Any one else annoyed by those anonymous PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS

[Uncle South Loop]

In this and other non-Literotica erotic author sites, I’ve been fortunate to communicate with other writers. In “talking shop” I learned that most of us draft our initial stories concentrating primarily on expressing our thoughts and/or feelings in words. We either chose to write using a program that has automatic spelling and grammar checking options or save it for later editing if our program doesn’t have the options.

Knowing my own writing faults, I write in MS Word with the two checking options ON. When I’ve finished, I do several edits before posting - find and correct spelling/grammar errors MS Word misses. I make additional revisions for more clarity, eliminate unneeded wordiness and improve the story flow. I run one last spell & grammar check before finally posting.

And yet, I STILL get anonymous messages and public comments from PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS telling me I need to check my spelling and grammar!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just who the hell are these people? I suspect they always vote a 1 or 2 for ANY story they read. If belittling other people’s efforts is the only way for them to get their kicks, they need get some psychiatric help.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Fuck them! Don't let yourself get upset by them.

If they've got nothing better to do with their time, then they are indeed pretty sad bastards.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I've never had an attack of the Proofreaders strike on my stories and I treat the MS Word spellcheck with disdain, most of my stories are written on the superfly, and I barely do a second read. So, don't know what advice to give you.

I guess, read more Bradbury. His not quite correct grammar style taught me everything I needed to know about writing.

Maybe if the problem persists, send it to another writer to look over to make sure it's good before submitting.

Or better yet, apathy. Apathy always works.

 

[cantdog]

hosers

 

[KarenAM]

The only advice I can give is to turn off your grammar checker and leave your spell checker on. In my experience the grammar checkers actually make your grammar worse, especially with literary writing, which by its nature stretches and even breaks traditional grammar rules.

I agree with Lucifer. Read the masters. Then read them again and again and again.

And learn to ignore critics who have nothing of import to say.

 

[CharleyH]

i hear you. I received feedback from the states telling me that i had a lot of spelling mistakes. Apparently, only U.S. english is allowed. I have only received PCs from ex-teachers on erotic couplings, never it seems, in stories posted in other categories.

 

[rgraham666]

I'm with KarenAM on this one. Spell checker on, grammar checker off.

In my opinion, grammar only matters if the sentence is unreadable. If the sentence communicates the idea, sensation, or image you wanted who gives a fuck about grammar?

My biggest problem is that most spell checkers use 'Murrican spelling and I use Queen's.

 

[Guest]

Those who can't, critique.

 

[cantdog]

I'm with KarenAM on this one. Spell checker on, grammar checker off.

In my opinion, grammar only matters if the sentence is unreadable. If the sentence communicates the idea, sensation, or image you wanted who gives a fuck about grammar?

My biggest problem is that most spell checkers use 'Murrican spelling and I use Queen's.

Dangling modifiers and undecipherable antecedents do not communicate the idea, and grammar checkers do poorly with them.

Run-ons are just sloppy ass. Sloppy ass writing gets old soon. The point of grammar is to have it be impeccable enough to lie below the level of the readers' notice. Too punctilious a style can be as obtrusive as sloppy writing, but either detracts.

 

[ferociouskittycat]

It's those damn Americans!!

They can't spell simple words. Words like coloUr, favoUr, honoUr...

The rest of the world seems to have it right

the kitty runs.......>>>>>>>>>>>> >^..^<

 

[R. Richard]

The worst, in my none too humble estimation, is the 'proofreader' who criticizes the grammer of one of my characters when that character would be the type of person who uses bad grammer. In effect, I am being criticized for necessary character development.

 

[minsue]

I'm with KarenAM on this one. Spell checker on, grammar checker off.

In my opinion, grammar only matters if the sentence is unreadable. If the sentence communicates the idea, sensation, or image you wanted who gives a fuck about grammar?

My biggest problem is that most spell checkers use 'Murrican spelling and I use Queen's.

Have you checked the options or preferences, RG? I don't know about Word, but I know you can choose what country's dictionary to use on WordPerfect.

 

[tolyk]

The worst, in my none too humble estimation, is the 'proofreader' who criticizes the grammer of one of my characters when that character would be the type of person who uses bad grammer. In effect, I am being criticized for necessary character development.

