossible problem?

(17 Aug 2012 05:23 PM)Mollyc Wrote: One would hope that after all the word processors and grammar checkers I have put this through, these issues would no longer be a problem. But I have to take responsibility. I had hardly any education. All self-taught.

Unfortunately I've found word processor-based checkers to be almost entirely useless. I consider myself able to write reasonably correct prose (after a few drafts!) but having recently got my manuscript back from my editor, you don't realise just how many style, grammar and spelling errors slip the net, regardless of how careful you are. There really is no substitute for professional editing IMO.

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Katherine Roberts Reading Katherine by Anya Seton

19 Aug 2012, 01:07 PM | Post: #15

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RE: An impossible problem?

Molly, it sounds as if you might benefit from working with a good copy-editor (not just a proof reader) - these are the kind of things that get picked up during the copy-editing stage at a publishing house and are part of the reason it takes so LONG to publish a book! I do sympathise, because it's often difficult to spot these things yourself, but the money up front could be well spent. As others have said here, if your story is strong then it's a shame to let copy-editing errors drag it down. No book is ever perfect, of course, and I totally get what you're saying about style and writers who break the rules. But if general readers are mentioning errors, then that suggests they are getting in the way of the story, and nobody wants that.

Good luck with the books, anyway, and don't forget to tell readers when you publish the new edition! I think if you make a lot of changes and mark it as a second edition, then people can ask Amazon to update the book if they've already bought it. (Has anyone ever done this?)

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Dorte Hummelshoj Reading Winterlude by Quentin Bates

19 Aug 2012, 01:23 PM | Post: #16

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RE: An impossible problem?

(19 Aug 2012 01:07 PM)Katherine Roberts Wrote: Good luck with the books, anyway, and don't forget to tell readers when you publish the new edition! I think if you make a lot of changes and mark it as a second edition, then people can ask Amazon to update the book if they've already bought it. (Has anyone ever done this?)

Good advice, Katherine.
An author friend of mine did this, and Amazon sent me an e-mail telling me I could download a new version if I wanted to.

Molly, of course writers are allowed to experiment and use stream-of-consciousness e.g., but it takes an excellent writer to pull it off. And even though a woman is confused, she would hardly make so many jumps between past and present tense. So I think it would be a good idea to write in a more conventional style until you have some sort of reputation. I have had to change stories that work well in Danish (my first language) because British readers think I can´t spell so I have learnt to show what my characters are like in other ways.

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Mollyc

19 Aug 2012, 01:28 PM | Post: #17

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RE: An impossible problem?

Dear Katherine,
Thank you for your insightful and kind advice. I've come to realise that grammar is not a black and white issue, but more a continuum. Correctness could be mostly in the mind of the reader.
That having been said, I am rewriting, Miriam's War, and there are too many obvious mistakes that are jarring for the reader. (How were they missed?) Alas though, a copy-editor is out of my reach. I have no other income. And two days ago, my only proof reader was taken to hospital and not expected to live. Still, these things are meant to be overcome.
Best Wishes with your own work,

Molly

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Dorte Hummelshoj Reading Winterlude by Quentin Bates

19 Aug 2012, 01:35 PM | Post: #18

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RE: An impossible problem?

(19 Aug 2012 01:28 PM)Mollyc Wrote: Dear Katherine,
Thank you for your insightful and kind advice. I've come to realise that grammar is not a black and white issue, but more a continuum. Correctness could be mostly in the mind of the reader.
That having been said, I am rewriting, Miriam's War, and there are too many obvious mistakes that are jarring for the reader. (How were they missed?) Alas though, a copy-editor is out of my reach. I have no other income. And two days ago, my only proof reader was taken to hospital and not expected to live. Still, these things are meant to be overcome.
Best Wishes with your own work,

Molly

I understand the money problem completely. I am so privileged that I have a couple of amazing friends who edit my work for free. I wonder if you have friends, e.g. school teachers, who could help you weed out some of your errors?

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ElaineG Reading Standers by Dale Brumfield

25 Aug 2012, 04:14 PM | Post: #19

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RE: An impossible problem?

I don't want to appear rude, but I probably will. One thing is bugging me - I appreciate that you have taken all the advice from the authors here and recognise you have a serious problem with the book and are rewriting it - my query is - why is the book still for sale? Wouldn't you be better off taking it down off Amazon whilst you rewrite it?

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daveb Reading Bed by David Whitehouse

25 Aug 2012, 05:42 PM | Post: #20

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RE: An impossible problem?

(25 Aug 2012 04:14 PM)ElaineG Wrote: I don't want to appear rude, but I probably will. One thing is bugging me - I appreciate that you have taken all the advice from the authors here and recognise you have a serious problem with the book and are rewriting it - my query is - why is the book still for sale? Wouldn't you be better off taking it down off Amazon whilst you rewrite it?

Blimey, that was a bit rude Wink

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