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As an author, or even as a publisher, would it not be a good idea to have at least a basic grasp of the English language, seeing as you work in an industry where words are all important?
Also, if you are a publisher/author, and you’re trying to make a valid and noteworthy point (possibly also known as defending the indefensible), would it not be a good idea to check what you’ve written before you press send?
My advice is to at least use the spelling and grammar checker in Word before you confirm to the world, that not only are you probably not a good business person/writer, but you also obviously have a problem stringing a coherent sentence together on paper.
Aspiring authors, if you receive any correspondence from a publisher who wants to offer you a contract, and you can barely understand what they’ve written, you might want to consider not signing with them. Or at least check to see if they have a legitimate reason for their rubbish literacy skills.
One thing I’ve learned on Blogland is that bad things seem to happen to authors who seemingly can’t get themselves together enough to write coherently.
It’s ok for me to be incoherent, and use shockingly bad grammar, this is just my hobby, not my job.
Just sayin.
Shannon Stacey
August 30
6:16 pm
Please tell me that graphic is available on a t-shirt somewhere. Please. I HAVE to have one.
Grammar was one of the primary—but not only, by far—reasons Trisk never registered on my radar. Maybe it’s not fair to the authors and editors, but life isn’t always fair.
I heard a category author giving a workshop say “Their perception is your reality” and I have it tacked up on my board. It all matters.
sybil
August 30
6:17 pm
The Happy Bunny!!!!! I have such lurve for him.
oh and uh huh what karens… but mostly
sqqqquuueeeee HAPPY BUNNY!
Nora Roberts
August 30
8:17 pm
Shannon, you’re just full of choice nutshells today, even if this one is someone else’s quote.
“Their perception is your reality”
Anna J. Evans
August 31
1:34 am
I refused a contract with Trisk due to a poorly spelled email. It set off my radar, made my ‘tail tingle’ as my kids say.
Best decision I made that year, aside from divorcing my first husband ;).
Anna J. Evans
Ann Bruce
August 31
2:09 am
Awesome. That bunny’s going next to my Dogbert “Out out!! You demons of stupidity!!” poster.
Dogbert’s my hero.
Ann Wesley Hardin
August 31
2:14 am
Nora, Shannon is always full of choice nutshells. That’s why we loves her.
Keep rockin’, babes.
Shannon Stacey
August 31
1:10 pm
It’s part of my squirrelly mystique. I might be out of nutshells however, as I’ve rededicated my child-free time to finding that bunny on a t-shirt.
Barbara Sheridan
August 31
2:22 pm
I’ve rededicated my child-free time to finding that bunny on a t-shirt
If you have any Hot Topic stores at a mall near you check there.
sybil
August 31
2:54 pm
His official site looks like American Greeting Cards is selling stuff at Target too. Might check that out. I know I have a nifty calendar.
I am thinking I want the mousepad. 🙂
Diane V
August 31
4:29 pm
Shannon,
Go to http://www.bewild.com and they have the t-shirt.
Diane
Diane V
August 31
4:31 pm
Oops..sorry no “e” in the bwild.com
here’s the addy:
http://www.bwild.com/habuitwomeb.html
Diane
Nora Roberts
August 31
6:02 pm
I wonder if those who want to be writers realize, or take into consideration the fact that many, many editors–paper and e–read blogs. And when those who aspire to be published write comments and posts that are a freaking landmine of errors–not talking about the pesky typo or occasional spelling error–but posts that explode with careless grammar, a pathetically woeful lack of punctuation and what sometimes seems like a religious objection to the capital letter, is there no understanding an editor will take notice?
Angela James
August 31
6:40 pm
and what sometimes seems like a religious objection to the capital letter
…and here comes the sparkling water shooting out my nose. Great turn of words and so true.
donna
August 31
8:39 pm
be gone evil caps!!! never to darken my door again….
Anonymous
September 1
3:33 am
What I find even more interesting is how some authors are so quick to submit manuscripts to places that have misspellings ON THEIR WEBSITES! (Not to mention horrible Muzak playing a latin ditty!!!) Crappy-looking websites say a TON about a publisher and their quality…stretched graphics that are pixelated, unaligned paragraphs, lack of punctuation in submission guidelines, “Hillbilly Haven” genres, and covers so ugly that they wouldn’t even be posted on a refrigerator had a 4 year old did them…give me a break, folks! Are you really so desperate to get published that you can’t see (or decide to ignore) the difference between a professional-looking website and a one that someone’s 10-year-old kid obviously tossed together for them (or worse, they did it themselves)??? All those clichés about 1st impressions mean a whole lot…and just think what the potential customers are going to do when they’re confronted with a website that looks like it was pieced together by a monkey? You’re known by the company you keep, so if your publisher’s website looks like “amateur hour,” you’re fighting an uphill battle to maintain your own credibility.
Teddy Pig
September 1
9:39 am
Anon,
Most 10 year old kids know what Mambo and Joomla! is and how to configure it with a shopping cart.