Today is just a cranky post kind of day?

[jmc_bks]

Which is weird, because I had a pretty good day.

But I posted over at WordPress about what seems to be a general opinion among self-publishers:  that editing isn't important.  I call BS on that.  If an author can't "afford" an editor as s/he self-publishes, s/he shouldn't be publishing.

Also over at WP:  How hardcore are you if you keep getting

Comments

[jperceval]

Amen on your editing rant. Every time some reader airily states, "Oh, I don't read for the grammar," I want to bang my head against the nearest wall. The technical mechanics of writing are just as important as plotting and characterization. If an author does a slapdash job on the former, who's to say the latter two are any good (*ahem*50Shades*ahem)?

[jmc_bks]

I don't read for grammar per se, but it's THERE. How can poor grammar not be a distraction? I have a related post sort of brewing about authors who are very good storytellers and whose voices I love...yet I'm distracted sometimes by their actual writing to the point that I want to "fix" the errors.

[jperceval]

Seriously, does anyone read for the grammar? I think that's weird. But I will not, if an author's grammar or lack thereof drives me insane, purchase another book from said author.

For example -- all those bizarre (and deliberate) extraneous h's in J.R. Ward's BDB series was one of the many reasons (rheasons?) I quit the series. I just couldn't stand the thought of another extra h. Still, another author, no matter how much I enjoyed her books, once used "islet" instead of "eyelet" -- and that's what I remember her for now, years later. The mechanics of the writing does stick with you.

[jmc_bks]

In one book, Ward used penile for penal when referring to a criminal justice system/facility...

[why_me_why_not]

I know I mentioned this on twitter, but really. Editing is important! I have an LJ friend who has several self-published books, and even though she knows that it's not likely many people would buy/read it who don't already read her online fanfic, she still made sure to have it edited by at least four or five people before self-publishing. And we did that for free. I don't believe that someone who is at a point where they feel their writing can be self-published has NO FRIENDS OR CONNECTIONS that they can ask to edit beforehand. Unless they're just massive douches.

[jmc_bks]

There's nothing wrong with having a book edited that way. My point is really that an author who says they can't have their book edited is being disingenuous at best. As a consumer, poor quality control is a valid reason for me to return ebooks (which Amazon accepts if you do it promptly) or boycott self-publishers and known sloppy writers.

[jperceval]

don't believe that someone who is at a point where they feel their writing can be self-published has NO FRIENDS OR CONNECTIONS that they can ask to edit beforehand. Unless they're just massive douches.

Exactly! Hell, I beta-read for a (not self-)published author, and I don't get paid. It shuoldn't be that hard to gather a decent editing team.