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Subject:Re: An Editor's Role...To Punish the Writer? From:kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 30 Jun 2002 13:52:58 -0600
>From the tone of the responses comprising this thread, I doubt Worzel is
getting the sympathy or vindication hoped for, but maybe that's because so
many of us WISH we had editors going over our work.
As for the comments of the editor being "terse," how else should they make
their comments? It's both easier and more effective to write "omit" rather
than to write "maybe think of rephrasing this - are you sure this is the
best word to use, or is it just maybe a little bit unnecessary?"
My experience with editors is that there's some give and take. You write.
Then they write their edits. Then, it's usually up to YOU to incorporate
those edits. That's where your judgment comes in, but you need to make
sure that judgment is not clouded by your anger and resentment toward
their comments. Remember, the editor is just trying to help, and is no
more infallible than you are.
But if they have to write an entire paragraph sugar-coating their
rationale for each of their suggested changes, the whole process (and the
document itself) will get bloated, which will not help your situation.
Good luck, and be thankful you have an editor. Believe it or not, they're
not out to get you; they're out to help you.
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