Since people think it’s okay to rewrite and rewrite and polish their novels endlessly and foist them upon paying customers as their critique group, that’s “since when.” Honestly, it makes my teeth grind as a reader. If I get a “corrected version” of a book in my Content and Devices, that’s it for me with that author.
I’m not paying for the privilege of being someone’s proofreader or beta reader. It’s just rude.
Am I really in the minority? It doesn’t chap your ass to get a book, that you’ve paid for, and find dozens of typos and homonym errors? URKG!!! And then, a year later, get a notification that the author “fixed” it or updated it? Damn, what good does that do ME? It’s almost a damned insult, isn’t it? (“Here, if you want to see the corrections, read it again!”
Oh no, that would chap my derriere, too. Not to mention that reading the nauseatingly thorough author bio makes it clear that the detectives in the story are obvious self-inserts (yes, that’s right, TWO.)
I’ll admit, most of the “corrected versions” I’ve gotten have just corrected a couple of typos. I don’t usually buy indie books without having read the free sample first.
Nathan: I do, too, although yes, I will try (via KU) books that seem to be hugely popular with other readers of this or that book or series that I’ve liked, without reading 3-5,000 words.
But for example, I just bought a series of 4 books by some dude in urban fantasy. First book was good, warmed up to the detective character, etc. But then in the second book, I found a surprising number of typos and now, in the third, even more. It’s vexatious. I feel somewhat abused by it.
Sure, I get it, strike while the iron is hot, but typos yank me out of the damn story. I understand that they want to get those books up there and sell, particularly if they find an audience, but hell, I’m TRYING to be that audience!
It’s just…the world of Word. To paraphrase somebody or other (h/t Goldblum and JP), they were so busy finding out that they could go back and make revisions, they never asked if they should. This is also a direct result of instant gratification-itis; the demise of writing groups, critique groups, writing buddies that read your dreck and corrected you, etc. Now, it’s typed on Monday, published on Tuesday.
All that pavement and he still parks in the grass.
Since when do novels get numbered editions?
Since people think it’s okay to rewrite and rewrite and polish their novels endlessly and foist them upon paying customers as their critique group, that’s “since when.” Honestly, it makes my teeth grind as a reader. If I get a “corrected version” of a book in my Content and Devices, that’s it for me with that author.
I’m not paying for the privilege of being someone’s proofreader or beta reader. It’s just rude.
Tell us how you really feel, Hitch. 🙂
Am I really in the minority? It doesn’t chap your ass to get a book, that you’ve paid for, and find dozens of typos and homonym errors? URKG!!! And then, a year later, get a notification that the author “fixed” it or updated it? Damn, what good does that do ME? It’s almost a damned insult, isn’t it? (“Here, if you want to see the corrections, read it again!”
Oh no, that would chap my derriere, too. Not to mention that reading the nauseatingly thorough author bio makes it clear that the detectives in the story are obvious self-inserts (yes, that’s right, TWO.)
I’ll admit, most of the “corrected versions” I’ve gotten have just corrected a couple of typos. I don’t usually buy indie books without having read the free sample first.
Nathan: I do, too, although yes, I will try (via KU) books that seem to be hugely popular with other readers of this or that book or series that I’ve liked, without reading 3-5,000 words.
But for example, I just bought a series of 4 books by some dude in urban fantasy. First book was good, warmed up to the detective character, etc. But then in the second book, I found a surprising number of typos and now, in the third, even more. It’s vexatious. I feel somewhat abused by it.
Sure, I get it, strike while the iron is hot, but typos yank me out of the damn story. I understand that they want to get those books up there and sell, particularly if they find an audience, but hell, I’m TRYING to be that audience!
It’s just…the world of Word. To paraphrase somebody or other (h/t Goldblum and JP), they were so busy finding out that they could go back and make revisions, they never asked if they should. This is also a direct result of instant gratification-itis; the demise of writing groups, critique groups, writing buddies that read your dreck and corrected you, etc. Now, it’s typed on Monday, published on Tuesday.
/rant.