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I have just been reading the Judith Spelman Interview with Rosamund Lupton in June's WM, and it contains some really poor writing.
The book under discussion is called Sister, and in para 4, p17, that word is repeated five times in three sentences.
We then have "Sister is the story of a bond between sisters". In para 5 we have, "In Sister I thought it was a good way of showing the bond between sisters". Repetition is sloppy.
There is also an editing lapse: "She goes home and as she gradually she learns..."
When we poor beginners are told that we must edit and re-read and make sure all is perfect when submitting something, this is really disappointing - especially in a magazine devoted to becoming a more successful writer! Perhaps Richard Bell could use his Red Editing Pen a little closer to home?
Comments
WM4 ficiton
WM29 pussy sores (it may be right, but it looks funny)
WN10 Having been acquired by AOL for $315 million, Arianna Huffington intends
WM42 (Under the microscope, of all places) Quote: He spends free time banging my head instead of actually doing this thing called writing. End quote.
WM44 David Bowies Space Oditty (not sure if this is intentional)
WM47 tenant framer AND writers brain (as well as two x incongruous AND disparate elements (pages 46 and 47))
WM77 must seemed
Whaaaat?
:)
Mutter, mutter, hrrmph.
[quote=dora]Whaaaat?[/quote]
Sores oozing pus!
I also noticed there were more errors than usual in this month's magazine. Let's hope July's (due soon) is better!
The second was at the end of an article by 'successful author Simon Crump', though as it is in a box at the end, the authorship is not certain.
The third is in Writers' Bookshelf, so presumably a staffer.
I can forgive typos; though they should have been edited out, everyone is guilty of those. But the author interview was just amateurish.
('Pussy sores' is one of those phrases that says what it means, but can be misread!)
I just realised the two irritants I spotted were in (sorry Webbo) Writers' Forum. In a winning story: piece of mind and councillor (peace of mind and counsellor) - and nowhere was it picked up. Ah well.
Count your blessings. It could have been 'sore pussys'.
Re the "pussy sores", it's not necessarily a phrase I would write, but not really incorrect either. We do try not to edit the short stories, to keep them as true representations of the writers' work.
For the others, there is obviously no excuse, unless we re-brand the whole magazine as a giant red pen exercise for you. I shall now dispense a post-Bank Holiday flagellation for all responsible (erm... okay, that would be me).
...check your account!
Thanks, Webbo. I was (w)racking my brains as to why I had a medal.
I'm looking forward to this!
Count your blessings. It could have been 'sore pussys'. [/quote]
Now that reminds me of a cycling holiday I went on .... :)
Yaaaaaaay for Jay :)
And yaaaaaaay for Webbo making Jay waaaaaay haaaaaaaay.
There are many major oversights which could have been avoided if someone had been paying attention to details - and paying attention to detail has to be carried out in every activity, otherwise it's too easy to forget, or to become unpracticed and unable or unwilling...
It must be ten times worse when it is the magazine with pieces by different writers, last minute updates as well as editing to house style and the printer's requirements.
It only takes one phone call to make you miss something...:)
I know I've sent writing to friends to read through, convinced there are no errors, yet when they've posted them back to me I'm aghast at the simple things I'd missed.
I suppose with a mag, the thing to do is have more than one person to proofread.
This just made me laugh out loud-I have no idea of the context, I haven't opened the mags yet, but whatever the context the words 'pussy sores' are just funny-thanks Jay I needed a good laugh :)
that's made it even funnier-I'll have to go and get it now and read it for myself lol ;)
Oh yes, when I did the C2C cyclew route I had a nightly date with a tin of Vaseline and a tube of Germoloids. I had to be very careful not to get muddled in the very dark, very small, tent!!!!!!
[quote=Liz!]I think it's a lot easier to spot mistakes by others, than one's own... You know what you have intended to say and are convinced in eye and mind that it says what you thought it sai[/quote]
I agree too, Liz. It's something I have said several to friends
I don't know the context but would assume from what is written here that the author is referring to pus-filled sores as opposed to feline lesions, Carol.
But I bet most readers thought cat...
Writing Magazine
Contents pages I kept reading the 3s as 5s
9 publihsed AND causeed
11 laying fallow
30 sitting idly in draws
37 rattles our knickers (huh?) AND Do your writing reflect this?
Writers News
2 Womens
13 gardenng
[quote=Jay Mandal]No, I have yellow highlighter ink on my hands. [/quote]
But it sounds like a very sad life, Jay! :P