Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Ranting!

I miss the old days. Those days when I didn't know what bad editing/writing was. I'm ruined now. Every two weeks I check out at least ten books from the book mobile. I know I won't read them all though. Mainly because of my newly acquired low tolerance for books with obvious editing mistakes.

I can tell in the very first paragraph how things will go. I often wonder how an editor at a professional publishing company can let a ms get by without fixing it. I'm not talking about actual typos. I'm talking about run-on sentences, overuse of unimportant words/adverbs, info dumps, etc . . .

I picked up a new story this morning and had to put it down after two minutes. I don't have time for editing distractions. Every other day I read while I walk on the treadmill and if I can't find a book that keeps me from concentrating on my body, my pain, or my exhaustion, I have to let it go. Argg! I depend on editors to keep me in la la land for at least 30 minutes!

I've become close friends with a few professional editors and I know they don't let that happen. Every book they've edited is a fun, fast and exciting read, but other editors/publishers . . .

Oh well. I just had to rant for a minute. I'll get off my high horse and edit my story that someone else would probably put down because the mistakes drive them nuts. Go figure.

14 comments:

Susie Swanson said...

Hi I'm your new follower, love your blog, thought your name was familiar. I'm a new poet with a passion for writing, but it sure wouldn't do for you to see my writing sometimes. I'm really trying though...

Fran Hill said...

Don't start me off on the run-on sentence, they really annoy me, why do people do it? Seriously, Susan Hill is one of the worst ...

Melissa Cunningham said...

Susie-I'm trying too. It's so easy to see it when it's someone else making the mistake! I don't see my own nearly as well! Thanks for coming by and following!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I saw your blog on Susie Swanson's blog and decided to visit your site. I know what you mean about editing your work. I also write and it's a lot of hard, hard work. Sometimes I get tired of writing, but we just have to keep on keeping on. I enjoyed your blog. You have a great blog.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I know exactly how you feel. I make some of the same mistakes other authors do, but don't notice them until someone points them out. I do however, notice everyone elses! It's funny how I tend to do that, now that I'm a writer. :)

mshatch said...

I can ignore a lot as long as I like the characters. But it is distracting to edit as you read a book you bought for pleasure.

The Superintendent's Wife said...

As an English teacher, run-ons are the worst! Enjoy your blog!

amberargyle said...

I think if I walked and read, I'd end up car sick.
lol

John Atkinson said...

I don't think I'm a real writer. I have a few symptoms, but my motivation is odd. If it wasn't for my wife's editing my book would have driven readers mad. I've heard her say the same thing you've said here lots of time and she didn't want that in Timekeeper. I was more concerned about the story.

Melissa Cunningham said...

Timekeeper-we all start there. Whatever your motivation, keep it up. We learn as we go. There isn't one writer out there who hasn't written run on sentences or make glaring mistakes. The key is practice, practice, practice. Everyone gets better over time. It's an editor/publisher's job to make sure the book is ready for publication. When books are published that have these mistakes, it's not the author that looks bad (in my opinion) it's the editor/publisher.

Carol Riggs said...

I know what you mean. I think I'm getting pickier in my reads, the more I learn about writing. Bad me! My hubby said, "can't you just read a book in a diff mode, and enjoy it?" Um...no. ;o)

Stephanie Black said...

Yeah, that's the price of being a writer :) Things you never would have noticed before drive you crazy.

Kim Mullican said...

I feel your pain. But worse, is when you spot these errors in the writing of others, but cannot see the same dratted mistakes in your own work. I'm a horrible self-editor....

Kittie Howard said...

Thank you, Melissa, for venting. You hit the nail on the head. I haven't had a really good read in ages because I can't find a book that flows, let alone one without the many mistakes you mentioned. I thought it was just I and woo woo me. It's all very disheartening, actually. And not much can be done about it. *sighs* Publishers either keep lowering the bar or most readers don't want a bar.