My apologies to those of you who don’t watch Seinfeld- I might have seen every episode and thrown a party at my house when the last episode aired.
Anyway, there’s an episode where George’s co-worker notices him stuffing himself with shrimp cocktail and remarks: “Hey George, the ocean called; they’re running out of shrimp.” Poor George doesn’t think of a retort until after he’s walked away.
His comeback?
“The jerk store called, they’re running out of you!”
Yeah! Take that!
So this is an informal poll. I always proofread what I write, be it an email, blog post, or even a comment. And while I’m obviously not running around insulting people online, I’m constantly finding things I would change after it’s too late.
In one of his books (can’t remember which one), Barack Obama wrote that years after his book was published, he still cringes at awkward sentences he wishes could be changed. I know that will be me once Hatshepsut gets published- I’ll never be able to read it without the Jerk Store effect.
What about you? Do you suffer from Jerk Store Syndrome?
Ah, we are kindred spirits! I cringe whenever I have to re-read anything I've written no matter how many times it's been revised, proofed or read aloud. That's why it's so important I be published: so I can stop editing! And once I'm in print? I'm going to avoid re-reading my work if at all possible. My cheeks are already on fire thinking about the awkward lines I'll find.
VR- I'm glad I'm not alone in the boat! I don't know if I'll be able to read my own work once it's published- it will be glorious and painful at the same time.
In the boat,too. Hopefully we won't sink!
Totally. I even rewrite my grocery lists.
Definitely … you are not alone. Thanks for the post I'm sure many us were thinking we were the "only one" who that was happening to. Happy Monday HHL
Make room for one more in that boat. I re-read my articles, blog post, comments, etc. and they still have corrections I wish I had made.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Coming aboard that boat. And when I look back on some things I wonder HOW I could not have seen certain glitches. It helps to set work aside for awhile then come back to it, but still. There's always something.
All the time! I look back at my short stories and cringe. I have to remind myself that someone liked them because they got published somewhere, so they can't be that bad.
I honestly think my MS will never be flawless!
I just threw my life-jacket on – I think the boat is a little overcrowded already, but here I come! 🙂
I've got my life-jacket on. I'm intending to jump off the boat but haven't been able to yet:-)
TOTALLY have this. I do this all. the. time. I am known for my latent comebacks. Or I would be if I ever thought of them before it was too late.
As to my writing, yeah, I know I'll be doing this, too– if I ever get published, that is!
Definitely!!!!! I suffer with this in real life and in my writing. By the way, I love Seinfeld too.
Oh yes. Probably the most frightening thing about blogging actually. I don't have days and multiple drafts to mull over every thing I write.
Only sometimes! If I am in a certain frame of mind, I will cringe and feel like my writing is awful, no matter how well revised it is– but for the most part I can read through things without the jerk-store syndrome 🙂
I'm going to be exactly like that!! I don't think anything is ever perfect, so it'll be a constant desire to tinker.
The jerk store insult was a great one! I'll have to use that.
It's usually on the days that I just don't feel like writing AT ALL that I'm able to find all my mistakes, both real and unreal.
Of course — sometimes things seem so perfect atm, and then some time later when my head's outta my arse, I realize that, yes, some of my writing makes no sense.
I'm so busy I never proof read my emails, posts, comments.
BUT, I am anal about proofing and editing my MSs to death. They're never done, in my eyes. (I think this perfectionist OCD part of me is also why I don't allow myself to proof anything else, or I'd never post or comment, etc.)
I'm on vacation, so I apologize for not getting by here lately.
Which is why I'm just now getting to your back posts…the bear!!! OMG! (that said, black bears generally aren't aggressive and they're mainly herbivores) We're in Maine right now, and I'm dying to see a moose. But, I bet if one strolls through the woods here, I'll scream like a sissy. I KNOW if I was laying out in my back yard and a black bear cruised by, I'd be freaking out.
Have a wonderful week…back away from the bears. 🙂
Love,
Lola
I definitely have that problem. Lately I've been trying to learn to let it go, since I realize every writer hates at least a few sentences in their own published work. I figure I'll be in good company if I really hate something I've written!
Sigh, yes… ALL the time! I'm never satisfied with any of my wording and I end up re-wording to death!
I have this same fear! It may look okay to me now, but someday when I'm a better writer I might be laughing (or puking) while reading my current WIP. So we'll see.
Yes, I'm like this. I have delayed reactions and always change my mind.
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