What a coincidence! Here I am in Round 10 of copyediting for "The Magic Part." Had an interesting exchange with mine yesterday, trying to impress on her the difference between "leaning into Michael" and "leaning in to Michael."
My husband is a fantastic writer and a brutal editor of my stuff. I have met a few editors (that I'm not married to, lol) who are as good as he is. I've also met incredibly ignorant ones that make me want to break something. The palm goes to an "intern editor" who had the gall to suggest removing an entire subplot that was essential to the main plot. I told her to go pluck acorns ... I'm being polite.
Having another set of eyes look at it can help as well as hurt. For lack of funds, I mostly have to do without having a seperate copy editor. At least when I was at school, it was guaranteed that someone else besides me would read my writing; now, I'm not sure unless I get an acceptance.
What a coincidence! Here I am in Round 10 of copyediting for "The Magic Part." Had an interesting exchange with mine yesterday, trying to impress on her the difference between "leaning into Michael" and "leaning in to Michael."
"The mind reels" as someone says in The Boys in the Band
My husband is a fantastic writer and a brutal editor of my stuff. I have met a few editors (that I'm not married to, lol) who are as good as he is. I've also met incredibly ignorant ones that make me want to break something. The palm goes to an "intern editor" who had the gall to suggest removing an entire subplot that was essential to the main plot. I told her to go pluck acorns ... I'm being polite.
You're fortunate.
My spouse is a terrific editor and as a psychologist was tremendously helpful in my work on the ten Nick Hoffman mysteries.
ARGH!!
Indeed.
Lev I thought copyeditors found typos. Now they're writers?? : )
They're supposed to do more than correct typos or check grammar. They should also be looking for issues of clarity, readability, consistency.
Thanks Lev. Any real writer is open to suggestions. But changing the text without consulting me? Ya better not
Having another set of eyes look at it can help as well as hurt. For lack of funds, I mostly have to do without having a seperate copy editor. At least when I was at school, it was guaranteed that someone else besides me would read my writing; now, I'm not sure unless I get an acceptance.
In my case, it was a copyeditor working for the publisher. Perhaps in-house, perhaps freelance.
But, judging by your experience, very high-toned in attitude.
Definite had attitude matched by ignorance. A one-two punch. :-)
Yes, that's great distinction. And thanks for the comment.
This is why I love Substack: people have such interesting things to say.