That's pretty much a misnomer anymore. If your work isn't up to par for the publishing houses, most of the time it's kicked out. They no longer have the time or inclination to hold the writer's hand. All of the seminars and writing programs I've been to and the books I've read on this subject lately all say the same thing. Either get it right or it's getting rejected - they are just too busy and swamped to do it like in the old days.
So one pretty much has to do most of one's own work unless you are considered grandfathered in. Of course that doesn't mean bad crap doesn't get published or any of those other things.
Fanfic is a different kind of thing. AND what makes good grammar or good writing is subjective. There are plenty of people who as the biz evolves look down on the old Sci-Fi/Fantasy writings because of the difference in writing back then as opposed to now. Sadly those people miss out on a lot.
However, I think if you are going to post something for people to read, you should at least take care of the spelling. With spell checkers in every program, it's just common courtesy.
And if you do take that time and attention to detail with grammar etc., then that will indeed make a difference by taking a good story and elevating it to an amazing one. However, if you don't have a good story, no matter how pretty you sp and gram check, it's just gonna be crap. So the story itself is always more important. If it's good and entertains, then that's what counts.
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branchandroot
Actually...
Date: 2009-03-04 12:40 am (UTC)So one pretty much has to do most of one's own work unless you are considered grandfathered in. Of course that doesn't mean bad crap doesn't get published or any of those other things.
Fanfic is a different kind of thing. AND what makes good grammar or good writing is subjective. There are plenty of people who as the biz evolves look down on the old Sci-Fi/Fantasy writings because of the difference in writing back then as opposed to now. Sadly those people miss out on a lot.
However, I think if you are going to post something for people to read, you should at least take care of the spelling. With spell checkers in every program, it's just common courtesy.
And if you do take that time and attention to detail with grammar etc., then that will indeed make a difference by taking a good story and elevating it to an amazing one. However, if you don't have a good story, no matter how pretty you sp and gram check, it's just gonna be crap. So the story itself is always more important. If it's good and entertains, then that's what counts.