My Mistake

Written today for https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/blogging/

Do you feel comfortable pointing out a very obvious mistake in a blogger’s post or do you shy away from doing so? Conversely, do you appreciate it if someone points out your mistake or does it offend you?

I wouldn’t point out the mistakes in someone’s writing because it is better to focus on what you like, rather than what annoys you. When a slight error is obvious (i for I) it doesn’t take away the power behind the word themselves.

Working full time, and attempting to write my novel; there have been a few times where my grammar isn’t perfect. I am putting my writing through ProWritingAid. It is free and will pick up my faux pas. It advises you (only ten rephrases a day) on how sentences can restructure. I use these rephrases for my novel.

There is a paid version, which is more than I can afford. There is also monthly subscription. In the last week I have used this free app to help me with my writer’s block. It has given me inspiration to stretch my brain cells.

I have seen a video, where it shows someone writing the nine times table on a board. Silent throughout, there isn’t anything happening, apart from the whiteboard pen on the smart board. He makes one mistake, and the students pick up on it. He then asks them why they pointed out his error, when he got the rest of them correct.

It showed them it is okay to stumble, as long as you celebrate your successes.

All writers, even the published ones, need editors. When writing a novel, you have time to go over it. Nobody sees the finished article until it is ready. Even then, you need beta readers and editors to go through it again. Writing a blog is more difficult because there is only a compact time frame in which to write.

If someone politely tells me I have got something wrong, I don’t mind. But if the person is rude; that isn’t right. I don’t have the right to say to another writer about their errors because we all make mistakes.