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** W is for WELLIES **
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This post was suggested by one of my oldest friends, Lou Gooding. She was the one who spotted a typo in my book, and suggested I write a cautionary tale on that theme for my 'W' day on the A-Z blog challenge.
I have learned my lesson and I want to tell you of my experiences so you don't fall into the same hole of accidents, embarrassment and poor editing.
Paragraph three on the opening page of my debut novel 'Girl Meets Boys', an internet age rom com, contains the following text:
"...You’d think I’d have more grace when leaping up the stairs at home with feet that small, but no. My favourite footwear is flip flops or wellies (weather dependent of course)..."
Can you spot where the humiliating typo appeared? No?
Need a clue? Try substituting the second letter in the word 'wellies' for 'i'...
Got it.
"Oops" was not the word. I was mortified this word had appeared on my first novel's first page! What a book boo-boo. An easy, quick tweak later, and both the ebook and the paperback correctly had footwear and not genitals on the first page. However, this was too late for the first 60-100 sales I had. If you have a copy of the male appendage version, keep it. It's out of print.
So what have I learned?
I admit I cheaped out a little on editing my manuscript. I went through it with a fine (but gappy) tooth comb, 'editing' the 36,000 word document myself. I also arranged for four 'hobby' editors I knew to have a read. Four, I thought, was enough, but next time I'd get a professional to get it. I certainly plan to get it done properly for my current work in progress. And you should do the same for your next book. Definitely.
So 'W' is for wellies. Or willies. Whatever will get me the most hits on the porn-obsessed internet search engines!
Who can beat that typo, then?!
Lou x
Find me on Facebook
...And on Twitter
Born To Be A Tourist
Image from British Heart Foundation Shop
** W is for WELLIES **
---------------------------------
This post was suggested by one of my oldest friends, Lou Gooding. She was the one who spotted a typo in my book, and suggested I write a cautionary tale on that theme for my 'W' day on the A-Z blog challenge.
I have learned my lesson and I want to tell you of my experiences so you don't fall into the same hole of accidents, embarrassment and poor editing.
Paragraph three on the opening page of my debut novel 'Girl Meets Boys', an internet age rom com, contains the following text:
"...You’d think I’d have more grace when leaping up the stairs at home with feet that small, but no. My favourite footwear is flip flops or wellies (weather dependent of course)..."
Can you spot where the humiliating typo appeared? No?
Need a clue? Try substituting the second letter in the word 'wellies' for 'i'...
Got it.
"Oops" was not the word. I was mortified this word had appeared on my first novel's first page! What a book boo-boo. An easy, quick tweak later, and both the ebook and the paperback correctly had footwear and not genitals on the first page. However, this was too late for the first 60-100 sales I had. If you have a copy of the male appendage version, keep it. It's out of print.
So what have I learned?
I admit I cheaped out a little on editing my manuscript. I went through it with a fine (but gappy) tooth comb, 'editing' the 36,000 word document myself. I also arranged for four 'hobby' editors I knew to have a read. Four, I thought, was enough, but next time I'd get a professional to get it. I certainly plan to get it done properly for my current work in progress. And you should do the same for your next book. Definitely.
So 'W' is for wellies. Or willies. Whatever will get me the most hits on the porn-obsessed internet search engines!
Who can beat that typo, then?!
Lou x
Find me on Facebook
...And on Twitter
Born To Be A Tourist
Image from British Heart Foundation Shop
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