Pat Bean's blog

            “There are different rules for reading, for thinking, and for talking. Writing blends all three of them.” —  Mason Cooley

Pepper keeps me company when I write. Usually she sits on my feet beneath my desk, but lately she’s been scrunching up my new soft throw and keeping an eye on m from my bed. — Photo by Pat Bean

Why Proofreading is Important

I was doing my  tweets for Story Circle Network this morning, and on rereading my 160 characters, I broke into a belly laugh. The tweet was: “One Woman’s Day: The importance of mail in a retirement village has one woman thinking about the future. Read it at: http://tinyurl.com/5tevft5 “

Well, that’s what it was supposed to say. Instead of mail, I had written male. I wonder if I was thinking about an all-female retirement home.

Every write must have time to stare out the window — and if you’re lucky you’ll find something to inspire you. — Photo by Pat Bean

Thankfully, whatever the cause for the typo, or Freudian slip, it was discovered and corrected before I hit the tweet button. That’s not always been the case.

As a journalist writing on deadline, with too hurried, or too complacent, an editor, I’ve been responsible for some goodies, like leaving the first L out of Public Sale, or more commonly using the word there when I meant their; site when I meant sight; or two when I meant too. Although I know the rule well, I also write its when I mean it’s, and iit’s when I mean its.

I’ve often wondered if there is a disconnect between the brain and the fingers.

What I learned as an editor, of both my own and others’ copy, is that you’ll generally find an error in the last paragraph. That’s because many writers are like me, they’re constantly rereading what they wrote from the first paragraph on – and the last paragraph comes up short on the proofreading.

The best thing for me, if I haven’t procrastinated and have the time, is to let my writing sit for at least an hour and then go back and reread it in its entirety. And if I find too many mistakes, repeat the process. That way the brain is less likely to see what it meant to write and instead see what was actually written

The Wondering-Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: Writers need support: A network of people to inspire them, pick them up when they fall down and kick them in the butt when they procrastinate too much. A few years ago, I discovered the best support any female writer could ever have. It’s an international organization for female writers called Story Circle Network, whose focus is to help members tell their stories. The organization will be holding its seventh women’s memoir conference this April 11-13 in Austin. Perhaps you would like to attend. That is why today I’m giving my Bean’s Pat to this Web page, http://www.storycircle.org/Conference/ so you can check it out. I hope to see you there.