tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post6205584128216244091..comments2023-12-07T08:42:44.505+00:00Comments on Wendy's Writing Now: Why You Need A Good Proofreader - Guest Post Julia GibbsWendy's Writinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-72211189592094618532018-06-13T02:21:31.788+01:002018-06-13T02:21:31.788+01:00Wow, great post.Wow, great post.Mitchel Starchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12771294990020295002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-54673157793091065662015-10-22T15:08:59.197+01:002015-10-22T15:08:59.197+01:00I've had this on hold for a couple of weeks as...I've had this on hold for a couple of weeks as I've been too busy to read it. I am SO delighted I didn't just hit the delete key.I'm very faddy about spelling and punctuation and, though I wouldn't dream of undertaking the job of proofreading professionally, I have been happy in the past to help friends out when I can. It's incredibly time-consuming, as Julia says, but, as she also says, you have to read every single word if you're going to do it justice. An interesting post which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you both. Natalie Kleinmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15467444870404220824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-11196833873984839992015-10-18T22:42:17.826+01:002015-10-18T22:42:17.826+01:00Proofreading is one job I just can't do. I'...Proofreading is one job I just can't do. I've tried it and every time I think I've spotted up every possible mistake, I then pick the thing up and it falls open at one I haven't seen! :) Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-53290959998202986032015-10-18T22:42:14.146+01:002015-10-18T22:42:14.146+01:00Proofreading is one job I just can't do. I'...Proofreading is one job I just can't do. I've tried it and every time I think I've spotted up every possible mistake, I then pick the thing up and it falls open at one I haven't seen! :) Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-9981161732746056742015-10-17T09:16:02.435+01:002015-10-17T09:16:02.435+01:00A great interview, Wendy and Julia. Thank you both...A great interview, Wendy and Julia. Thank you both. I agree with everyone who says it's impossible to edit our own work. Jan Baynhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06356572488839476046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-23376818792521451632015-10-15T16:59:04.159+01:002015-10-15T16:59:04.159+01:00Absolutely, Rosemary - I've been caught out on...Absolutely, Rosemary - I've been caught out on my blog posts a few times!Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-45453343829085838812015-10-15T16:12:27.807+01:002015-10-15T16:12:27.807+01:00Just seen this post - completely agree that we can...Just seen this post - completely agree that we can never properly edit our own work as we see what we expect to see!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-48944388818950393072015-10-13T10:07:43.969+01:002015-10-13T10:07:43.969+01:00Thank you for your kind comment, Jan. Thank you for your kind comment, Jan. Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-58565919549083993922015-10-13T10:05:51.967+01:002015-10-13T10:05:51.967+01:00Great post, Julia & Wendy. So true about not b...Great post, Julia & Wendy. So true about not being able to proofread your own work. Like you, Julia, I was elected chief typo buster at work where company presentations and documents were concerned, but I'd never attempt to proofread my own work. I once tried it on a few chapters as an experiment and it's spot on what you say about the mind only reading certain words in a sentence. <br /><br />Brilliant explanations and advice. Thank you! :)<br />Jan Brigdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17316451906219006453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-13515524666066329322015-10-12T08:58:47.726+01:002015-10-12T08:58:47.726+01:00Glad you mentioned the semicolon. It irritates me ...Glad you mentioned the semicolon. It irritates me so much when readers use the comma splice (hark at me!)Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-31394523986987247132015-10-12T08:57:14.610+01:002015-10-12T08:57:14.610+01:00Blimey, Carol, how very distressing for you, I rea...Blimey, Carol, how very distressing for you, I really do sympathise. That's dreadful.Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-73947660445783479872015-10-12T08:56:19.104+01:002015-10-12T08:56:19.104+01:00I know, duh! I know, duh! Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-37209414450346658582015-10-12T08:55:33.733+01:002015-10-12T08:55:33.733+01:00Thank you for your comment, Joe, and for sharing y...Thank you for your comment, Joe, and for sharing your positive experience of working with Julia.