Are you as sloppy a writer as I am?

Sheila M. Clark, my hawk-eyed editor, noticed that I had used the word "illicit" instead of "elicit" in a new book ABOUT PUBLISHING MISTAKES we're working on. Some of my books share material, so I checked and found the error in three books. It was also on a website and on this blog.

As a renowned and committed nitpicker, I am deeply embarrassed by this horrible senior moment (a.k.a. "brain fart").

OTOH, I am greatly disappointed that none of you folks caught the error. It would have been a great opportunity to dump on me for being a damn hypocrite.

There are lessons for all writers and publishers in this, of course:

1. A spell-checker won't let you know if you have used the wrong word, but spelled it properly.
2. Heterographs and homophones are dangerous. 
3. All writers need editors. Even editors who write need editors.
4. The English language is a minefield.
5. Nobody is perfect -- even nitpickers like me.

Will this recent failure mean that I'll become mellow, tolerant, compassionate and understanding? Will I stop complaining about other people's fuckups?

Naah! To err is human. It can also be funny.