Please respect other members. Please do not post links or information about hacking/warez/cheats.
Read the rules of these forums as we rarely warn before banning. Lost or need RSS check the forum map.
To skip the intro, go to the paragraph starting with "So, actually getting to the point".
And for the moderator(s): If there's a rule against this, or if you find it too distracting in the middle of all the actual fan fiction, just delete the thread.
For those of you who are planning on writing something for this place, I'd like to make you an offer.
About two minutes ago I noticed a few replies to one of the stories here which, apart from commenting that the text was better than previous presentations of the author (at least that's what I think they meant), were mainly about the spelling and grammar.
I can't hold it against them that they felt a need to comment on it, while reading the text I found multiple mistakes, and, to my horror, I found that these were really getting on my nerves. Too good school system, I suppose.
However, the value of a text shouldn't be determined by it's spelling, at least not when neither related to school nor work, and while you would expect those with English as their main language to write... well at least as good as I usually write, there is many who learned English in school who still got imagination, and can come up with some quite good stories. I'm Danish, by the way, and totally incapable of writing anything that anyone but I find interesting.
So, actually getting to the point, I'd like to offer anyone with a wish to create something worthy of reading a chance to avoid the "Good, but poor spelling and grammar"-comments. While I'm still no Shakespeare I do have far more training than I'd wish in grammar and spelling, so at least I should be able to spot the most obvious mistakes, so that no one will have any reason to mention it.
Before anyone asks "why not just use spell check": The which had an want witch would let her go threw walls. Well ok, Word will put a green line under "The which" but you get the picture.
If you don't, it should've been: The witch had a wand which would let her go through walls.
You're still reading? Amazing.
Now, should you actually have any interest in taking me up on this offer do the following:
1) Write a piece of Fan Fiction. I'm sure the definition of what that is can be found somewhere around here.
2) E-mail it to [Mod/edit] - Topic including the word "SPELLCHECK" (yes, must be all capitals) so that I don't flush you out with the junk mail.
3) Wait patiently for me to get back to you, even if I'm not flooded with requests (can't a man have a dream?) I do have several things that I prioritize higher than your texts. English lessons and homework, as an example. World of Warcraft as another.
4) Give in to your impatience and add me to MSN and ask me if I'm done yet. Same e-mail, and still with the word "SPELLCHECK" - now in your name - to make sure that I'll know who you are.
5) Read through the corrected version, correct my misunderstandings, correct what I wasn't sure how you'd want corrected...
6) Post it.
Didn't honestly think anyone would read this sentence.
Didn't honestly think anyone would read this sentence.
I did, I did! And I would like to thank you for taking your time to do this!
One thing that a mod is going oto flush down the toilet is your email. If a person wants to get a hold of you, they can click your name and choose "Send an email to this player"....so that way your name doesn't gte picked up by the spam emailers that search through threads like these for emails.
Other than that, excellent idea! If I ever wrote FF, I would take you up on this offer!
I did, I did! And I would like to thank you for taking your time to do this!
One thing that a mod is going oto flush down the toilet is your email. If a person wants to get a hold of you, they can click your name and choose "Send an email to this player"....so that way your name doesn't gte picked up by the spam emailers that search through threads like these for emails.
Bingo. Toxicshadow, your e-mail address is going to be removed from the post; if people want to take you up on your offer, then they can contact you on their own. It's not against the rules to offer grammatical help to other members, nor is it against the rules to offer to read other peoples' stories off the forum.
Of course, it goes without saying that this is the internet and that...well, people aren't always what they seem...
that way your name doesn't gte picked up by the spam emailers
Hmm.. I kinda doubt that I'd be able to notice any difference if it did.. but fair enough.
Suppose I'd better go check if I checked or unchecked a field allowing other players to send me e-mails...
If anyone is wondering about the second step, here's what to do:
2) E-mail it to me through the forums or send it in a PM - If you can set a topic, include the word "SPELLCHECK" (yes, must be all capitals) so that I don't flush you out with the junk mail.
Oh and I should mention, pure text only. No need to put it in a .doc or .txt. Apart from that some very skilled programmers are able to hide vira in almost any filetype, I always seem to have the wrong edition of Word...
Last edited by Toxicshadow; 10-03-2007 at 01:58 AM..
While I don't want to participate in thread necromancy, I'd like to offer up my services as proofreader/editor as well as adding in some constructive criticism, and this thread has it covered.
Foonyak's Rules for Proofreading/Editing
1) Send it to me via PM here on the forums. If you've typed it up in Word/Wordpad/Notepad, just copy and paste. As Toxicshadow and Inquisitor7 have pointed out, not everyone is as they seem on the internet, and I don't need to deal with any additional virus threats. Besides, I only check my email about once a month, so it could take a while that way.
2) I spend a lot of time here during the week, so I should be able to get back to you within the day. Just don't send it Friday afternoon, expecting me to get back to you by Friday night; I almost never log in over the weekends.
3) There really is no rule 3. It just seemed so bland and short with only two rules.
I agree that a) the content is more important than spelling and grammar and b) something (constructive) still ought to be done about bad spelling and grammar. As some one who has provided just such a service for others in the past (back when I had the time and/or attention span for it), I applaud you.
I was just saying the other day, "It's not that I'm a grammar snob... I just like grammar, and I don't want its feelings to get hurt."
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