Very interesting article
Wow, another post this week. I think this is a record for me.
Okay, if you are a writer and/or editor, you'll probably find this as interesting as I did. I never really thought about it this way, but given his parameters, I'm an editor who writes. I don't feel the need to re-write everything that comes in the door to death. I make some tweaks, cut for length, adjust for house style, and tighten copy up here and there, but I try to leave as much of the original voice as I can. I hire people to write the story, why should I then spend my time re-writing it all over again?
I have worked for an editor who did that though. What was printed wasn't even remotely like what the writers sent in. Granted, for the most part that book wasn't dealing with professional writers, but still -- it was a complete re-write how she would have done it, rather than the writer's take on things. I don't do it that way, but I'm a very different person and editor than she was. I don't necessarily think one way over another is completely right or wrong, but I do have a very definite preference for myself.
Okay, if you are a writer and/or editor, you'll probably find this as interesting as I did. I never really thought about it this way, but given his parameters, I'm an editor who writes. I don't feel the need to re-write everything that comes in the door to death. I make some tweaks, cut for length, adjust for house style, and tighten copy up here and there, but I try to leave as much of the original voice as I can. I hire people to write the story, why should I then spend my time re-writing it all over again?
I have worked for an editor who did that though. What was printed wasn't even remotely like what the writers sent in. Granted, for the most part that book wasn't dealing with professional writers, but still -- it was a complete re-write how she would have done it, rather than the writer's take on things. I don't do it that way, but I'm a very different person and editor than she was. I don't necessarily think one way over another is completely right or wrong, but I do have a very definite preference for myself.