Speling and Grammer Do Count

Posted by Laura on January 26th, 2009 at 11:03pm

Putrid Prose

I regularly create media kits for authors. The authors I work with complete an extensive survey, answering questions about their background, their book’s content, and how they’d like to see their book publicized. I incorporate their responses into a press release, author bio, book recap, catalog copy, and so on.

Here is one author’s response to a couple of questions, copied verbatim from his survey:

How will you help promote your book?

I wouldn’t have a clue. I am the worse salesman in the world.

Has your writing been published in any publications?

Oh no, I’ve hand writen stuf,but nobody could get past the first two paragraphs because they were to buisy laughing at my spelling and grammer.

Okay, future English teachers… have at it! How many errors can you find in the author’s responses?

What advice would you give to this aspiring author?

Posted under: Punctuation, Putrid Prose, Writing

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January 28th, 2009 at 8:49 am

One of our readers e-mailed me the following comment:

Laura, is that for real?

I see nine spelling and grammar mistakes if you don’t count incomplete sentences.

I’d advise the writer to do one of the following things:
1. Give up the idea of writing professionally,
2. Hire an editor,
3. Go back to school and take an English class,
4. Get some therapy and/or ask a doctor to prescribe an antidepressant.

My response:

Yes, unfortunately, I did not make this up! I copied and pasted EXACTLY what the author wrote on his survey.

Thank heavens the author had the presence of mind to hire someone (me!) to edit his writing and to prepare his media kit for him. I’ve seen far too many media kits and press releases riddled with spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage errors.

Who reads media kits? Journalists and producers. Most of these people have degrees in journalism, and are experts at spotting errors. Nothing irks them more than sloppily-written press releases.

Most press releases get tossed in the recycling bin anyway, but I can guarantee you that press releases with typos get tossed immediately.

If you struggle with spelling, grammar, punctuation, or usage (and many people do), you can still become a published author. But please, PLEASE spend the money to hire someone to help you proofread. It will be the best investment you ever make.

Laura Christianson
Co-founder, He Blogs, She Blogs, LLC

Laura


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