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For me it's all about effective communication. After all, in this medium the only chance you have of somebody understanding you is to write clearly; a comprehensive use of grammar, punctuation, and diction is essential if you want to make sure you are not misunderstood.
That said, despite obsessively re-reading and proofing my work, I'm almost incapable of writing anything without a mistake sneaking in there somewhere. I can proof a "finished story" dozens of times, then leave it for a year, only to go back and realise I've (say) typed "their" instead of "there". I try not to beat myself up about it, but rather like a carpenter discovering a flaw in their work, I can't help but think that such errors are a sign of bad workmanship. Words are the tool of my trade and my readers (ahem) expect me to know how to use them properly. I mean, what's the point in struggling with poor writing if you feel the writer is speaking another language?
My usual excuse for such shoddy work is that the written word is not natural. Unlike other forms of communication where our innate senses are employed, we are not born with the ability to read words as it is not necessarily essential for survival. To some extent, I think therefore that we are all a little dyslexic.
Also, of course, as with all aspects of life, it's far easier to spot other people's mistakes than your own.
(Hmmm... After reading this post six times before posting and using a spell-check for back up, I wonder how many mistakes are hiding from my gaze, waiting to embarrass me at a later date?...) |
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