Hello AW,
Hi from Oregon. I have been lurking around for a few months making sure there wasn't any bullying going on. As a saying a grew up with goes, "Mean People Suck." Thankfully, it seems it really is as inclusive as the newbie guide claims.
My friend said I would enjoy this forum and possibly get questions answered. Quick background first. I'm a 40-something proofreader-in-training, wannabe-editor with a B.S. in Communications that, once again, seems to be coming in quite handy in life. I was a bit fearful that this forum was just for writers, but I LOVE books, so here I am. I was reading so much (thank you Kindle Unlimited) and proofreading as I went, I decided I wanted to get paid to read one day. Getting paid to write must be quite awesome too.
On to the questions. Why do books even get published when the final product is filled with typos? I don't see it often, but I do see it. It's unreadable and just so shocking. Similarly, why do some of the most accomplished writers still have books come out with glaring mistakes? Surely they have experienced proofreaders and editors, and I know nobody can catch everything. I guess my question is: why can't we get it down to just a handful of mistakes to a book? Do authors shop around or usually stick with one proofreader? How do you choose, or do you let your editor work that out? Any insight would be helpful.
Lastly, are two spaces after periods just not a thing anymore? My kids already make me feel old and outdated, now my ingrained grammar rules are as well. When I began this adventure last summer, I had to look up what the Oxford comma was. Now I know how great it really is; I'll never go back. But that still made me feel behind-the-times. I also might be a double-spacer for life. But we'll see what you guys tell me on that one.
Thanks so much,
Amelia
P.S. I am here to learn and not feel alone. So feel free to point out any usage, grammar, or spelling mistakes I make. Thank you in advance
Hi from Oregon. I have been lurking around for a few months making sure there wasn't any bullying going on. As a saying a grew up with goes, "Mean People Suck." Thankfully, it seems it really is as inclusive as the newbie guide claims.
My friend said I would enjoy this forum and possibly get questions answered. Quick background first. I'm a 40-something proofreader-in-training, wannabe-editor with a B.S. in Communications that, once again, seems to be coming in quite handy in life. I was a bit fearful that this forum was just for writers, but I LOVE books, so here I am. I was reading so much (thank you Kindle Unlimited) and proofreading as I went, I decided I wanted to get paid to read one day. Getting paid to write must be quite awesome too.
On to the questions. Why do books even get published when the final product is filled with typos? I don't see it often, but I do see it. It's unreadable and just so shocking. Similarly, why do some of the most accomplished writers still have books come out with glaring mistakes? Surely they have experienced proofreaders and editors, and I know nobody can catch everything. I guess my question is: why can't we get it down to just a handful of mistakes to a book? Do authors shop around or usually stick with one proofreader? How do you choose, or do you let your editor work that out? Any insight would be helpful.
Lastly, are two spaces after periods just not a thing anymore? My kids already make me feel old and outdated, now my ingrained grammar rules are as well. When I began this adventure last summer, I had to look up what the Oxford comma was. Now I know how great it really is; I'll never go back. But that still made me feel behind-the-times. I also might be a double-spacer for life. But we'll see what you guys tell me on that one.
Thanks so much,
Amelia
P.S. I am here to learn and not feel alone. So feel free to point out any usage, grammar, or spelling mistakes I make. Thank you in advance