Monday, October 08, 2007
Good editors will...
...work to sharpen a writer's voice
...bolster and streamline a piece's arguments
...save writers from themselves (hehe!)
--(source forgotten)
I actually mass emailed this to fellow editors sometime 2004 and forgot all about it. One of the editors I emailed it to, emailed it back to me to remind me about it. Good to remember now that I'm again in the middle of editing the second issue! I think I emailed this to the Coven as well. Girls, anyone remember where I got this from?
...bolster and streamline a piece's arguments
...save writers from themselves (hehe!)
--(source forgotten)
I actually mass emailed this to fellow editors sometime 2004 and forgot all about it. One of the editors I emailed it to, emailed it back to me to remind me about it. Good to remember now that I'm again in the middle of editing the second issue! I think I emailed this to the Coven as well. Girls, anyone remember where I got this from?
Labels: editing
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sometimes we need to toot our own horn
Finally, an article that actually talks about what exactly an editor does. This is for all writers—especially wannabes who think they're the next Salman Rushdie or [put name of favorite writer here] and thus don't need editing.
This is also for people who think that what we do is easy. A lot of people have a mistaken notion that editing is all about correcting grammar. Sometimes I wish it were, then I don't have to agonize about every little change I make in a manuscript—not to mention balancing the manuscript's intent with what the publication needs, making sure the writer's ego doesn't suffer, and most of all, pacifying managers who think they know better.
This is also for people who think that what we do is easy. A lot of people have a mistaken notion that editing is all about correcting grammar. Sometimes I wish it were, then I don't have to agonize about every little change I make in a manuscript—not to mention balancing the manuscript's intent with what the publication needs, making sure the writer's ego doesn't suffer, and most of all, pacifying managers who think they know better.
Labels: editing
