Sunday 16 February 2014

Finally did it properly.



After a review of Three Hoodies 1 I finally plucked up the courage to re-edit it again. I should have done it a lot sooner and now understand at least one of the reasons why it hasn’t sold as well as I’d hoped. Apart from twenty six stupid punctuation errors and numerous spelling mistakes, one of the chapters was numbered incorrectly. I know. Stupid, careless and irresponsibly amateurish. However, it’s all a learning curve and I’ve definitely learned my lesson.
     My style has also changed significantly and at least in this version there will be no misunderstanding as to who is speaking. It also reads a lot better and still makes me laugh, but then I always did a rather unusual sense of humour.
     I did it primarily for those who had either bought or got it free and hopefully someone will forgive my earlier slackness and give it another try.
     I've now finished Three Hoodies 3 but have decided not to publish unless my sales for this particular series rise. I wonder if I should re-publish my later novels under another name. Readers are an (understandably) unforgiving bunch. I know if I’d paid money for a novel, which even if good, was sloppily presented, then I would be most unimpressed.
    I’ve submitted the finished MS’s to Amazon and Smashwords, and this time in the formats they both prefer, rather than the same for both.
    Oh the arrogance of youth. I've given myself a slap.

7 comments:

  1. I loved the story and thought that part was great. The Twilight series is horribly written, but the story is great and has grossed millions.

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  2. Thanks, but I know I'll never be one of the lucky ones. If I'm to succeed then it will be through writing something people can read without wanting to toss it away.
    Now I can get back to Old Geezers 2, and when it's finally finished I'll edit it to death. Another bad habit, I know, but with my three new ones there won't be any mistakes.

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  3. I think it is awesome that you went back and made revisions. That should make readers realize that you are serious and that you want your writing to be the best it can be. I am sure looking at a story with fresh eyes and more experience made the editing even stronger. Since it is a great story to start with (I have only heard good things about it)- I am sure it sparkles more brightly now. Congrats on the changes and the strength to make them and put them out there. :) Best of luck!

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  4. Why thank you. It's kind of you to say so. I've only opened a can or worms. the only thing is, now that I've done number one I'll have to re-edit number two again. I already edited that one until my fingers almost bled, but I'll have to do it or I won't rest.

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  5. Don’t beat yourself up about it Roger. I don’t remember any mistakes in Three Hoodies but I do remember the story. Same with Kongomato your stories sort of creep under the skin – and stay there!

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  6. Always publish. Publish, publish, publish. Who taught me that? Oh yea, you did. I love your Three Hoodies series.

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  7. Thank you as always. The cheque's in the post

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