Publishing

So You Found A Typo

Garth Beyer

I make typos every now and then. Sometimes I find them myself when I go back and read what I’ve written. Sometimes others find them after months of my blog post or book being published. The question I’ve wrestled with when editing writing is what does it mean to have a typo?

One could argue it means I’m lazy, I hired a terrible editor or I forgot to hit spell check.

One could also argue it means I’m human, that I’ve read and reread what I’ve written so many times to make sure I got the right message across that I just couldn’t catch small typos. I call it being lost in the magic.

Typos are one of authors’ largest fears and disappointments. When we publish a book, we dislike when people find a blemish. It detracts from the purpose of the reading and it confuses the readers because now they are wondering if we know about the typo? Should they email us? How did it happen, anyway?

I appreciate authors like Seth Godin who live up to the typos and solve the issue. Godin’s newest book is out now and he has a page where you can let him know if you found a typo.

When quality is a given, small mistakes like a typo can be an opportunity to delight, to connect.

For those who write, welcome the connection. For those who read, reach out. I’ve never talked to an author who was upset about someone pointing out a typo.

 

Stay Positive & Who Knows, You May Be Rewarded

Your Art Is Terrible

Garth Beyer

Right now, think of a movie you have seen that flat-out sucked.

Or maybe a book that was so terrible that you wrote a paragraph long review on Amazon (or just tossed the book without finishing it).

Or think of a play that made you feel terrible for the actors because the film itself was awful?

Now notice that the movie got put into production, the book was published, the play was cast and tickets sold.

Some of the worst art gets accepted by the gatekeepers of success. Why?

Because after getting 100 rejection letters, the author kept sending her book out there. The filmmaker kept pushing his film. And the director kept asking to hold the play at this and that venue.

People have bought into crud before. And those artists who had their “crud” showcased, well, they learned more and faster than the artist who quit 10 rejection letters in.

So what if your art is terrible. If terrible is the only place to start, then it’s the best place to start.

 

Stay Positive & Terrible Should Be A Motivation, Not A Setback

Garth E. Beyer