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RE: flashpoint of the week: editors and writers egos
Subject:RE: flashpoint of the week: editors and writers egos From:"Bill Swallow" <wswallow -at- nycap -dot- rr -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 17 Mar 2004 08:24:14 -0500
Leave it up to them to create the style guide.
Seriously!
Start a discussion about style and have them give all the input they want.
If they choose not to give any, then they forfeit the right to complain. ;)
So, if you have access to a big ol' database (like a Lotus Notes teamroom)
create a "style discussion" topic and let people go wild. As stuff gets in
there and stagnates, then summarize the discussion and let everyone vote on
whether or not they agree with the summary as "style law". Majority wins.
We did this in my current place of work. It went well. Everyone got a fair
chance to speak their mind, and all suggestions were constructively weighed.
In the end, if there was a "no" response (which was rare) to a style
summary, we talked it out and either re-voted with new insight or the person
switched their vote.
Why do you want them to go through this?
Because it makes your job as editor easier! True, you have a million and one
discussions to keep track of, but in the end, you'll be enforcing "their"
styles!
Bill Swallow
wswallow "at" nycap "dot" rr "dot" com
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