This week I had a feature-length film review appear in Willamette Week for the first time in awhile, for a nice documentary called My Architect. I was kind of jazzed to pick up the paper yesterday, but then when I found the review I was horrified to see that I used the word "breathtaking" twice in the introductory paragraph. Now I can't even look at the article without wanting to wretch. Without meaning to sound pretentious, I really take writing seriously and feel like each time I write a good piece, it's like sinking a sweet jump shot. But then there are those that just clank off the rim or maybe even feel like an air ball. Does a mistake like using the same adjective twice in one paragraph really invalidate the whole review? Probably not. But it's unfortunately something that'll be haunting me for awhile.
That's what editors are supposed to be for.
Posted by: Valarie | March 08, 2004 at 11:48 AM
Well said, Valarie. I stayed up until 12:30 reading proofs at the paper last night and edited a thousand repeated words within the same paragraphs. Not your fault, but frustrating nonetheless. Fortunately, people that aren't journalism nerds like us wouldn't think twice about it.
Posted by: Sara | March 09, 2004 at 11:38 PM
That's true, if no one had said anything I never would have noticed.
Posted by: Christa | March 11, 2004 at 06:20 PM
Sal
Posted by: suonerie polifoniche | March 15, 2004 at 03:23 AM