Yeah, some people just don't understand that anything within dialogue, or as being narrated by a character, can be written from that character's grammar style.

Also known as "being in character" =)

 

[Edward Teach]

Most works published for profit DO have professional proof readers and even then mistakes slip through.

Some famous authors do not concern themselves with spelling leaving their editors and proof readers to correct the errors.

It is ridiculous to expect perfection in Lit stories.

There was a PC criticism a few weeks ago stating that the story should have been more closely edited to "insure" fewer mistakes.

Fuck the critics.

Ed

 

[Weird Harold]

Knowing my own writing faults, I write in MS Word with the two checking options ON. When I’ve finished, I do several edits before posting - find and correct spelling/grammar errors MS Word misses. I make additional revisions for more clarity, eliminate unneeded wordiness and improve the story flow. I run one last spell & grammar check before finally posting.

And yet, I STILL get anonymous messages and public comments from PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS telling me I need to check my spelling and grammar!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure how MS Word's spell check missed it, but the only misspelling I noticed in the first Lit page of "Eden Renaissance" was "Masterbate" (and variations on that root word.) Unfortunately it stands out like a neon sign in the desert because it occurs in about two dozen places in a fairly short space within the story.

I wouldn't worry about that sort of criticism -- the one sample of your work I checked out is far above the mean quality of stories I see on the internet and most of your stories have a little red H next to them at the moment. If your critics give you specific examples that have some merit -- like consitent misspellings of "Masturbate" -- then take them into account in proofing your next story. If it's just a general "you can't spell for shit and your grammar sucks" type of feedback without any specifics, just ignore it.


Proofreading your own work is difficult, even with the aid of a good spellchecker; you tend to see what you meant to type instead of what's actually there. If you don't use an outside proof-reder, you're better than most people at spotting mistakes.

 

[pop_54]

Yeah, some people just don't understand that anything within dialogue, or as being narrated by a character, can be written from that character's grammar style.

Also known as "being in character" =)

Yes so right about dialogue friend Tolyk...

I'm not going into my big thing here again, cos I've said it all so many times... Briefly though... I am English... English is my native language... English has been constantly evolving and changing since it was invented... Ergo... I will speak it and write it as I speak it, and in any F**king way I please... cos I'm allowed to... Nobody ever jumped on Shakespeare did they, and he made a few spelling and grammar errors sometimes.

My point for quoting you friend Tolyk is that I wrote a couple of experimental stories and posted them here a year or so ago... Both contain 'All Dialogue' with not a word of narrative from start to finish... and involve more than two persons... (if anyone wants boring to tears they're still here ask and I'll point to them)... I had Mr / Mrs / Ms Perfect anon critic write to me and tell me the grammar was poor, the spelling and style 'too British'.


Dear Mr / Mrs / Ms Perfect anon critic.... I am fucking British.

pops.....

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I would venture to guess your professional proof readers are naught but regular old trolls who have found a more interesting way to twist the knife. Rather than low vote you and send insulting feedback any sixth grader could top, they dress up their angst in a psuedo intellectual response and dig you for minor spelling mistakes.

As with all trolls, best advice is delete the comment & ignore them. If you get thoughtful feedback from someone who identifys themselves write back & ask what mistakes they saw that were so glaring.

We all make mistakes. Assuming all non positive feedback is the work of trolls is a trap we can easily fall into. Still, the lions share of bad feedback is their work and you are best served with the old adage of those who can do, those who can't criticize.

-Colly

 

[Couture]

Yes so right about dialogue friend Tolyk...

I'm not going into my big thing here again, cos I've said it all so many times... Briefly though... I am English... English is my native language... English has been constantly evolving and changing since it was invented... Ergo... I will speak it and write it as I speak it, and in any F**king way I please... cos I'm allowed to... Nobody ever jumped on Shakespeare did they, and he made a few spelling and grammar errors sometimes.

My point for quoting you friend Tolyk is that I wrote a couple of experimental stories and posted them here a year or so ago... Both contain 'All Dialogue' with not a word of narrative from start to finish... and involve more than two persons... (if anyone wants boring to tears they're still here ask and I'll point to them)... I had Mr / Mrs / Ms Perfect anon critic write to me and tell me the grammar was poor, the spelling and style 'too British'.


