Welcome to the AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler! Please read The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

editing for authors ad

A publisher or agency using Google ads to solicit your novel probably isn't anyone you want to write for.


Go Back   Absolute Write Water Cooler > General Writing Interest > Basic Writing Questions
Reload this Page Submission screw-up
Register FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-17-2010, 01:02 PM   #1
Fallen
Shouting from the Rooftops
 
Fallen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Madlands UK
Posts: 4,458
Fallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Submission screw-up
Ok, so you'd think with BA hons in English Lang' Linguistics, I'd stop friggin' screwing up with making basic writing mistake on my submssions.

Frick, frick, frick, frickin' hell.

After editting the crap out of my work, I'd sent my submission, first three chapters, synopsis etc, got a note back saying the synopsis sounded very interesting and they were looking at the chapters. I did my usual thing of swearing not to look through the chapters I'd submitted because I could guarantee I'd find something I wanted to change--failed miserably, and found two spelling mistakes on the second and fourth pages. I mean -- for godssake, why me?

So, I guess the question is... Will it be alright? I mainly deal with poetry and this a novel submission into a publishing area I've not tried before (ebook compared to traditional). If the pace, character and plot flows good, will I be neutered for my two cock-ups in my fiction?

Bans self for crap syntactic skills... (Sorry, wrong thread)
__________________

Website /Brief Encounters: Blog / Goodreads (Website Warning: 18+ only (21 some areas.))
Fallen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 01:08 PM   #2
Parametric
useless idiot
 
Parametric's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 9,088
Parametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
This is the stress talking. You might want to tell it to be quiet. Nobody cares about one or two typos if a submission is good.
Parametric is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 01:24 PM   #3
Ms Hollands
Cow lover
 
Ms Hollands's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: La Clusaz, France
Posts: 1,148
Ms Hollands is a glorious beacon of lightMs Hollands is a glorious beacon of lightMs Hollands is a glorious beacon of light
I thought you were going to say you submtted the chapters with a typo that turned it into a swear word or something. Why not you? It happens to everyone else!
__________________
Life in the French Alps: www.lefrancophoney.com
Ms Hollands is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 01:26 PM   #4
kurzon
practical experience, FTW
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 338
kurzon has a spectacular aura
Typos happen. Unless you have two a paragraph, they're something that a solid story will make unimportant.

Spell check in future might be an idea though.
kurzon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 01:43 PM   #5
alleycat
I am innocent of all charges.
AW Moderator
 
alleycat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 51,495
alleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsalleycat is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fallen View Post
I did my usual thing of swearing not to look through the chapters I'd submitted because I could guarantee I'd find something I wanted to change--failed miserably, and found two spelling mistakes on the second and fourth pages. I mean -- for godssake, why me?
I think it probably happens to most of us from time-to-time; and having a degree in English is no guarantee it won't happen to you. We're often too rushed, and too close to the work, to see some of these little mistakes when we're trying to get something finished and out the door. You almost have to let your writing "age" for a while before you can read it with fresh eyes.

I know when it happens you'd like to slap yourself upside the head (and probably have), but don't sweat it too much. A small mistake or two isn't going to kill the submission. Consistently making mistakes, or making glaring mistakes on every page, would be a red flag, but people understand a typo or two in a submission. Heck, they might not even notice them themselves.

I once wrote a story where the main character was named Brian. I had a couple of people read it specifically to look for typos. No problem. Ran spellcheck to see if it found anything. No problem. A month or two later someone else read the story. He pointed out that I had written "Brian" as "Brain" not just once, but twice. I think my proofreaders and myself got so used to seeing the word Brian that our minds automatically read the word when it was used without really reading it each time. I sort of got a chuckle out of that one. "What am I going to do?" asked Brain.
__________________
.
Never look back unless you are planning to go that way. -Thoreau
Last edited by alleycat; 04-17-2010 at 09:23 PM.
alleycat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 05:02 PM   #6
kaitie
Bow before the laser screwdriver
 
kaitie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: The land of the rising sun.
Posts: 9,415
kaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaitie is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Oh man, you know I've read through my opening pages fifty billion times, and just yesterday I decided to rewrite a bit again and sure enough I found another typo in the first five pages that I've somehow always overlooked (as has everyone else who read it). Couldn't believe it. And of course it's like yup, I've sent out how many queries with that in there without noticing it?

You know, though, I think agents know that and as long as it's not filled with mistakes it's not too bad. I actually just got a request for pages from an agent I sent a query letter to without a subject line. I just forgot to type it in and realized it as soon as I hit send. I actually was convinced I'd be rejected for not putting in the right thing in the subject line, or that it'd probably never even get to her, but I actually got a request from it. Moral of the story being even a couple of mistakes aren't the end of the world.
__________________
"You will experience a tingling sensation and then death."

 And just because it's still awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc

Take two: 90,008
Current: 7,680
kaitie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 07:33 PM   #7
Lady Ice
Makes useful distinctions
 
Lady Ice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,326
Lady Ice should run for PresidentLady Ice should run for PresidentLady Ice should run for PresidentLady Ice should run for PresidentLady Ice should run for PresidentLady Ice should run for President
If it's obviously a typo, you'll be fine. People can tell the difference between a typo and an inability to spell.
Lady Ice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 07:34 PM   #8
Bufty
Let's see what's on special today..
 
