I was so looking forward to Kung Fu Panda 2 because, looking at the trailer and reviews, it was sure to be great. But I was also anticipating a stint of depression and a drop in self-esteem as a writer; the first film was so perfect in my eyes and a reminder that I would never be able to write anything that was so tightly and creatively woven. I did see the film, and visually, the sequel was stunning, but the writing actually left a lot to be desired. Strangely, I felt a tinge of hope--like maybe my work didn't have to be perfect, that if I had been in the room when the KP2 script was being written, maybe I could have told them that gag would not work, and maybe someone could do the same for my writing.
I have been very surprised to hear so many writers are afraid to submit their writing or take themselves seriously as writers because their spelling or grammar is poor (spelling and grammar always came easily to me). But that has not caused nearly the surprise I have felt as I read book after published book that is filled with typos and spelling errors. I have a copy of The Artists' Way (1st edition printed in 1992) which, after reading it 7+ times, I finally marked with a pen to correct the numerous spelling errors throughout the book that drive me CRAZY every single time I read it. I just finished reading a collection of three novels by Mary Higgins Clark that had an astonishing number of typos. Presumably, publishers do have proofreaders on staff and proofreading is a part of the publishing process, and yet, books do get published with errors galore.
God bless these inattentive publishers and the producers of B- and C-movies. They give us hope, a little crack in the door to let us know that, YES!--we too can make mistakes and still call ourselves good writers and artists, YES!--even our crappiest work is better than some of the stuff that makes it to the screen, the bookstore shelf, the Netflix queue...and YES!--we should keep on dreaming, writing, drawing, painting; etc. because we do have something to offer, if we only keep on keepin' on; even if most of our work is not pure perfection and greatness--something, sometime, may make it out there, if only to inspire some other writer or artist to try harder and give it their best shot.