Dear Mr / Mrs / Ms Perfect anon critic.... I am fucking British.

pops.....

I'm a professional proofreader and I couldn't help but notice you use too many ellipsis.

Sincerely,

The Anonymous Proofreader

 

[Couture]

Re: Re: Any one else annoyed by those anonymous PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS

I'm not sure how MS Word's spell check missed it, but the only misspelling I noticed in the first Lit page of "Eden Renaissance" was "Masterbate" (and variations on that root word.) Unfortunately it stands out like a neon sign in the desert because it occurs in about two dozen places in a fairly short space within the story.

I wouldn't worry about that sort of criticism -- the one sample of your work I checked out is far above the mean quality of stories I see on the internet and most of your stories have a little red H next to them at the moment. If your critics give you specific examples that have some merit -- like consitent misspellings of "Masturbate" -- then take them into account in proofing your next story. If it's just a general "you can't spell for shit and your grammar sucks" type of feedback without any specifics, just ignore it.


Proofreading your own work is difficult, even with the aid of a good spellchecker; you tend to see what you meant to type instead of what's actually there. If you don't use an outside proof-reder, you're better than most people at spotting mistakes.

Dear Sir,

If you expect us to continue to read your posts, please run a spell check first. Conistent is spelled consistent. Proof-reader, (Did I mention I was a professional one?), is spelled reader, not reder.

I hope these corrections have made your life richer and have meaning.

Sincerely,

The Professional Proof-reader.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Re: Re: Re: Any one else annoyed by those anonymous PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS

Dear Sir,

If you expect us to continue to read your posts, please run a spell check first. Conistent is spelled consistent. Proof-reader, (Did I mention I was a professional one?), is spelled reader, not reder.

I hope these corrections have made your life richer and have meaning.

Sincerely,

The Professional Proof-reader.

Dear Ma'am

Your style is dry and lacks any sense of description. Your characters are flat and I find myself unable to sympathize with them. Your theme is unclear, seeming bogged down too much in details to carry the plot thread. The main character's false attempt at cheeriness (see: "I hope these corrections..." paragraph two) seems forced and uncharacteristic. Perhaps a change in the character's overall tone could help close this inconsistency. Also, it is hard to believe in the character's credentials, his claims of being professional fall short. If it is meant in irony, then you must explore this more in the character and bring forth his desperation and self-delusion more satisfactorily. Overall an inadequate work for this publication and we hope that you spend more time researching our work before submitting to us.

-Hell Literary Magazine
Editor and Chief Torturer
Lucifer_Carroll

P.S. You miscast the unholy sigil "ogedra" causing a small fire in our mailroom. We will be charging you an additional virgin soul for the damages.

 

[pop_54]

I'm a professional proofreader and I couldn't help but notice you use too many ellipsis.

Sincerely,

The Anonymous Proofreader

I stutter.

 

[minsue]

I stutter.

ROFLMAO

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I received a flame once telling me something like "go back to school and learn how to spell", but I just tossed it. There may be a few typos that get through Spellcheck, but I know that my spelling's not bad enough to complain about. If yours isn't that bad either, then don't worry about it. If it is that bad, then you should do something about it.

What bothers me about criticisms like this is how niggling and petty they are. I mean, tell me about the characters, or tell me about the plot, but don't bother me with this nickel-and-dime stuff that I can get a machine to take care of.

--Zoot

 

[Sinsualmind]

I stutter.

lmao!!

 

[Lord Naraku]

Off topic as usual.

I'm a math type dyslexic which means I can do math problems much easyer then the average person. Sadly I have the problem of remembering letters backwards and even writing the wrong letter. About 65% of dyslexics are the math type. The rest are some type of english wizs, spelling and gramar are pretty much child's play to them.

Anyway I have never met another dyslexic of any type, but my high school math teacher was married to the other type of dyslexic. Every morning he eagerly gets the paper sits down at the breakfast table and begins proof reading it. She said if he finds anything he shows her and begins to complain about how that could have been missed. Needless to say it drives her crazy, but she does get her revenge. Being the english type dyslexic she said he has to carry a calculator around in his pocket. She told me honestly the man cannot tell you want 3x7 is without his calculator.

Anyway maybe some of these english type dyslexics are your problem?