A couple weeks ago my fur-peeps, Sir Poops and Hair Ball, hosted a Secondhand Shoes Cover Reveal and a contest, Something Borrowed over at The Life of a Novice Writer.
Sad to say, not too many peeps were interested in the giveaway. So we didn’t have too many to choose from. And everyone that wanted their names thrown into the bowl expressed interest in the House of Night Series, not Twilight.
So Sir Poops and Hair Ball picked, Lorelei Bell. YAY!
***
Also, I thought I’d let you all know I’ve been working really hard at getting the book done. It’s been formatted for the paperback and is still in the process of being formatted for the Kindle.
However, I’ve been proofreading and proofreading since I got the paperback format back. And one thing I’ve learned about this experience is this, MAKE SURE YOU PROOFREAD AND EDIT the format.
Once your novel has been formatted, the monkey ain’t over. Because what you’ll find will be missing punctuation, and words that have been respelled. And the sad thing is, is sometimes your eyes don’t pick everything up even though you’ll go through it like a thousand times.
But I’m getting there and I’m fully in the moment. I also have a new appreciation for all the Indies before me. And I would also like to add, if there is a punctuation or misspelling in any Indie work, we should go light on them in reviews for it. It has nothing to do with competency. I think we should be more concerned about their storytelling abilities, sentence structure, and plots. Not to mention, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up the FAMOUS AUTHOR’s novels and have found punctuation and spelling errors. I’ve also been disappointed by their storytelling and plots.
That’s all I have for today. Looking forward to the Holidays. I’ll be taking a six week hiatus form blogging, starting November 20th so I can finish this adventure and hopefully finish my next book. Plus, I need to tend to some ongoing medical issues.
As I leave this post today, I ask, Do you believe we should take it easy on the Indie author for their puncuation and spelling after I explained to you what happens during formatting?
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Congratulations to Lorelei!
ReplyDeleteI've seen spelling errors in every kind of book.
Yup.
DeleteIs that why there are now so many errors? I won't be so harsh on people.
ReplyDeleteMari,
DeleteI think so. I don't believe it has anything to do with competency at all. When one format is changed from another, crap happens.
Oh, Shelly--I published 14 novels through two conventional houses (Big Six houses, mind you), and you would not believe the number of errors they contain! Three of us--my editor, my copyeditor and I--went over each book and still missed things. (To be fair, however, the worst mistakes were made by the typesetters--like the Arab character whose bandana somehow migrated from his head, where I'd written it, to being around his chest, as it was in the published book!
ReplyDeleteIts a daunting task actually.
Deletecongrats Lorelie-- Norma--that is funny ROFL... I used to be a typesetter so I know that you have to be fast and accurate--sometimes accurate goes by the wayside. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteI agree we should take it easy on Indies but the mean people of the world will not be taking it easy--so it's a good thing we are trying to be prepared for them. Like you said we have to proofread over and over again until it's as perfect as possible. Mean folks will judge no matter what happens.
ReplyDeleteThe human eye and even our brains play tricks on us. I'm learing.
DeleteCongrats Lorelei! Good luck with the proofing. I'm not sure how I'll feel about formatting. It doesn't sound pleasant.
ReplyDeleteMiranda its so not pleasant.
DeleteJust be patient as you go through. With getting something published and out there, it's best to be thorough, and not find out a week later that there's something like three pages missing...
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that....
DeleteGood advice, Sir Wills.
DeleteYAY!THANK YOU SHELLY, SIR POOPS AND HAIR BALL!
ReplyDeleteI've had such a long week and finding out some sort of glitch in people finding my second short story was not a good thing. Self-publishing is not all that easy, apparently.
And amen to what you said. You can go through a mss. a hundred times and STILL find something somewhere that you missed before. Your brain simply doesn't pick it up, since you know the story by heart.
So, good for you, Shelly! Get the work done, we'll miss seeing you as you go into that writer's cave, but when you come out, that will be wonderful!
Chocolate hugs to everyone!!!
Schwoo! Thank you.
DeleteAfter uploading two novels with typos, I believe that no one is to blame but myself. And although I'm eager to publish three Hoodies 2 I absolutely will not do so until I'm certain there are none. I'm not a betting man but I'll probably leave a few in.
ReplyDeleteI've been practising the backwards reediting technique and I think I'm ready to give it a go.
Backwards reading does work. Its a technique I used to use in the law office when I worked there. One of the attorneys had horrid handwriting and it was the only way I could decipher it.
DeleteDefinitely take your time proofing it before you publish it.
ReplyDeleteI am. I just hope I find all the errors.
DeleteI hope you have a productive and enjoyable six weeks. It sounds like you have some intense work before you. Thanks for your thoughts about proof reading. This might be why editors are so popular.
ReplyDeleteEditors are needed but some want to charge you two arms, a leg and 4 pints of blood. And writers, especially the newer ones need all our body parts and blood to keep pumping out stories.
DeleteI have spotted so many spelling errors and punctuation flaws in the printed books of the Big Six that I cut Indies slack who have to do EVERYthing.
ReplyDeleteI will miss you while you are gone. And I will be praying for you as you face your medical challenges. Always in your corner, Roland
Yes. Those errors happen all the time with the BIG SIX. So its a good idea to give the Indie some room.
DeleteHi shelly, Sir Poops and Hair Ball,
ReplyDeleteYes, it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, superstar!
I'm very sorry to discover your contest didn't get much attention. Anyway, congrats to Lorelei Bell.
Now then, being an accomplished pawblisher, I always double-check my proof reading. And I have lots of practice because my human when he attempts to write something bordering on legible, makes loads of mistakes. I note a lot of spelling errors. I have seen people spell, "colour", "color"...oops, sorry spell check!
Pawsitive wishes and fulfilling writing, your way, Penny :)
Hello Penny,
DeleteSir Poops and Hair Ball
Congrats to Lorelei (I always loved that name!) and good luck on the proofreading!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lydia.
DeleteIt's impossible to pick up all the typos. Of this, I am convinced.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I'm trying though.
DeleteCongratulations to Lorelei!
ReplyDeleteI had not even thought about proofreading after formatting. Yikes. I have added it to my list of must-dos.
As for errors, it is rare to find ANY novel without an error. I think Stephen King is the exception. As a reader I can forgive a few but if it is riddled with errors there is no excuse.
Smiles to you!
DeleteCongrats to Lorelei! Sorry you still have so much work ahead, but it will all be worth it in the end. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and I hope everything is okay. Julie
ReplyDeleteI'm getting there, Julie. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteGood luck as the editing continues!! I didn't know how difficult it would be. Good for you for tackling it!!
ReplyDeleteIts work. And thank you for the well wishes.
Deletecreepy picture of a girl wearing a wedding gown along the street!
ReplyDelete..trek..
I thought the same.
DeleteI'm editing too. It's both a blessing and a curse, I tell you. :) Looking forward to reading your finished product!
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Thanks for stopping by. I did the Look meme at my other blog.
DeleteHey Shelly, I almost missed this! Good luck with editing, and I can't wait to hold my paperback copy!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle.
DeleteI know what you mean about proofreading. I can't count how many times I've read my novel and I still find little errors. It's enough to drive you crazy!
ReplyDeleteYeah. Right now I think I need a straight jacket.
Delete