Comments on: The proof is in the reading http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/ Rambles around the head of an Irish Grandad Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Emerald Islander http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15320 Emerald Islander Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:47:54 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15320 Yes, hand-written comments in library books are a pain in the ... well, you know where. We might be able to organise some extra publicity for you and the book (always helps with the sales figures), so maybe you can drop me an e-mail about that when you find the time. Yes, hand-written comments in library books are a pain in the … well, you know where.

We might be able to organise some extra publicity for you and the book (always helps with the sales figures), so maybe you can drop me an e-mail about that when you find the time.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15324 Andrew Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:29 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15324 No, Amazon are a faceless bunch of bastards who are slowly but surely turning the screw on real live bookshops and forcing them out of business. I also need to pick a book up ann sniff it a bit before I decide whether to purchase it or not. If yours doesn't smell at least faintly of pipe tobacco and old man pissy trousers I'll probably decide against it. No, Amazon are a faceless bunch of bastards who are slowly but surely turning the screw on real live bookshops and forcing them out of business. I also need to pick a book up ann sniff it a bit before I decide whether to purchase it or not. If yours doesn’t smell at least faintly of pipe tobacco and old man pissy trousers I’ll probably decide against it.

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15323 Grandad Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:43:33 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15323 Welcome Emerald. There is only one thing worse than a bad typo in a book and that is a library book where some smart arse has corrected it with sarcastic comments! Mine is due out mid-January, but I couldn't possibly inflict it on you. ;) Andrew - Mine is one of the .0005%. Of course you are going to buy a copy. You mean you haven't already ordered it on Amazon? Welcome Emerald. There is only one thing worse than a bad typo in a book and that is a library book where some smart arse has corrected it with sarcastic comments! Mine is due out mid-January, but I couldn’t possibly inflict it on you. ;)

Andrew – Mine is one of the .0005%. Of course you are going to buy a copy. You mean you haven’t already ordered it on Amazon?

]]> By: Andrew http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15322 Andrew Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:28:35 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15322 The true horrors of being a proof-reader have occurred to me before. When you think about it, at least 98% of everything ever put down in print is unmitigated shite,so it must be an atrocious job. Yours had better be part of the 2% that isn't. Because I'll probably do something stupid like buy a copy. The true horrors of being a proof-reader have occurred to me before. When you think about it, at least 98% of everything ever put down in print is unmitigated shite,so it must be an atrocious job. Yours had better be part of the 2% that isn’t. Because I’ll probably do something stupid like buy a copy.

]]> By: Emerald Islander http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15321 Emerald Islander Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:51:51 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15321 Sounds rather familiar. I get quite a few manuscripts and on average I read and edit between 10,000 and 15,000 words a day. Plus the about 5,000 I usually write myself each day, that makes a lot of words. But it is important to read a manuscript several times, and have it read by different people. I send a manuscript I consider accepting to four different people to read, and only after I have their reports I make my final decision. In most cases I have a clear feeling for a text, but who says that I am always right? It's better to take other opinions as well. And when the proofs are printed, one needs proofreaders to make sure that there are no mistakes, glitches or typography errors. Happens still too often that some slip through, but one has to make an effort. Always annoys me when I find any unspotted errors or glitches in a printed book. Recently I read the new book of a very well-known and popular author, published by one of the biggest companies in the business. And guess what? There is a very bad glitch in it. One of the main characters has suddenly a different first name on the final pages of the book. Such an error should never happen, especially not in a book published by a firm with plenty of employees. I hope all is going well with your opus now, and I wish you the best of luck. Let me know when it is out. I would be happy to read and review it. Sounds rather familiar. I get quite a few manuscripts and on average I read and edit between 10,000 and 15,000 words a day. Plus the about 5,000 I usually write myself each day, that makes a lot of words.

But it is important to read a manuscript several times, and have it read by different people. I send a manuscript I consider accepting to four different people to read, and only after I have their reports I make my final decision. In most cases I have a clear feeling for a text, but who says that I am always right? It’s better to take other opinions as well.

And when the proofs are printed, one needs proofreaders to make sure that there are no mistakes, glitches or typography errors. Happens still too often that some slip through, but one has to make an effort.

Always annoys me when I find any unspotted errors or glitches in a printed book. Recently I read the new book of a very well-known and popular author, published by one of the biggest companies in the business. And guess what? There is a very bad glitch in it.
One of the main characters has suddenly a different first name on the final pages of the book. Such an error should never happen, especially not in a book published by a firm with plenty of employees.

I hope all is going well with your opus now, and I wish you the best of luck. Let me know when it is out. I would be happy to read and review it.

]]> By: NaRocRoc http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15314 NaRocRoc Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:02:26 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15314 Ah tis all in jest kate! Ah tis all in jest kate!

]]> By: kate http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15319 kate Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:10:04 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15319 Come on girls - calm down....... Come on girls – calm down…….

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15318 Grandad Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:02:36 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15318 I'd laugh at your best. I’d laugh at your best.

]]> By: NaRocRoc http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15317 NaRocRoc Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:46:57 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15317 Are you coming on to me Cecelia?!? Are you coming on to me Cecelia?!?

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-15316 Grandad Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:05:05 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2008/11/03/the-proof-is-in-the-reading/#comment-15316 NaRocRoc - If you are going to the Blog Awards, I'll meet you there to prove who I am. You'll have to buy me a pint by way of apology. I'll be the young blond at the counter surrounded by FF lick-arses. NaRocRoc – If you are going to the Blog Awards, I’ll meet you there to prove who I am. You’ll have to buy me a pint by way of apology. I’ll be the young blond at the counter surrounded by FF lick-arses.

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