I was just wondering if anyone on this forum ever gives up on a story because there are too many errors to continue reading? I know that I would rather leave constructive comments about the way the story is written but if there are too many spelling and grammar mistakes than I tend to focus on trying to correct those and that distracts me from the more constructive types of criticisms. Maybe that's just me though...
Definitely. I've sometimes been unable to make it past the first paragraph due to the multiple spelling or grammatical mistakes - but if that's the case, then I tell the author that. It's important for the author to be aware of it and correct it. I tend not to go into correcting every mistake, although I might do that first paragraph as an illustration. I can't give a constructive critique on the story if the prose gets in the way, be that because of mistakes or poor word choices.
On another forum that I sometimes peruse there are members who write all their words phonetically - it's very hard to read. You have to sound out every word. I wonder if that would be considered trolling here. (I sure hope so LoL)
Yup, absolutely. I teach English as a Foreign Language; sorting through spelling and grammar errors is what I get paid to do. During my free time I'm happy to help with characterization, plotting, even more effective word choice but if I start to feel like I'm on the clock I'll either politely say so (if you know I'm reading it) or possibly just move on to something else.
@Iain Aschendale English is my 3rd language after Polish and German (the latter which I have unfortunately forgotten completely while learning English). You could probably still teach me plenty about some common (or uncommon) idioms. I am an idiot when it comes to those LoL
You're doing very well! Idioms are another matter entirely though, those can take a lifetime in one's native language.
I feel like if that's one of the things specifically asked for in the notes before the thing, then I'll pay attention to it. I do give my best effort, though, but sometimes I can't do it. Like someone else said, if there are that many errors, it probably wasn't ready to leave the workbench in the first place.
Do you mean a story you've been asked to beta read or otherwise critique? I think if I got a work like that, I'd write a nice message back to the author telling him or her that the spelling and grammar mistakes are getting in the way of my enjoying the story, and I'd be glad to try reading it again after the errors are corrected. I don't know if I'd offer to take on making the corrections. If the mistakes are too extensive it gets into proofreading, which people do for money and I wouldn't have time to do for free.
I'm not the biggest fan of the "well that's for the editor to figure out" mentality. Isn't it kind of important to be able to produce writing that at least has serviceable SPAG, you know... as a writer? When something in an exceptionally dire condition enters the workshop (which really does not happen often), I'm left wondering if the poster is trying to run before learning to walk.
Ultimately, all those spelling and grammar issues should be taken care of before handing something out to readers (or at least 98% fixed).
I try to read through a whole work and leave some support. But sometimes I cant get through. It could be personal taste but there are stories that I call deadpan. They seem forced and full of meaningless fluff. Its that over grammar and spelling that bothers me. Other stories just dont grab my attention. Im not going to tell you your story was boring. It probably wasnt meant for me if it was. There are so many different preferences out there. Our stories wont be loved by everyone.
my 2 cents...(probably worth about 1.5) (and by the way, if I use that joke again in these forums, please ban me for a month) 1. SPAG problems dont seem to bother me as much as others. My eyes just drift over them. The story shines through if it's a good one. This might be because I don't have the best grammar myself, so i'm not actively looking for the mistakes. I hope no-one is offended by this, but I also think that some writers are not the best examples of readers, or the best people to ask how good/bad a story is. Why? because they are actively editing all the time and they will let broken rules get in the way of their own enjoyment. 2. In saying that, there are so many tools out there to help us fix these problems, that there aren't many excuses for submitting a story riddled with errors. I use ProWritingAid - its extremely good at finding basic and even more advanced problems. But there are others. Grammarly is one (PWA is far superior). and even the Spellchecker in Msword etc.. so yeah... if you want people to concentrate on your story and not your mistakes then take the time to use a tool and fix it up. (I have the full version of ProWritingAid and I'm quite happy to run anyone's work through it for them, if they don't have the pocket money to buy it)
Writers often make a terrible choice for a reader, as do family and friends. I say writers are a bad choice because of what-I-would-have-done syndrome. We look at someone’s work and think of how we would have written the passage, and it taints our impressions. The key to avoiding that in a reader is to ask clear and specific questions. ‘How was it?’ Won’t get you useable feedback. Ask about characters; did the main character come across well? Did the setting description create a vivid image for you? Was there too much exposition or too much backstory? 99% of the time, if a reader didn’t ‘get it’, it was because the writer didn’t present it well enough. I included family and friends because they’re often too worried about sparing your feelings to make the harsh comments. Getting back to the original post, SPAG issues should be taken care of before handing a work out to be read. You’re asking someone to invest their time and energy in your work, at least have the respect to put in the time and energy to hand them something readable. It doesn’t have to be perfect, if you tell your reader ‘this is a first or second draft’ they’ll know there will be some errors, but for their efforts on your behalf, they deserve something better than the notes you scribbled on a cocktail napkin.
I'm new here. I can forgive a lot in terms of spelling and grammar mistakes if the story hooks me, but if I see a wall of text with no paragraph breaks (or very few), I will probably not even try to start reading.
On the other hand - a critique that focuses only on SPAG isn't really a critique. I think people are looking for a lot more than that from a critique.
I was with you right up to where you have than instead of then, and I dropped right out. Kidding. Good point, well made. Spelling and grammar errors can rip the reader right out of a story. I can still hear the teacher in the creative writing class: it's important to know the rules and then break them all, intentionally,if it suits the purpose.
This is with my mod hat firmly off, but I think that SPAG advice can be a valid form of critique. If someone's work is riddled with SPAG readers may not get to the point where they can even see the other problems (such as they may be), so a critic willing to untangle that may be creating the conditions where the next level of critique can take place.
Absolutely true (especially grammar, something that non-native speakers and not a few native ones sometimes struggle with), but for example, I once had a critique that quoted my entire story and did nothing but point out something like three missing commas and a few spelling errors - almost all of which were down to the poster mistaking British spelling as an error. I honestly didn't find that helpful, which sounds ungrateful given that the person had taken the time to read the story. I just don't think a critique should focus solely on that. I'll admit, I think I once did a SPAG only critique, but the errors were so numerous I couldn't make it past the first few paragraphs.
