Textbook Writing 101

“About a month after publication, I received a postcard from an Ohio professor. In my textbook on college writing, I had narrated an anecdote Abraham Lincoln told, in which he referred to a tightrope walker named Blondin. I had spelled it ‘Bloudin.’ The professor corrected me and added, ‘Such egregious errors mar an otherwise fine book.’ Ouch! Over the next year and a half I received three more ‘Aha!’ postcards from Ohio. I fixed the errors and was grateful she took the time to notify me. But I felt nervous. Was a horde of professors hunting for all my obscure, petty flubs? Yes they were. But more surprises were coming.” M. Garrett Bauman —Textbook Writing 101 (Chronicle)