Melissa Barker-Simpson

6 responses to “Proof-reading”

1. 

   Laura F

   January 12, 2011

   Hi, Melissa! Proofreading is my weakness. I usually try to go through what I write twice and I still find errors. If I can rope someone else into looking at it before I send it in, that’s fabulous, but I can’t do that all the time.

   Reply
   1. 

      mbarkersimpson

      January 12, 2011

      Hi Laura

      I know exactly what you mean. My current novel, Sins of the Father, should have been finished six months ago. But I fell into my own trap…’I’ll just do one more edit!’ When I’m proof-reading any changes I invariably find something else I’m not happy with. What I plan to do over the next two weeks is make the changes I’ve highlighted (all over the manuscript) and then not look at it again!

      There has to be a cut off point and I seem to have reached mine. I’ll be sending it without going through it (again), otherwise it will become a different entity entirely.

      Thanks for the comment
      Mel

      Reply
2. 

   Kioko

   January 12, 2011

   I almost can’t help but proofread. I read letters from friends, instant messages, emails, etc…and I, inevitably, find errors. Luckily, I’m not so anal that I point them out unless it’s important. You just have to skate the fine line between proofreading, which should be quick and dirty, and editing, which should be thoughtful and deliberate.

   Reply
   1. 

      mbarkersimpson

      January 12, 2011

      ‘Quick and dirty’ I like that! It’s how it feels exactly. I suppose that if I’m using your definition I was editing yesterday more than anything. I know what you mean about habitually proof-reading too. I’ve talked on my blog before about being unable to send something that hasn’t been double checked, be it a text message, email or letter. So when I see things that are sent ‘unedited’ I often cringe. Though, as you said, I don’t point this out unless it’s important.

      Thanks for replying.
      Mel

      Reply
3. 

   howibecameawriter

   January 15, 2011

   I must be one of the weird ones who loves proofreading! If it’s my own stuff, I love rereading it and making changes, plus there’s a certain pride in knowing I put it together from scratch.

   At work I tend to do more ‘editing’ of information because of other people’s poor spelling and grammar, which I secretly love because I can put my mark on it. My guilty pleasure 🙂

   Reply
   1. 

      mbarkersimpson

      January 17, 2011

      I wouldn’t say you’re weird, not at all, I just stress too much about things 🙂 I go through stages, as I’m sure we all do, that makes me want to edit something to death!

      Occasionally I’ll look at my work and think… ‘did I acutally write that?’ and other times I think… ‘That’s not bad, in fact I’m quite proud of that!’

      Reply