Writing a book is hard, not least because you’re going to make mistakes. They’re unavoidable, especially in early drafts. However, some writers blame themselves for creating something that isn’t perfect as soon as it’s on the page. Sometimes they’ll even apologise when they send their work to be edited or proofread.
This post is for you if you can relate to those feelings. I want you to know that everyone slips up with their words, including editorial professionals. I’ve got a folder on my laptop which contains most of the (largely unpublished) creative writing I’ve done over the past decade. I had a look through some of it this week, to see if there were any errors lurking within.
I didn’t have to search for long.
I’m going to list a few of the mistakes I found. Hopefully that’ll show that these things are completely normal. They’re why proofreaders like me exist. When you send us your writing, we really aren’t judging you. We know what it’s like to look at our words and wonder how that obvious thing got past us.
Well-Tempered Errors
His hands were already beginning to chafe on the course rope.
He was sore, but largely in tact.
Tears steamed down his face
She peared from a window.
“You stay in that cage till I saw otherwise.”
Jeanette’s speed carried her two far.
She peaked between her fingers.
He closed his eyes, slipped into bed and closed his eyes.
Do you cringe when a typo crops up in your writing? Or do you accept it as part of the creative process? Get in touch and let me know!
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