Sometimes I think it would be cool to write a book. But I don’t know if I could ever do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Not because I wouldn’t have enough opinions or stories to fill a book. And not because I couldn’t figure out how to say what I wanted to say.<\/p>\n\n\n
The writing part I suppose I could handle. I just would be hesitant to publish it.<\/p>\n\n\n
Why?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
I am the stereotypical “judgmental English teacher” type. If even one typo made it into MY final publication, I would be mortified. I know I would obsess over that mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n
“Here’s a copy of my book. Please ignore the misspelling at the bottom of page 95.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
And if I made more than one<\/b><\/i> mistake? Lord have mercy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
It’s not like I never make mistakes. I make plenty of mistakes in my writing here and elsewhere. I suppose I catch 99% of them. And the ones I don’t see, I can always go back later and edit.<\/p>\n\n\n
But a mistake in a book? That’s forever.<\/p>\n\n\n
I bring this up because I have been reading a book about how John Wesley nurtured spiritual formation in other people.<\/p>\n\n\n
Chapter 1 was fine, but apparently the author’s proofreader quit before tackling Chapter 2, where the author discusses various influences on Wesley’s approach. There’s a mistake on every page, beginning with the first.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
The second sentence of the first paragraph reads “By 1742, the general format of [Wesley’s] educational framework was complete, except for minor altercations<\/b>.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
And I thought, “What an unfortunate typo – to add a ‘c’ and accidentally turn ‘changes’ into ‘fights’.”<\/p>\n\n\n
But when the author wrapped up the chapter 48 pages later, I came across this sentence: “Wesley’s methodology continued to undergo minor altercations<\/b>, but the pattern remained basically unchanged throughout his lifetime.”<\/p>\n\n\n
And my heart ached for the author. I said a little prayer for him.<\/p>\n\n\n
I could never publish a book.*<\/p>\n\n\n
——————————————————–<\/p>\n\n\n
(*Maybe I could – I would just have to hire ten proofreaders.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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