Bufty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 10,768
Bufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBufty is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Deja vu, again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Ice View Post
If it's obviously a typo, you'll be fine. People can tell the difference between a typo and an inability to spell.
__________________
Everything yields to treatment.
Bufty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 09:20 PM   #9
Fallen
Shouting from the Rooftops
 
Fallen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Madlands UK
Posts: 4,458
Fallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Thanks, everyone. I wrote this just as I bloomin' caught them. Grrr. I'd missed a word out and done the typical 'you're' instead of 'your'. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...
__________________

Website /Brief Encounters: Blog / Goodreads (Website Warning: 18+ only (21 some areas.))
Fallen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 09:23 PM   #10
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Don't know if this is any consolation but I recently emailed a manuscript to an editor with a typo in the covering email - after having read it over three times.

An hour later she emailed me back to thank me, without mentioning it so she either didn't notice, or chose to be polite and 'forget to mention it'.

It happens.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2010, 09:36 PM   #11
dgiharris
Disgruntled Scientist
 
dgiharris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Limbo
Posts: 6,716
dgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsdgiharris is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fallen View Post
Thanks, everyone. I wrote this just as I bloomin' caught them. Grrr. I'd missed a word out and done the typical 'you're' instead of 'your'. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...
Could be worse, you could have done the pubic instead of public typo .
__________________
Last edited by dgiharris; 04-17-2010 at 10:51 PM.
dgiharris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2010, 12:36 AM   #12
scope
Commonsensical Maverick
 
scope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 2,763
scope has earned our admirationscope has earned our admirationscope has earned our admirationscope has earned our admiration
Don't even give it a second thought. The minor errors are meaningless if they desire your work.
scope is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2010, 12:51 AM   #13
SWest
Equality Bitch...
 
SWest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Where the Moon can see me.
Posts: 13,330
SWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsSWest is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Spell check can deceive you--don't trust it!

This is why G-d make proofreaders. Not to fear: I read many published books by big-name authors that contain spelling/usage errors. The books are still good, and I only notice 'cause that's my thing.

The fact that this bothers you is a good indication that you spent a lot of time on the other important things...plot, character development, flow, impact, rewrites, query, synopsis, etc..




Unbans Fallen 'cause she's sitting in a very large boat full of friends that is not really leaking...
__________________
Poetry

Twitter

 Blog St. Valentine's Massacre - Content May Trigger

Wish Me Away
SWest is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2010, 12:52 AM   #14
gothicangel
Toughen up.
 
gothicangel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Outer Brigantia
Posts: 6,646
gothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthoodgothicangel is a candidate for sainthood
I'm giggling to myself here. Started a new draft and found a rogue spelling error after six edits. It was the where/were chestnut.

I know people with English doctorates who make spelling errors. A degree doesn't eradicate human error.
gothicangel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2010, 02:47 PM   #15
shaldna
The cake is a lie. But still cake.
 
shaldna's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Belfast
Posts: 6,925
shaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsshaldna is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I once submitted a history essay to a journal and only realised that I had mispelled 'Cnut' wrong. Every. Single. Time.

They bought it anyway. And we had a laugh about it. But I really thought my career was over at that stage.

My advice? Don't sweat the small stuff. One or two spelling mistakes is fine, they aren't going to reject you over it. It;s not like every other word was spelled incorrectly, or you wrote the whole thing in txt spk
__________________
TORCHWOOD - where the slash is canon

Yes, I read Twilight. Yes, I hate it. No, I don't have to give you a reason why.
shaldna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2010, 03:57 AM   #16
Matera the Mad
Ididdit
 
Matera the Mad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Wisconsin's (sore) thumb
Posts: 9,917
Matera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsMatera the Mad is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
No one ever catches all the typos. Nothing to worry about, everyone knows they will be there. They breed when you're not looking. All you can do is try not to feed them.
__________________
Inspiration can be as destructive as any other form of fire.
Matera the Mad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2010, 03:37 AM   #17
rbuckley9104
Fiction Writer
 
rbuckley9104's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 21
rbuckley9104 is on a distinguished road
I've never read any published novel that did not contain at least one typo.
rbuckley9104 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2010, 06:55 PM   #18
Fallen
Shouting from the Rooftops
 
Fallen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Madlands UK
Posts: 4,458
Fallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsFallen is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I don't usually panic so much (honest). But it's nice to see this is the right place to go 'headless chicken' without getting giggled at. The work's not been sent back yet with 'Don't ever darken my doors again' on it, so I'm calming (unless it's that bad -- they couldn't even find it within them to reply)

Seriously, who ever said writers get it easy sitting in their hide-holes need screwing.
__________________

Website /Brief Encounters: Blog / Goodreads (Website Warning: 18+ only (21 some areas.))
Fallen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2010, 07:44 PM   #19
seun
Horror Man
 
seun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: uk
Posts: 9,185
seun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsseun is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by shaldna View Post
I once submitted a history essay to a journal and only realised that I had mispelled 'Cnut' wrong. Every. Single. Time.
Best story ever.
__________________
The Red Girl and 'Set from Musa Publishing. Mirror Of The Nameless published Sep 2013



My site My twitter My Facebook
seun is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2010, 07:53 PM   #20
scarletpeaches
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 48,359
scarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsscarletpeaches is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I'd buy it for the typo alone.
scarletpeaches is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2010, 07:56 PM   #21
Mystic Blossom
My heart's a battleground
 
Mystic Blossom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 410
Mystic Blossom is a shiny, shiny jewelMystic Blossom is a shiny, shiny jewel
I've had stuff accepted with typos. Don't worry about it
__________________
Come one, come all
Mystic Blossom is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Custom Search

Buy Scrivener 2 for Mac OS X (Regular Licence)

If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses.


All times are GMT +4.5. The time now is 05:51 PM.

Contact Us - Absolute Write - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.