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Subject:RE: A bit of clearing up on final reviews From:"Giordano, Connie" <Connie -dot- Giordano -at- FMR -dot- COM> To:"'Sierra Godfrey'" <kittenbreath -at- hotbot -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 27 Jul 2000 14:07:31 -0400
Sierra,
Your troubles with SME's seem to be on-going--everybody there seems to think
they're an editor :). Here's several ideas to consider.
1) Give them as close to print-ready as possible, but make sure they
understand it's a courtesy for both of you. If you choose not to
incorporate their obsessive corrections then so be it. Trying to maintain a
good working relationship is important, but you're a writer not a doormat.
Make it clear that final review is the last time they can make substantive
changes, and the pre-print is merely for proofing-a favor you'd be happy to
accept, but not really a part of their "official" duties as reviewer.
2) If they continue to make your life miserable here's one I love. After
going around with several drafts with markups, give them back your
"original" (the draft you're happiest with), unmarked. Make sure you do it
at the last moment they'd think it'd be possible to make the changes.
Chances are they'll sign off on something they "corrected" several drafts
back. No kidding, it has worked for me in the past.
3) If you choose not to let them see print-ready copy, have a secretary or
admin assistant proof it for you. They typically have eagle eyes and can
catch those little things.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
- Arthur C. Clarke
-----Original Message-----
From: Sierra Godfrey [mailto:kittenbreath -at- hotbot -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 1:27 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: A bit of clearing up on final reviews
[snip]
But I keep sticking on what to do when the two engineers here say, like they
did last time, that they want to see the pre-print version themselves to
ensure it's okay? I'm the only writer here so having someone else check the
final final version is helpful--but if it's these two, then they feel free
to start making all sorts of little changes again, as if it were in review.
This is what happened last time, and I can't accept that again.
Any suggestions on how to handle them seeing print-ready copy? If the answer
is to not let them see it, who should? Should everyone just trust me? Is it
right to trust one person with the absolute final version? Is there a way
around all this, by passing my obviosuly not feeling confident about being
the only person? (I know myself--I don't catch every probelm).
