Comments on: Letting Go http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:26:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Steve Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:35:19 +0000 http://cinemanche.com/?p=277#comment-32 I'm surprised "which" hasn't been Americanised to "wich" ;) You've highlighted the problem though; if you see a typo (even one) in a "published" book, you feel like the quality is lacking in some way, so I should be aiming for the same high standard you expect from a mainstream book. I’m surprised “which” hasn’t been Americanised to “wich” ;)

You’ve highlighted the problem though; if you see a typo (even one) in a “published” book, you feel like the quality is lacking in some way, so I should be aiming for the same high standard you expect from a mainstream book.

]]> By: Lane http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Lane Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:16:02 +0000 http://cinemanche.com/?p=277#comment-30 The word that gets me is "which". I spent about four hours one day at work absolutely convinced that "which" is just a mismatched jumble of letters masquerading as a common word. As for typos in a book... I'm going crazy reading the latest book in a fantasy series I've been reading: The Gathering Storm, part of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, now Brandon Sanderson. There seems to be a typo every 10 pages or so. It is driving me nuts. The word that gets me is “which”. I spent about four hours one day at work absolutely convinced that “which” is just a mismatched jumble of letters masquerading as a common word.

As for typos in a book… I’m going crazy reading the latest book in a fantasy series I’ve been reading: The Gathering Storm, part of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, now Brandon Sanderson. There seems to be a typo every 10 pages or so. It is driving me nuts.

]]> By: Steve http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Steve Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:10:39 +0000 http://cinemanche.com/?p=277#comment-27 I guess the cutoff point has to be a business decision; set a deadline for delivery to print, and do everything you can to ensure top quality before then. I guess I could rely on reader feedback to spot typos, an then fix it before the second printing, but that introduces the concept of beta books, which is somewhere I don't want to go... I guess the cutoff point has to be a business decision; set a deadline for delivery to print, and do everything you can to ensure top quality before then. I guess I could rely on reader feedback to spot typos, an then fix it before the second printing, but that introduces the concept of beta books, which is somewhere I don’t want to go…

]]> By: Mark http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Mark Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:19:53 +0000 http://cinemanche.com/?p=277#comment-26 That of course should have read 'grammar' ;-) M That of course should have read ‘grammar’ ;-)

M

]]> By: Mark http://cinemanche.com/2009/12/06/letting-go/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Mark Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:18:41 +0000 http://cinemanche.com/?p=277#comment-25 It's much more difficult for the creator of a work than it is for the reader. I have an artist friend who just won't leave stuff alone - to the point where the action of 'fixing it' runs the risk of ruining a work. Not the same with proofing though - as a misspelt word is wrong no matter how you look at it - the tricky bit is with revising a work. With proofing - you do your best, throw it at lots of people, do passes for sense, passes for grammer etc. - and yes, something may still slip through. If you have the opportunity between print runs to fix it, then great (there are authors who don't even bother with that). But if you want to actually rewrite something (or repaint, or re-edit), then beware losing the raw edge of your first instinct. By all means polish, but don't risk removing the patina - think George Lucas and just say no. Mark It’s much more difficult for the creator of a work than it is for the reader. I have an artist friend who just won’t leave stuff alone – to the point where the action of ‘fixing it’ runs the risk of ruining a work. Not the same with proofing though – as a misspelt word is wrong no matter how you look at it – the tricky bit is with revising a work.

With proofing – you do your best, throw it at lots of people, do passes for sense, passes for grammer etc. – and yes, something may still slip through. If you have the opportunity between print runs to fix it, then great (there are authors who don’t even bother with that).

But if you want to actually rewrite something (or repaint, or re-edit), then beware losing the raw edge of your first instinct. By all means polish, but don’t risk removing the patina – think George Lucas and just say no.

Mark

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