August 30, 2011

Say what?

I've been reading a number of bargain books by independent authors lately on my eReader.  Except for one that was virtually unreadable due to poor writing and obvious print copy formatting used for the eBook, they are enjoyable storylines reasonably well told, and I keep turning the pages.  But the occasional overlooked item, like having a character jump up from their chair when they are never shown sitting down from the time they enter a room (which they presumably did on their feet), will have me going back to see if I missed something.

Similarly, the use of a wrong word can be jarring.  I remember reading a newsletter from an author years ago.  She meant to call it "Worth Noting," but someone made a typo and it ended up being called, "Worth Nothing." Ouch.

For years a line in one of the most beautiful R&B love songs ever written has nagged at me.  In For the Love of You, composed and performed by the legendary Isley Brothers (and covered by several other artists), Ronald Isley sings of being "here with a lover unlike no other."  What he should have said was "here with a lover who's like no other."  Saying that she is unlike no other means she's just like any other woman he's ever known...not exactly complimentary.  Just Like a Woman, anyone?

The best way to avoid this?  Read it back out loud, slowly, and absorb what you've written.  You'd be surprised at the errors you catch.

Happy writing!