Thursday, August 15, 2019

Proofers make me look good


Early interesting Cars:
1964 Impala


And so today:
My latest book, ‘Ace ‘n Me’ is being proofed. This one is written from the point of the teller, who is 11 or 12 years old. Since I know nothing about 1st, 2nd and 3rd persons I have made it tough on proofers.  Fortunately it is a short book just a little over a hundred pages.
I know I am repetitive and apologetic about being a high school dropout, but I think I do it to prepare any reader here of this blog that ‘I mean well’, LOL. As a general rule, once my books are published, the proofers have made me look good. I really mean that, and I appreciate their efforts in making me look good. I have used professional paid proofers, but the last few books have been successfully proofed by JoAnn Trull, Evelyn Funderburk and my Sherry.  All connected with Sherry’s High School Class.
I am a reader, since around my 58th birthday I have read thousands of books. I read good writers. I have NO ILLUSIONS that I am a ‘competitive quality’ writer. I am extremely happy to sell 100+ of each of my books. I smile when a few sell in Europe and Australia. I price the books with the smallest royalties allowed. Writing is my hobby.
Verbal story tellers do not weave complicated illusive stories with many angles, as a good novelist does. An hour does not permit that. I was a story teller for many years. My audiences were from 1 to 150. Once I was fortunate to tell a story to an audience of a few thousand, but that was unusual. Since losing my hearing I started trying to put stories to print and paper, believe me it is much tougher. The story teller depends on a lot of body language, objects and chalk art to get the point across. I have found that hard to transfer to words on paper.
Anyway, this book is one of the smallest I have written, but took longer, due to serious family situations including the death of sister Shirley.
Nite Shipslog

7 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It seems I need a proffer every time I make a comment these days./ I'm always making errors. It is much different writing down the worlds than saying them for sure. I rarely get it right on the first time. I think it must be a great feeling to write a book. I'v never tried, but give you great credit for doing not just one, but many!!

betty said...

That is fantastic, Jack, that your books are being read literally all over the world! I'm toying with the idea of training to be a proofer. Its something that you can independently do at home once you build up clientele and there are schools out there that will teach you how to do it, help you get clients, etc. Glad to see progress is being made on this new one of yours and soon it will be hitting the bookstores (or Amazon as the case may be, LOL).

betty

Mevely317 said...

Thanks to Sherry, Evelyn and JoAnn! I'll be looking for your book's availability out on Amazon!

Say, Jack … do you 'know' Susan Flett Swiderski? Besides authoring one of my favorite books (Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade), she blogs over at
http://susan-swiderski.blogspot.com/2019/08/when-characters-revolt.html

Funny girl, and informative, too!

ANYway, when I mentioned book editing might be fun, she suggested I join up with the IWSG bloggers site. (Insecure Writers Support Group). I doubt I have it in me, but thought you might be interested?

Glenda said...

Wow, your readers have offered some great insights into your work comments. I have considered proof-reading but learned a lot from this one, not sure I'm ready for more schooling unless I decide to complete my degree ~ a few hours short at this juncture. Also, have this monster building to rehab, will likely get that one behind me before I bite off another challenge! Love your blog, hugs from Chobee, Glenda

Susan Kane said...

I'm looking forward to seeing your stories on page. Seeing print and holding it must be a special thrill.

Lisa said...

I can’t wait for it to come available! I love your short stories.
You amaze me with your ability to write books along with all your other life events and adventures.

Off to work
Lisa

Dar said...

I love the stories by those that have ' lived ' them. My Dad wrote a couple for the family of which I made copies for each of my 8 siblings as a Christmas gift shortly after he passed into heaven. I have several of your early books, thanks to your generous sweet heart. Now I want them all and will be looking for them on Amazon. It will give me something of interest to read and I can't wait. I, myself, have many journals of the goings-on of hobby farming while the kids were growing up and the few stories I had blogged about years ago. I'm such a procrastinator tho, and need to get back at it. Looking forward to 'Ace'n Me' .
love n' hugs from up north where it's 100% rain today as it pours on the gardens and the new seeding at the cabin.