Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Good Editors

March 11, 2005

Good Editors

All my life I have complained about how much I really crave good editing. People who neither hack it up so that it’s looser, or doesn’t sound like your words; versus people who just sign off on your article since it does in fact have a beginning, middle, and an end and they can’t be bothered to do anything other than help structure it. The latter kind is actually what I’ve gotten a lot of lately – my book editor literally just shipped the whole first draft off to be copy-edited without giving me word one of information back.

So, the two things currently on my plate – and winding up – are an article for Nature and an article for Discover. And both of the editors have been good. Very good. They have suggestions, they explain them well, and the suggestions will truly improve the piece, and they want me to write it in my voice, they don’t just want to rewrite the whole thing, etc. But do you know what that means? It means I have to rewrite the damn thing. I have to actually put in the time to make it better. My GOD. They want me to work. I just don’t know how I feel about this.

Posted by karenceliafox at March 11, 2005 04:31 PM

Comments

Editing is one of those things that actually deserves to be called a lost art, since so few people can REALLY do it, and do it well. Most of the time, as you've noticed, so-called "editors" just concern themselves with marking the occasional misplaced comma, or correcting typos. Other times, they don't even bother with THAT.

I'm glad to hear you're getting a good editorial experience. We should all be so lucky.

Posted by: James at March 14, 2005 10:58 AM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« Crazed Life \| Main \| Einstein's Birthday Talk » March 11, 2005 Good Editors All my life I have complained about how much I really crave good editing. People who neither hack it up so that it’s looser, or doesn’t sound like your words; versus people who just sign off on your article since it does in fact have a beginning, middle, and an end and they can’t be bothered to do anything other than help structure it. The latter kind is actually what I’ve gotten a lot of lately – my book editor literally just shipped the whole first draft off to be copy-edited without giving me word one of information back. So, the two things currently on my plate – and winding up – are an article for Nature and an article for Discover. And both of the editors have been good. Very good. They have suggestions, they explain them well, and the suggestions will truly improve the piece, and they want me to write it in my voice, they don’t just want to rewrite the whole thing, etc. But do you know what that means? It means I have to rewrite the damn thing. I have to actually put in the time to make it better. My GOD. They want me to work. I just don’t know how I feel about this. Posted by karenceliafox at March 11, 2005 04:31 PM Comments Editing is one of those things that actually deserves to be called a lost art, since so few people can REALLY do it, and do it well. Most of the time, as you've noticed, so-called "editors" just concern themselves with marking the occasional misplaced comma, or correcting typos. Other times, they don't even bother with THAT. I'm glad to hear you're getting a good editorial experience. We should all be so lucky. Posted by: James at March 14, 2005 10:58 AM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: