Forum: Author Hangout

How to alert authors of format errors

rustyken 🚫

I started reading a story that is an updated version of a story written in the distant past. I've only gotten through the first six chapters or so. In doing so I've encountered formatting errors that make reading the story difficult. So I thought about advising the author of the issue, but... not sure how to do it.

For the stories I've written, I always opened them after they were posted to see if I screwed up.

What I've done with other stories that I liked but had formatting issues, I waited until it was complete. Then after downloading the ePub, I edited it to fix the formatting errors.

Replies: Switch Blayde REP DarkKnight DBActive Crumbly Writer fohjoffs The Outsider Paladin_HGWT Vincent Berg

Switch Blayde 🚫

@rustyken

So I thought about advising the author of the issue, but... not sure how to do it.

Unless the author has turned off feedback, you can go to the "contact author" at the end of any chapter to send him a message. If they have it turned off, they don't want to know.

Replies: rustyken

rustyken 🚫

@Switch Blayde

He apparently has "Contact Author" turned off. Oh, well.

Replies: awnlee jawking

awnlee jawking 🚫

@rustyken

He apparently has "Contact Author" turned off.

As a last resort, you could always report it to management. They'll be able to contact the author or perhaps even fix it themselves.

AJ

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@awnlee jawking

When the poster mentioned 'written in the distant past' I immediately thought of myself, as my Nowhere … Like Home? which was a rewrite of someone else's story. And when I first posted it, it was unedited and I forgot most of the standard SOL formatting standards.

If so, I plead Mia Culpa, as it took a while, but it should be better now. (But I kept resetting my 'Contact' activation and it kept resetting it, but eventually Lazeez reset it for me and it's working now!)

Hopefully I'll remember all those details when I post my next, WIP.

Replies: Argon

Argon 🚫

@Vincent Berg

LOL, me too, but I have messaging on. I also have that problem with my unrevised old stuff; some of it cringeworthy for syntax and spelling.

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Argon

When you've been around for a while, we all do. It's a part of our history. And since I keep trying to learn new techniques or better adapt ones I've learned some time ago, my writing is steadily evolving.

REP 🚫
Updated:

@rustyken

Authors have different tolerances for suggestions to improve their story. Most will accept your suggestions and incorporate those they agree with. Unfortunately, there are a few who will not appreciate you pointing out that they made errors.

I recall one author in particular that I tried to help. He was so offended by me pointing out his errors with suggested changes that he blocked me so I would not be able to offend him in the future.

The funny thing about that author is he had stated that he was open to comments. Apparently, he was open to any comments that lauded him as an author and acceptable to his ego.

Replies: Crumbly Writer

Crumbly Writer 🚫

@REP

Especially on SOL, it gets tricky, as inexperienced authors dislike being reminded how much they don't know, plus you also get the "Don't tell me how/what to write, as I write whatever the hell I want to."

With most published author's they were trained how to write, so it's often an insecurity issue, so rather than saying "This should read …" and then explaining why, it's usually better sticking with generalities (ex: the story tends to drag after chapter six, where it's all about the prostitute rather than the main characters.). And forget trying to explain composition, rules of dialogue or other details.

Certain authors are well-trained, while no two authors ever agree on how to write, as each has their own preferences (ex: short vs. long sentences, fast scenes vs. slow, action vs. romance, etc.).

Generally, the best approach is to 'feel' the author out with a minor nit, specifying a better word, just to see how they respond, and if they launch into an attack, you just mark them as 'do not offer suggestions' and move on.

DarkKnight 🚫

@rustyken

I don't mind constructive criticism and usually reply to comments or feedback. If someone discovers a particularly egregious error, I will try to fix it, but I typically let the small ones stay. I've never claimed to be a professional writer; I'm just a struggling amateur.

Replies: Crumbly Writer REP

Crumbly Writer 🚫

@DarkKnight

For me, the age of the story becomes a bigger factor, as if it's more recent, it's easier to 'patch'. However, over time, my writing tends to develop as I learn new things and modify how I write, so when I double back on an older story, I'll try to change a few words, and end up writing three to five pages at a time. At which I just throw up my hands and say "Screw it, it just ain't worth it!" as at that point, I'd have to rewrite the entire story to match my current style of writing.

Luckily, things—like writing—don't typically 'evolve' very quickly. ;)

REP 🚫

@DarkKnight

Fixing all of the errors pointed out to you does several things:

It improves your story and its rating by future readers.

It shows you appreciate the effort made by the person submitting the errors. That person may not expend their time and effort in the future if they notice you did not correct the errors.

Correcting the errors aids in reenforcing that what you did was a mistake and you are more likely to avoid that error in the future. That helps you to rise to above being just a struggling amateur.

Failing to correct your errors reenforces your view of yourself as a poor writer. Pride of workmanship is important in improving your view of your abilities as a writer.

Replies: Grey Wolf tendertouch

Grey Wolf 🚫

@REP

I agree with that, but I also agree that it's a judgment call. The small errors are easy to fix, though; it makes sense to just go fix them.

tendertouch 🚫

@REP

I agree. I try to fix all of the errors that readers point out (or that I see myself when I reread a story.) I've even gone back and fixed continuity errors and consistency issues, though I end up balancing how strong to make the fix with how much of the story I'd need to rewrite.

