It's the first Wednesday of the month! Let's convene another meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group! Our esteemed leader Alex J. Cavanaugh started this group so writer's could seek out support and share our insecurities with one another. The co-hosts for today are: Christine Rains, Dolorah @ Book Lover, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Yvonne Ventresca, and LG Keltner! That last one is me, by the way.
Be sure to visit the IWSG website!
Be sure to visit the IWSG website!
The question for August 2nd, 2017 is: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?
Typos are a big thing for me when I'm reading. When I'm editing, I expect the typos, and they don't bother me because I can easily fix them. However, when I stumble across them in a published thing, I wince. That's because I can't fix it, no matter how much I want to. It's inevitable, though. A stray typo is going to get through here or there. Such is life.
I also hate it when words or phrases are overused. If the writing gets too repetitive, it can trip readers up and detract from the experience. I find issues like this in first drafts of my own stories, and I always try to fix it. Sometimes I'll see what I can trim to help alleviate the problem. I also love using my thesaurus. You don't want to go overboard on using over-the-top fancy language to describe something simple, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little variety by testing out a few synonyms. If you use a deft hand, you can make your story sparkle.
Oh, and here's a bonus pet peeve that has to do with the outside world. I absolutely can't stand it when I'm reading/writing/editing and people assume that I'm not busy with anything important. My kids get a free pass at this since I need to take care of them, but anyone else may immediately find themselves on my bad side.
What are some of your pet peeves?
Typos are a big thing for me when I'm reading. When I'm editing, I expect the typos, and they don't bother me because I can easily fix them. However, when I stumble across them in a published thing, I wince. That's because I can't fix it, no matter how much I want to. It's inevitable, though. A stray typo is going to get through here or there. Such is life.
I also hate it when words or phrases are overused. If the writing gets too repetitive, it can trip readers up and detract from the experience. I find issues like this in first drafts of my own stories, and I always try to fix it. Sometimes I'll see what I can trim to help alleviate the problem. I also love using my thesaurus. You don't want to go overboard on using over-the-top fancy language to describe something simple, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little variety by testing out a few synonyms. If you use a deft hand, you can make your story sparkle.
Oh, and here's a bonus pet peeve that has to do with the outside world. I absolutely can't stand it when I'm reading/writing/editing and people assume that I'm not busy with anything important. My kids get a free pass at this since I need to take care of them, but anyone else may immediately find themselves on my bad side.
What are some of your pet peeves?
Your pet peeves are the same as my own, with typos & repetition. And the outside world, too! When I tell someone I can't attend an event because I'm working that night, I frequently hear, "Oh, I didn't know you worked at night," and when I explain that I'm editing, they'll say something like, "Ohhhh, I thought you meant WORK." Grrr. Thankfully, more people understand as it happens more often.
ReplyDeleteI experienced that last issue a lot in the last month while I did NaNo, from both my boyfriend and my mum. They really don't understand how important writing is to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, typos and repetition of phrases in a published piece can really drive me mad.
ReplyDeleteYears of writing and editing has taught my husband to keep interruptions to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget the day I received the final copies of Book II of my series. I opened it up and right there at the top of the page was a typo. Grr!
I use a Thesaurus. I also use Word Cloud to see what I am overusing. It helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
My kids are totally good with letting me do my writing, but then they get really quiet and I start to fear what's happening that I'm not noticing. I think that's almost worse than frequent interruptions. =)
ReplyDeleteYour pet peeves match my own!!! So true!!! Thank you for co-hosting today!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about being busy. Whenever my kids tell me they're bored, I get jealous. I haven't been bored in decades.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
I hear you about typos in published works. If it's only one or two in a big old novel, I try to get past it since we all make mistakes. And I hate when I find typos in my own work. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteDitto on the pet peeves, especially on the not being busy. People always seem to interrupt at the most pivotal moment, like the end of a book or writing an emotional scene.
ReplyDeleteOMG--the one where people think it's okay to talk to you if you're "just writing." That burns my biscuits for sure!
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
Sometimes I misspell something so basic and I'm like what am I doing??? Ugh. But our minds are working overtime as we get those words on paper. At least we have CPs to keep us in check.
ReplyDeleteYour last pet peeve rings true at my home. I'll be in my office writing and the family will just walk in thinking, "Meh, she's just 'writing' what's the deal?" It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I have to take a deep breath. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week!
Elsie
You hit some of my favorite pet peeves too. My husband disturbs me when writing more than anyone.
ReplyDeleteAbout the people bothering you when you're reading: I love in Stephen King's On Writing how he gives writers permission to ignore their friends and read books. I took that advice to heart! :)
ReplyDeleteHere is my IWSG post for August: Top First Pages Pet Peeves AND How to Fix Them!
Gosh yes, I hate finding a typo in a published work, though I know it happens--even to the biggest and best! I wonder if there's a book out there without a single typo in it?
ReplyDeleteTypos--yuck! I run my mss through three different grammar/spell checkers before sending it to the editor. I hate typos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month. Yeah, I agree, it's bothersome that people don't recognize writing as something serious or important, or whatever they deem worthy of leaving you alone so you can do it. After all my trials with finding and keeping editors, typos don't upset me, they make me sad. I see an editor who came up short, not an author lacking in skill. But I get that everyone views this differently.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting! Thankfully, my family goes out of their way to help me get my time with writing. And it helps that I don't have any other friends that try to get me to do stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteMy pet peeve is for people to keep asking all sorts of weird questions: do you make any money off this? Do you write about stuff that really happened in your life?
