I edit for a number of authors here, and do not ask for any notice in print, either on their stories, or elsewhere. I do it to help them with their stories, for as most will admit, And I certainly will on my own writings. The author is usually too close to the story. When looking it over, the author sees what they meant to write / thought they had written, instead of what actually went down on paper ( or in pixels on their screen). It is always helpful to have at least one extra set of eyes look at the story.
I do not ask for credit, because the author does the bulk of the work, I just look for grammar problems, missing words, wrong homophones, etc. It is their story after all.
I have, over the past 5 years, met well over a dozen of 'my' authors, and a few I have not edited for, in person
Now, what do I mean as turnabout?
Well, today I met, I think it is, my 18th author, Areceee, who lives nearby, only 50 miles from where I have been living for the past 60 years, drove down to help shalimar and myself move 40 miles north to where I am now working.
I just wanted to give credit where credit is due, for the way we in this community help each other when we can.
Holly
Comments
Moving -- Holly Hart
Like you, Holly, I prefer that writers not give me credit for editing. It distracts from their efforts, which is unfair, because an editor is much like the fellow who follows after parading horses, and he rarely gets much credit. Further a credit is tantamount to a challenge to the writer to grow beyond the editor's help. Such a viewpoint is unfortunate, as few, if any, pieces exist that can't be improved. Using an editor is a mark of professionalism, not the opposite.
The larger reason I don't want acknowledgement is that it brings out the worst in a greenish version of me. If I'm to receive a screen credit I want the story to be an approximation of my ideal of good writing. A good editor recommends and doesn't expect the writer to accept everything she suggests. When your ego is at stake, a natural conflict occurs between wanting the piece to be authentically that of the author and preserving your reputation as a "vunderbar" editor. It's better to be behind the scenes, although most writers insist acknowledgement is necessary.
It's been several months since I've said anything about serials. but your comments beg for a remark, so I'll select a handful of oozing mud. Self-editing is more possible if the author sets aside the piece for a few weeks or months and gains the perspective of a reader. Of course, it would be nearly impossible for a serial to hold its audience if the writer produced an episode once a season. Logically it is improbable that the writer is doing her best if she doesn't edit her work with perspective.
The writer who doesn't edit has no advantage over those that can't. Mark Twain almost said that.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)