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-39935200217473178392015-10-12T08:55:16.664+01:002015-10-12T08:55:16.664+01:00Absolutely, Carol - I think any book definitely ne...Absolutely, Carol - I think any book definitely needs going through by at least two people before publication.<br /><br />There are so many 'proofreaders' (note the inverted commas) around these days who are just trying to cash in on the indie publishing thing - they don't actually know what they're doing. It's about so much more than spotting typos and missed words (and some don't even spot all those); it's about understanding punctuation, too. I read a lot of indie books and the main problem I come across is proofreaders who don't know how to use semicolons. They're either missed, with commas used instead, or inserted randomly into every pause. You need proper experience and aptitude to do this, not just some little course - please see Julia's 'Good, Bad and Crimina' post above!!Terry Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077413235902203848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-39172839240972098282015-10-12T08:52:28.090+01:002015-10-12T08:52:28.090+01:00It's amazing what we don't see isn't i...It's amazing what we don't see isn't it, Tracy.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-48520844099533379602015-10-12T08:48:18.057+01:002015-10-12T08:48:18.057+01:00Thank you, Julia and Wendy for an interesting and ...Thank you, Julia and Wendy for an interesting and thoughtful post. So true that it is impossible for a writer to proof read their own work - I cringe when I read old pieces that I thought were perfect but in reality were riddled with silly mistakes. A separate proof reader for your work is essential.TracyFellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224475173136774530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-51245600125887597272015-10-11T17:24:36.493+01:002015-10-11T17:24:36.493+01:00Good advice, Carol - thank you.Good advice, Carol - thank you.Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-65919779915255046682015-10-11T17:23:32.380+01:002015-10-11T17:23:32.380+01:00The other Julia will be grrrring too!The other Julia will be grrrring too!Wendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-13509089225237660332015-10-11T17:21:06.653+01:002015-10-11T17:21:06.653+01:00I cannot agree more..NO writer worth their salt ca...I cannot agree more..NO writer worth their salt can edit/proofread their own work. NOR should they try to,ButI'd also say, don't put your entire fayith in someobody else - always re-check. I have just had the horrendous experience of an editor who missed several plot holes in a mss, and then another who equally missed stuff, and then found typos in a so called digital page proof that was supposed to be proof read for errors. As a writer, WE are the ones who carry the can for any mistakes..even is it wasn't our fault!Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-90993283560593488972015-10-11T15:48:59.751+01:002015-10-11T15:48:59.751+01:00As an editor and proofreader, I'm delighted to...As an editor and proofreader, I'm delighted to read this. One of my pet hates is when people ask me to proofread for 'grammar and spelling and anything else you spot'. Grr. Julia Thorleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485301135194085398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-76502314906379278602015-10-11T15:15:29.038+01:002015-10-11T15:15:29.038+01:00Definitely - editor first, then proofreader.Definitely - editor first, then proofreader.Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-1191581806669877212015-10-11T15:14:56.511+01:002015-10-11T15:14:56.511+01:00I've just been re-reading one of Joan Collins&...I've just been re-reading one of Joan Collins's beauty books. It annoyed me to find typos and repeated sentences. Can't believe a trad pubbed book was put out with such errors!Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-57583084150774793372015-10-11T15:13:36.738+01:002015-10-11T15:13:36.738+01:00You're right, Patsy, best to use a proofreader...You're right, Patsy, best to use a proofreader who has been recommended, it's the best way.Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-84698742088305344892015-10-11T15:12:46.051+01:002015-10-11T15:12:46.051+01:00Indeed, Nicola, it's editing/proofreading one&...Indeed, Nicola, it's editing/proofreading one's own work that is so difficult. I have to be extremely careful about my blog posts, tweets and emails.Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787438044751492963.post-66661548944281221662015-10-11T15:10:04.114+01:002015-10-11T15:10:04.114+01:00Absolutely, you'd be surprised how many times ...Absolutely, you'd be surprised how many times I hear that! Julia Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04329377424036314411noreply@blogger.com