📚 Behind the Scenes: Reviews, Ratings & The Myth of the Indie Typos
Let’s talk about something that comes up a lot in the indie world.
Typos.
Somewhere along the line, indie authors got branded with this idea that we produce “unpolished” work. That if you read self-published, you should expect errors.
Here’s the truth:
Typos happen. Period.
Not because someone doesn’t care.
Not because someone isn’t professional.
But because publishing — traditional or indie — is a human process.
And human error is real.
This is not just an indie thing. Not even close.
Here is a list of some traditionally published, massive bestselling titles that readers publicly noted had errors in early printings or digital editions (and I found this by doing a simple search):
The Women (2024) by Kristin Hannah – readers reported punctuation and spelling issues in early, fast-tracked editions.
Fourth Wing / Iron Flame (2023–2024) by Rebecca Yarros – high-demand releases from Red Tower (Macmillan) that had reported typos in early printings due to intense production pressure.
The Housemaid series (2024–2025) by Freida McFadden – readers mentioned editing inconsistencies in both ebook and paperback versions.
Recent Stephen King releases (like You Like It Darker, 2024) – even top-tier authors with powerhouse publishers aren’t immune to early edition errors.
The 50th Anniversary edition of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – yes, even classics have had QC issues in new printings.
So no — this is not an indie author problem.
It’s a publishing reality.
Books are edited by professionals. Then proofed. Then formatted. Then converted to multiple file types. Then uploaded across platforms that sometimes reflow text or introduce glitches.
And still sometimes something slips through.
Indie authors are often working with smaller teams. Sometimes it’s one proofreader. Sometimes two. Sometimes three passes. Sometimes more.
But we don’t have a New York publishing house’s multi-layered (and still imperfect) production machine behind us.
We care deeply about quality. At least I know I do.
And here’s something I want to say gently.
There is a big difference between saying, “Hey, I loved this book! I spotted a small typo on page 147 — thought you’d want to know!” And reporting a book to a platform in a way that can damage an author’s account or livelihood.
One helps.
One can seriously hurt.
When a reader sends me a kind message pointing out an error? I’m grateful. Truly. I fix it. I update the file asap.
That’s one of the beauties of digital publishing — we can correct things quickly.
But when stereotypes creep in — “Well, that’s what you get with indie…” — that stings.
Because indie authors are professionals. We invest in editing. We invest in covers. We invest in formatting, marketing, software, proofreaders, beta readers, ARC teams. This is not a hobby. This is our career.
So here’s my gentle ask.
When you rate and review, be kind.
Be honest, absolutely.
But don’t assume imperfection equals incompetence.
If you loved the story, the characters, the emotion—let that weigh in too.
And if you find an error? Message the author if you can. Most of us are incredibly appreciative.
At the end of the day, we’re all human beings telling stories and hoping they connect.
I hope you love the books.
I hope they make you feel something.
I hope you’re entertained for a bit when you read them.
And I hope we keep building a reading community that chooses generosity over stereotypes.
Now go read something amazing. 💛
del mare alla stella,
C.D. Gorri
