Errors

As I've written about before, a critic's credentials come in what they write every time they publish. No matter how extensive the writer's qualifications are, they are meaningless when weighed against the judgment of what is written.

It's one of the reasons that it frustrates me to such a great degree when I make errors in either my reviews or my column. It hurts my credibility--as it should. Lately, I've had a rash of errors, some minor, some not so minor.

While I could make excuses for each of the errors, the reasons are really irrelevant. As a professional, it is my job to recognize when there is a barrier to accuracy and to do something about it. So for the next few weeks, my column won't appear in the Lansing State Journal. I'm going to try to catch up with some of my other work, get some rest, and try to get ahead on interviews for columns when I return.

At that time, it is my hope that the time off will have provided me with what I need to return to work with a sharp eye that can catch these errors before they appear in print.