Fixing the errors leaves me feeling better about the story. I'll also more likely remember what I did wrong in the future.

DBActive 🚫
Updated:

@rustyken

I recently got in touch with an author concerning an ongoing error in a series of books. It was a geography issue that wasn't integral to the plot but jarring to me.
Later I found out that the entire series was published on KU. I doubt that he will even bother to respond at this point since the error is now past fixing. My comment might have been useful if I had started reading earlier.

Crumbly Writer 🚫

@rustyken

It's dangerous making those assumptions, as authors sign up for KU for a limited duration, after which they may just walk away, or they MAY publish it more 'traditionally'.

fohjoffs 🚫

@rustyken

Several have commented about how easily some writers get offended by corrections. Not always a valid assumption.

I write (not this user name), and do leave contact on, but really do not care if my grammar/syntax/spelling suck. I only pay attention to comments on my plot errors.

If it pains you to the ends of creation, the reader can vote me down into the oblivion of hell. Which is ok, I like it hot.

It may be difficult for some to understand, but some writers really just do not care. Per Bill Murray in Meatballs, 'It just doesn't matter'.

Replies: Crumbly Writer

Crumbly Writer 🚫

@fohjoffs

Part of the whole 'how easily some writers get offended by corrections', where those, like you, who instead take offense at people pointing out typos, problematic sentences, etc.

Some quibble over the fix, while others insist, "It's my story, I'll write it the way I want." Again, those are those many of us put only our 'do not contact/correct' list. As rustyken, noted, some of us have work ethics and take our writing seriously (professional pride), yet many aren't as concerned with minor errors.

We'll still read them, we just learn not to bug them unnecessarily. Largely, it all depends on what motivates you to write, not the stories you write or how you tell them.

The Outsider 🚫
Updated:

@rustyken

I appreciate readers who point out grammatical errors my editor and I may have missed (or gone right over because we've read the story too much). I've even changed the ending because a reader pointed out an inaccuracy to me or how characters speak because I've gotten the dialect wrong.

I WON'T change my entire story because a reader doesn't like how I've written it early on. What one reader pointed out didn't even EXIST when I wrote that chapter. For me, that's firmly over the "write it yourself" or "then stop reading my work" line...

Replies: Vincent Berg Grey Wolf

Vincent Berg 🚫

@The Outsider

That fits under the "be true to your story" rubric, as the story must be consistent, so interjecting 'bits and pieces' from other works will violate the entire story (i.e. each story takes place in it's own story 'universe', even if they're all set in the same city).

Grey Wolf 🚫

@The Outsider

I WON'T change my entire story because a reader doesn't like how I've written it early on.

If this is style-wise, I tend to agree, but sometimes it's worth going back and re-editing.

If this is plot-wise, I very much agree. I have the same problem with some movie reviews, which take the angle of 'If they had only made this other movie, it would have been great.' Well, maybe, but what about the one they actually made? Good or not?

Suggesting plot weaknesses is helpful. Wholesale 'this would have been a better story' is only vaguely helpful and interesting for future works, not fixing existing ones.

Replies: The Outsider

The Outsider 🚫

@Grey Wolf

I agree. In the story I referenced earlier, the one where the character's husbands should have been present, I changed that. When a reader said, "The story would be better if...," what they suggested wasn't even in existence when I wrote that chapter. Needless to say, that wasn't changed...

Paladin_HGWT 🚫

@rustyken

There are many good, and some great comments about the merits of revisions to stories based upon reader feedback. More so the corrections of errors.

The OP was about a Formatting Error.

Sadly, some people who post on SoL might be "offended" by being notified of such an issue...

Boggles my mind that someone would be "offended" ...I have made such errors, in particular when I changed the software I use for writing.

Any writer should Appreciate being notified about a technology error. It doesn't reflect on their Storytelling abilities.

Sometimes what works on other platforms, or used to work in the past, doesn't work on other platforms.

Laz seems to be very helpful if a person is experiencing Technical Difficulties.

Using the SoL FORUMS is often helpful. I, and others I know who post on SoL, have been able to learn how to deal with issues that effect more than just our fiction writing.

Vincent Berg 🚫

@rustyken

I think the bigger issue, as anyone who's ever raised children knows, is that no one likes being told what to do, as typically, when you do, they'll do the exact opposite. That's just human nature.

So it's not about whether the suggestion or recommendation is appropriate or not, it's entirely about HOW it's perceived. That said, trying to tap-dance around someone's personal insecurities isn't helpful to anyone.

Those old Charlie Brown cartoons with the "Whaa-Whaa-Whaa" whenever an adult speaks springs to mind, as it's close to a child holding their fingers to their ears, and yelling "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" as they storm out of the room.

Again, SOL has a lot of accumulated experience, as most are more than willing to help, or even mentor upcoming, promising authors, yet if the have no interest in even listening, it's usually best to mark them under your personal 'Do NOT contact list'.

Of course, you may have just hit them on a bad day, yet how much time is it worth wasting on someone who doesn't give a shit?
As the old saying says, "You can't argue with stupidity."

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Forum: Author Hangout

How to alert authors of format errors

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