tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2083193924397736549..comments2024-03-28T01:44:27.279-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: 5 Focal Points for Writers Reading BooksDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63742963513230025222013-08-21T15:06:48.345-06:002013-08-21T15:06:48.345-06:00Thanks Heidi. :)Thanks Heidi. :)Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29139205565792192852013-08-21T14:27:58.658-06:002013-08-21T14:27:58.658-06:00Okay, now I need to read Kathryn's book!Okay, now I need to read Kathryn's book! Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76992230123967679622013-08-21T14:21:27.889-06:002013-08-21T14:21:27.889-06:00We are on the same track, Kathryn. Couldn't h...We are on the same track, Kathryn. Couldn't have said that better! Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58959509872550478672013-08-21T14:20:23.737-06:002013-08-21T14:20:23.737-06:00I think it's just inherent in being an editor,...I think it's just inherent in being an editor, Steve--tough to ignore the errors! But in a good book, we can also be so forgiving. Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43789088569500875652013-08-21T14:19:06.263-06:002013-08-21T14:19:06.263-06:00I live for those book experiences too, Diana. And...I live for those book experiences too, Diana. And isn't it fabulous that so many authors really DO work to improve the craft--no matter how long they've been doing this! Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79853121748199139262013-08-21T14:17:36.428-06:002013-08-21T14:17:36.428-06:00I hear ya, Linda. It really is frustrating these ...I hear ya, Linda. It really is frustrating these days. And honestly, when published books don't grab me, I quit 'em. Not enough time in this world to read bad books! <br />But I love the idea of sending your editor within on a long vacation :)Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50418300177967086282013-08-21T13:12:40.138-06:002013-08-21T13:12:40.138-06:00Ditto, Kathryn, and your book is one of those (tha...Ditto, Kathryn, and your book is one of those (that sweep you away!) For a long time I read with my inner red pen at the ready and I still do to a certain extent if I see a lot of errors. But for the most part I can "ignore" them if it's a good, engaging story.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51051152640737453172013-08-21T13:09:00.715-06:002013-08-21T13:09:00.715-06:00My reading habits changed once I gained command of...My reading habits changed once I gained command of writing craft and story structure as well—for the first time in my life, I started to set books down without finishing them. It could be age-related as well, because life's too short and a creative mind is too precious to waste on drivel. <br /><br />I can still get swept away, but it takes a higher level of literature to pull that off. I always have a book going and if I'm lucky I'll get a good handful of those reading experiences per year—and I'm the richer for seeking them out.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-1860857955938791092013-08-21T08:34:21.230-06:002013-08-21T08:34:21.230-06:00I have been Newsletter Editor for some computer us...I have been Newsletter Editor for some computer user groups for years, yet read for pleasure too.<br /><br />At first I had a hard time ignoring errors when reading for pleasure.<br /><br />Unless things are extremely bad, I find the story is my main focus, and I gloss over errors.Steve Costellohttp://sefcug.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41696203848026792052013-08-21T07:51:22.884-06:002013-08-21T07:51:22.884-06:00Before I understood the craft of writing, I could ...Before I understood the craft of writing, I could sense something in a book wasn't working. Once I studied the craft of writing I could identify the problems. A really good book drags me under on page one and keeps me submerged until the end; the craft is seamless. I live for those book experiences. Anyone who says they don't need to learn craft will never achieve that level of reader satisfaction.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51524096205233827982013-08-21T05:11:12.332-06:002013-08-21T05:11:12.332-06:00Susan, you've delved headlong into a topic tha...Susan, you've delved headlong into a topic that has frustrated me for years. As a writer-turned-editor, I have to a great extent lost the joy of reading because my hyper-critical editor within focuses more on the errors in a book than on the storyline. Even traditionally published books contain far more errors today than they did a few decades ago. <br /><br />Bottom line: the mixed blessing of independent publishing (aka self-publishing) has opened doors to myriads of writers whose works would never have otherwise seen a press. This opportunity has allowed many the joy of seeing their works in print. It has also given voice to countless others who, while possibly great storytellers, fall far short of qualifying as great writers. The majority of these also fail to employ competent editors to polish their fantastic stories into fantastic reads. The end result has been a steady decline in the overall quality of many books that hit the marketplace — whether hard copy or e-books.<br /><br />Solution: send my editor within on a long vacation. OR...allow myself the luxury of employing your excellent advice to look past the errors to the nitty-gritty of the story and learn from an in-depth analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Benefit: the writer within may well learn something that will make her next book better. <br /><br />Well said, Susan. Thank you for sharing. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.com