Douglas, I've been receiving the weekly posts for a few months. I enjoy the content and look forward to reading each one when it arrives. I have a strong suggestion that I feel will add to and improve your standing as a writer. The suggestion is to proof read your posts prior to releasing them. I find there are usually several errors in each post, either missing words or the wrong word. Easily remedied with good proof reading. As a person who struggles with making sure texts are correct and then find the error after I've hit "send" I felt I must finally reach out to you with my suggestion. Please take this as nothing but constructive.
I really appreciate your suggestion, Stacey. It may surprise you, but I do spend a lot of time proofreading! But after spending 10-15 hours per week on these essays, the words in front of me begin to blur.
I wish that I were a better proofreader. I really do. Or that I could sit and let a piece marinate before hitting [send] because there is always something else to make it better. But after thinking of, writing, and editing each piece so so many hours, I hit a point where I just want to release it so I can enjoy other parts of my life. As you know, this newsletter is a labor of love and I don't ask for money. I write freely, in both senses, freely for myself, and free for my readers. I write and edit until the effort of it nears the pleasure of it. And stop before it crosses the line.
I hope my readers accept the grace of writing freely. Please feel free (anyone!) to send me edits. I do find corrections after I post and will also incorporate any you send me.
Your honesty is refreshing. Some would have been offended and defensive in their response. You write about learning, growing and accepting. You are a man of your words in this case indeed.
A suggestion regarding the editing. Have someone else read your work once you've finished. Fresh eyes catch things that don't seem right. If the flow is disrupted that person will feel it and point it out to you.
Enjoy your weekend and continue to write from your heart.
Douglas, I've been receiving the weekly posts for a few months. I enjoy the content and look forward to reading each one when it arrives. I have a strong suggestion that I feel will add to and improve your standing as a writer. The suggestion is to proof read your posts prior to releasing them. I find there are usually several errors in each post, either missing words or the wrong word. Easily remedied with good proof reading. As a person who struggles with making sure texts are correct and then find the error after I've hit "send" I felt I must finally reach out to you with my suggestion. Please take this as nothing but constructive.
Thanks.
I really appreciate your suggestion, Stacey. It may surprise you, but I do spend a lot of time proofreading! But after spending 10-15 hours per week on these essays, the words in front of me begin to blur.
I wish that I were a better proofreader. I really do. Or that I could sit and let a piece marinate before hitting [send] because there is always something else to make it better. But after thinking of, writing, and editing each piece so so many hours, I hit a point where I just want to release it so I can enjoy other parts of my life. As you know, this newsletter is a labor of love and I don't ask for money. I write freely, in both senses, freely for myself, and free for my readers. I write and edit until the effort of it nears the pleasure of it. And stop before it crosses the line.
I hope my readers accept the grace of writing freely. Please feel free (anyone!) to send me edits. I do find corrections after I post and will also incorporate any you send me.
Thank you again,
Douglas
Your honesty is refreshing. Some would have been offended and defensive in their response. You write about learning, growing and accepting. You are a man of your words in this case indeed.
A suggestion regarding the editing. Have someone else read your work once you've finished. Fresh eyes catch things that don't seem right. If the flow is disrupted that person will feel it and point it out to you.
Enjoy your weekend and continue to write from your heart.