Acknowledgments

On the "Acknowledgments" page of a book by Steve Berry, he writes: "Writers should be careful with the pronoun I. A book is a team effort, and the team I'm privileged to be part of is..."

How many seek advice or input from outside sources when writing? Research is not confined to written documents but may include opinions from knowledgeable people. Do we acknowledge the input we receive?

I've read statements from authors on forums, i.e., "If I write the way they advise, then it is not my work." We are the authors of our work. Whatever we choose to use or include is our choice. To refuse input or help that is not of our own creation is foolish. As Steve Berry says, it is a team effort.

We have all posted what we believed is our Greatest Work, only to have our efforts he-hawed. We have rejected comments…feeling it would change our style. Posted work with bad spelling and grammar, only to find the readers have overlooked the story, and laughed at our efforts.

I once read these words…”When posting on a forum, prepare your work as if it was being prepared to be read by a Publisher. If you do that…it will become habit.”

Abe is correct. It is a group effort. All advice is good, even the bad he-haw type…if it makes you want to improve.

Don’t look to others to teach you spelling or grammar…home school yourself.
Don’t look to others to edit your work…learn to do it yourself.
Don’t look to others to re-write…learn to do it yourself.

It is a group effort, but, it is up to you to become the writer you want to be.

Domenic

Domenic,

I have yet to read a comment on the forum -- on any of the message boards -- that was written to poke fun at anyone. You may feel that you are being laughed at, but I can assure you that you are not.

If bad grammar is overlooked and not commented on, it gives the impression that members here are incapable of correcting badly written work.

Also, it takes time to read and critique.

I wish to thank my friend Janet Peatross, who was the first to encourage me to complete this project; Rita Richardson and Charlotte Gillam for sharing their extensive files on Murphy; Richard Rodgers, webmaster of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial website, for his help and encouragement; Stan Smith, former president of the Audie Murphy Fan Club; everyone connected with the American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas, for the work they do each June during Audie Murphy Days there; and especially I would like to thank The Audie Murphy Research Foundation, its president, Terry Murphy (Murphy’s oldest son), and its executive director, Larryann Willis.

(The acknowledgements page from A Myth in Action)

Looking back, I can think of others I should have included, like the citizens of Celeste, Texas, the town where Murphy spent most of his childhood, for sharing stories and even inviting the above mentioned Rita and me into their homes to show us photos, or the individuals at the Greenville conventions who did the same.

I didn't always know their names.


Ann

Oops, As I reread Domenic's post, I realize I should also have thanked all the posters on the Audie Murphy message board as well, for their comments and encouragement.

Ann

Good acknowledgments Ann. I read them when I read your book.

Domenic makes a good point about posts, and I think most of us are guilty especially when responding on the "Quick reply." Even Stodghill made a rare slip, however there were none in his Blogs.

Frequent slips are either carelessness or an indication that the person needs help. Pointing it out may help.

Abe F. March wrote:

Frequent slips are either carelessness or an indication that the person needs help. Pointing it out may help.

Pointing out poor spelling and grammar in posts? Wouldn't dream of it. That falls into unsolicited criticism, and we know how well most respond to solicited criticism.

Besides, correcting some posters' stuff would be a full-time job.

Not on this forum. Some of us have fingers that choose letters not chosen by the mind. Therefore, I appreciate the edit button. Unfortunately, some of these posts hit the Internet before I realize I have a typo. I appreciate comments that catch my errors. I recognize my imperfection; but I wish to be perfect :-) I especially appreciate the thoughtful members who send an email to tell me rather than shouting it to the forum...

Since I have arthritis in my hands, there are times that the fingers don't quite reach the keys they are supposed to. I try to catch the typos, but don't always. One of the biggest problems is getting my pinkies, especially the right one, to hold down the shift keys long eonough for me to type the letters. So, on those days when you see sentences that begin in lower case, you know I'm just having a stiff day.

Ann

Have one on me, Ann!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Shelagh wrote:

Domenic,

I have yet to read a comment on the forum -- on any of the message boards -- that was written to poke fun at anyone. *You may feel that you are being laughed at, but I can assure you that you are not.

If bad grammar is overlooked and not commented on, it gives the impression that members here are incapable of correcting badly written work.

Also, it takes time to read and critique.

*I don't know where this comes from?
As to not pointing out error...I have seen members SP with poor spelling on page one...! If they had sent the work to an agent, the writer would be a dead duck.