ReplyDeleteArgh...
Damyanti
Great post! I agree with Toi, envy Loni, and am as amazed as you are that typos are still possible in this day and age. I see we have a mutual friend in Thesaurus ;-)
ReplyDeleteOver-used phrase--She released the breath she didn't know she was holding. Gah. That alone won't keep me from finishing a good story, but can't we come up with a better way to put it?
ReplyDeleteForgot to say thanks for co-hosting this month.
DeleteTypos in a final draft drive me crazy, too. Especially if it's one of mine, ha! Great post. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteHi, L.G.! I agree with you on the typos in published pieces. I often don't see the words I'm am reading because I'm immersed in the piece, but a typo can catapult me back into reality. I still cringe when I remember a typo in a short story of mine that was published in a literary journal in Canada. The word was supposed to be "dreamy" and it was published as "dreary." For me it changed the tone of the whole story which was supposed to have a dreamy quality. Hopefully, the rest of the story overwhelmed that glaring mistake. Thanks for do-hosting today! Have a blast!
ReplyDeleteI never though about these, but I agree with all of your PP's and your bonus peeve. :)
ReplyDeleteYour pet peeves are exactly the same as mine (in my own writing and when reading published materials)! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month - and thanks also for including the sign-up list :)
ReplyDeleteTypos in published works happen. It's the number of them that makes a difference. One per a book - nothing to talk about, but when they creep in ever few pages, that's really annoying.
ReplyDeleteGood selection of pet peeves. I can relate to all of them and to the fact that some people don't consider writing important, yikes. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time here. I like your blog! I'll follow you and connect on social media. Thanks for co-hosting the August question for IWSG.
ReplyDeleteI hate errors and trite language in published books, too. Really, with all the copy editors around, this should not be the case. I know if I ever publish a book, I'd probably read myself blind to be sure there are no errors in the ms.
Thanks for your post. Enjoy your day!
Typo's suck! Especially when you think you've done everything to catch them. Gremlins haunt the publishing process! :)
ReplyDeleteI always feel a secretly annoyed when I'm in the midst of writing and get interrupted! Great post.
ReplyDeleteI relate to your final pet peeve. I'm tired of people assuming they can drop their part of commitments into my lap. Argh!
ReplyDeleteTypos in commercially published books drive me nuts. It's as if the big shots get a free pass. Where are people interrupting you?
ReplyDeleteAre you in a cafe? I'm hopeful, folks respect your privacy when you're in your home office.
Thank you for co-hosting IWSG blog hop.
I find myself using the thesaurus when I find myself using the same word in consecutive sentences. It sounds like you are repeating yourself. So good to find another word that means the same thing. :)
ReplyDeleteYessss to overused words! Because I usually read a novel in a day or two, I really notice this :-(
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post very much, and thanks for co-hosting. I'm new to the group and just did my first post today. I also cringe when I find a typo or a completely misused word in a published book. In ARCs, I expect a few. And I accept that mistakes slip through, even as I'm afraid they'll slip through on my debut novel -- when it gets published. I've had enough humbling experiences in life already! LOL.
ReplyDeleteThat last pet peeve is one I totally relate to! People think I have my days free, but I barely have time to breathe! It's great to be co-hosting with you this month. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree about the interruptions. And it can be so hard to regain the train of thought! Like Christine said above, happy to be co-hosting with you.
ReplyDeleteWell LG, you know my pet peeves as you've visited my post. Like your, too. Sometimes it's hard to pick up those repetitions of words in close proximity even though we're aware of not doing it. This is where relentless critique partners fit in! And interruptions...pfft!
ReplyDeleteYes, typos grate with me too. Before I started writing books I just read and didn't think much of them. Now they're the first thing I see!
ReplyDeleteI suppose a bunch of misspellings would bother me too, although I haven't read many books that have a lot of them. This is good, since I tend to spot misspelled words almost immediately.
ReplyDeleteTypos are so hard to find sometimes. My last book, a novella, went through eight people and I still found more. LOL!
ReplyDeleteGreat peeve about the interruptions. We have to guard our writing time with bared teeth and sharpened nails!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think people need a Do Not Disturb sign. Not that others would bother to obey it... but hey, lol.
ReplyDeleteTypos are annoying because the first one will yank me right out of the story. A few more, and I start thinking about the bad editing instead of the story. Too many more, I'm out. I have the same reaction to bad grammer, too.
ReplyDeleteMy husband doesn't understand "I am working." either! Thanks for co hosting!
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
Yeah, I know some typos get through, and I also expect it in my first drafts. But when they are excessive, its just lazy writing, or a lazy publisher. I love using a thesaurus to mix up words; but you can't fix a plethora or eye rolling, shrugged shoulders, furrowed brows, that most authors substitute for emotion or action. I don't mind them occasionally, but six to 10 on a page? Authors should be more creative than that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for so hosting. If I can get into a story as long as the mistakes are GLARING I don't notice and if I do than it is bad.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
When it comes to trad pub books, especially the Big Five, my expectations are high and I’m annoyed by typos and grammar errors. Not fair, I suppose. But I always imagine that these books have big budgets in place, and top notch editors working on the manuscripts…am I right? Maybe this is a misconception.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting the IWSG bloghop this month!
I just commented to someone else that typos in published books irk me! Totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!