tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post2313497309806873926..comments2024-01-05T15:42:46.899-05:00Comments on Katie O'Sullivan ~ Read, Write, Repeat: Writing Wednesday: Taking it SeriouslyKatie O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-42310476700816499832017-04-21T09:31:40.444-04:002017-04-21T09:31:40.444-04:00I've blogged about this very same thing. It ma...I've blogged about this very same thing. It makes me a little crazy that just because people can publish, they do without learning the craft, without putting the time necessary to produce the best possible product. It's hard to write a novel and it's not for those who don't take the time to learn the craft. <br /><br />I had a self-pubbed author say to me he refused to send his book to NY because they would make him cut it down and the reader needs to know all this information. It was a 900 page thriller. Uh, no, pal, the reader probably doesn't need half of what's in that book. Sorry. <br /><br />Those that clog the channels self-pubbing without learning craft, editing, cover design (saw another self-pubbed without the book title on the spine) etc, make self-publishing look bad for those that do the hard work. Stacey Wilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14670640916174485011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-40139775604354082842017-04-20T17:24:34.873-04:002017-04-20T17:24:34.873-04:00Life is too short to read bad books. And I've...Life is too short to read bad books. And I've stopped reading a lot of them along the way. You're right, if you're going to write, then take it seriously and do a good job at it. Otherwise, what's the point?Susabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16028522408918172500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-18649759080065562552017-04-20T10:44:07.786-04:002017-04-20T10:44:07.786-04:00Love your post, and what a wonderful quote! I agre...Love your post, and what a wonderful quote! I agree with everything you said. No matter how much you might want to like a book, it makes it impossible to get through when it's filled with errors. K.K. Weilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02039806682436891121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-68745992724804676072017-04-20T10:40:34.325-04:002017-04-20T10:40:34.325-04:00I love Stephen King's book On Writing!
Most o...I love Stephen King's book On Writing!<br /><br />Most of the books I have on my Kindle were free on Amazon, and I have to say, you get what you pay for. I'm appalled at the dearth of formatting, grammar, and spelling mistakes I see. The story has to be really good for me to put up with it to the end and I've often thought of contacting the author to offer my editing services.C R Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13212244053084461118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-17691827626672988902017-04-19T18:25:20.491-04:002017-04-19T18:25:20.491-04:00I totally agree with all you've said, Katie, a...I totally agree with all you've said, Katie, as well as the comments. I haven't done Stephen King's book, but back in the day, before the Internet, I did Struck, Swain, T. Cheney, and Oakley Hall and a bunch of others. Still have the books, too, and still refer to them when need to. I have about 6 to 7 books started on my Kindle, too, that I can't seem to keep reading. Hmmmm, could there be a pattern here? How about free lance editors who use the wrong punctuation? I have issues with that. I have to go consult my old writing books or Allison Byer's chat about punctuation, to get me back to the correct way. Sigh. It's really ridiculous out there nowadays. Was horrible when we were all slaves to New York publishers, but today, has its own challenges, too. Too many wannabe writers. Just found out another lady who does support stuff like free lance edit and makes memes has started writing a book. Oh, well. And big congratulations to you, too, Katie. I read that book, the one that's nominated, all the way through, too!!!Hebby Romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15358048827480613517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-50800230488493179882017-04-19T18:18:17.071-04:002017-04-19T18:18:17.071-04:00Scam, maybe. Seems to be a trend started on those ...Scam, maybe. Seems to be a trend started on those fan fic sites, of writing "serial" books - a few chapters at a time. I dont' like it either.Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-59204300618790550262017-04-19T18:17:06.806-04:002017-04-19T18:17:06.806-04:00Then again, I just had a reviewer tell me one of m...Then again, I just had a reviewer tell me one of my plots was ridiculous, and too much going on. I think different readers like different things, but hey, we all like to be able to read grammatically correct, well punctuated, well formatted, well written books...Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-1463875876722976322017-04-19T14:41:54.877-04:002017-04-19T14:41:54.877-04:00Yes! Yes! Yes! On Writing is one of my favorite bo...Yes! Yes! Yes! On Writing is one of my favorite books...on writing. He's brilliant. I've also wasted a lot of money and time attempting to read "Amazon bestsellers" that are atrocious. I've actually downloaded ones by reputable publishers and felt the same way. Typos, awful prose, ridiculous plots...Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09053502831615206034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-21192441336046994682017-04-19T14:10:10.889-04:002017-04-19T14:10:10.889-04:00The ones that drive me crazy (there are many) are ...The ones that drive me crazy (there are many) are when the publish the first four chapters at 99 cents, then say to be continued. The author would have been better off selling the entire book for 2.99 because the writing was so bad, I'd never, ever buy the next part. Seems like a scam to me. Tina Susedikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385927355782445962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-4407716271634428342017-04-19T14:08:37.941-04:002017-04-19T14:08:37.941-04:00I agree, Katie. I just finished one, just barely b...I agree, Katie. I just finished one, just barely because the writing was awful, but on Amazon she got 5s. Friends? Family? Paid?Tina Susedikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385927355782445962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-25187381794745844402017-04-19T12:05:50.878-04:002017-04-19T12:05:50.878-04:00(don't get me started on grammar! A post for a...(don't get me started on grammar! A post for another day!)Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-34220835225094262952017-04-19T12:05:27.104-04:002017-04-19T12:05:27.104-04:00Thanks, and thanks for stopping by!Thanks, and thanks for stopping by!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-44482764223689832782017-04-19T12:05:04.269-04:002017-04-19T12:05:04.269-04:00It never fails to amaze me how some of these books...It never fails to amaze me how some of these books can get so many 4 and 5 star reviews. Who is reading these adn enjoying them that much?Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-64439013080357567722017-04-19T12:04:00.181-04:002017-04-19T12:04:00.181-04:00I'm gong to look for that book now, CB. Thanks...I'm gong to look for that book now, CB. Thanks!<br />Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-32190404039684068152017-04-19T11:15:00.458-04:002017-04-19T11:15:00.458-04:00I SO agree with you, Katie. Just because you can f...I SO agree with you, Katie. Just because you can figure out how to upload a Word document to Amazon, it doesn't make you a writer. If you want to be a writer, learn something about craft. And grammar. Amen. Jana Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624650840243322617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-21180088543007910532017-04-19T10:53:13.669-04:002017-04-19T10:53:13.669-04:00You're preaching to the choir, of course, but ...You're preaching to the choir, of course, but doing it beautifully. Good post.Leigh Neelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13108263236351881868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-74331247256232445072017-04-19T10:50:48.174-04:002017-04-19T10:50:48.174-04:00Heavens, the number of books I've started and ...Heavens, the number of books I've started and given up on is astounding. It doesn't matter that they were "only" $.99 or $1.99, all those pennies add up. To say nothing of the time I wasted trying really hard to like the book. But our time IS money so after two chapters those books get tossed aside. Unfortunately, along with the ease of publishing comes a glut of people calling themselves editors. But that a whole 'nother can of worms.Luanna Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11594016051931769407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831433709810155834.post-30762029773568138122017-04-19T10:42:36.755-04:002017-04-19T10:42:36.755-04:00Great post, Katie, and so true. I've read '...Great post, Katie, and so true. I've read 'On Writing' and found Stephen King's words very helpful. I'm currently reading 'Write Naked' by Jennifer Probst. It's a great book on writing as well. I highly recommend it.CB Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365788411598009246noreply@blogger.com