on writing - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

landpoke · 12-18-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

I am quite secure but believe I undercharge.

By using "most" instead of "all" I believe I accounted for you.

Archaea · 12-18-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landpoke

By using "most" instead of "all" I believe I accounted for you.

I know but I wanted everybody else do know which one you accounted for.

landpoke · 12-18-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

I know but I wanted everybody else do know which one you accounted for.

I edited my original post. You are, of course, correct and there's no point in beating around the bush simply to spare some other lawyer's feelings.

BarbaraGordon · 12-18-2008, 09:02 PM

Editing is a rare talent. A good editor won't infuse personal preferences into the writer's work. Nor will he make stylistic changes. A good editor should be reading for mechanics, coherence, and continuity.

So to answer your question: No, I don't think this is a generational difference in identifying good writing. I think this guy simply has a fundamental misunderstanding of what proofreading is.

MikeWaters · 12-18-2008, 09:24 PM

I think I can relate to how MacArthur must have felt as he got the first reports that his entire Air Force had been destroyed by the Japanese surprise attack, and that retreat and defeat was essentially unescapable.

This was after reading the first chapter of SU's book and thinking about his editor.

Thhuuubbbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!

MikeWaters · 12-19-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I think I can relate to how MacArthur must have felt as he got the first reports that his entire Air Force had been destroyed by the Japanese surprise attack, and that retreat and defeat was essentially unescapable.

This was after reading the first chapter of SU's book and thinking about his editor.

Thhuuubbbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!

Lest we think this is merely insult, I should point out for you ignoramuses of history, that MacArthur did return.

RedHeadGal · 12-19-2008, 03:02 PM

Well, I obviously had a view on this one, and I set it up to be validated, which was what I wanted. Plus, I needed a little vent, I think.

But this was not a mere editor. It was a colleague. One who intended to put his name on the document after his edits. And he and I have a recurring conflict over this. I don't mind if he puts his name on, but I do mind the stylistic edits. I just find them unnecessary and frankly insulting. I'm trying to keep my pride in check, but the truth is he outranks me, so I can't really stop it. I hate his writing style, and I don't like it being interjected onto mine. He is NOT making substantive changes. He actually told me--I think to assuage my feelings of insult--that "the substance is all yours" so it's still your work.

I've had trouble articulating the nature of my concerns in a diplomatic fashion.

SeattleUte · 12-19-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

Well, I obviously had a view on this one, and I set it up to be validated, which was what I wanted. Plus, I needed a little vent, I think.

But this was not a mere editor. It was a colleague. One who intended to put his name on the document after his edits. And he and I have a recurring conflict over this. I don't mind if he puts his name on, but I do mind the stylistic edits. I just find them unnecessary and frankly insulting. I'm trying to keep my pride in check, but the truth is he outranks me, so I can't really stop it. I hate his writing style, and I don't like it being interjected onto mine. He is NOT making substantive changes. He actually told me--I think to assuage my feelings of insult--that "the substance is all yours" so it's still your work.

I've had trouble articulating the nature of my concerns in a diplomatic fashion.

Tending to be the smartest person in the roorm time after time is a curse, like rarely being able to give vent to a raging libido.

RedHeadGal · 12-19-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Tending to be the smartest person in the roorm time after time is a curse, like rarely being able to give vent to a raging libido.

I wasn't asserting superior intelligence. I was talking about authorship/ownership. This process takes what was mine and makes it so it's not. Which seems to be based on the custom more than anything else.

MikeWaters · 12-19-2008, 07:54 PM

jeez, feel free to complain when you get your ideas stolen and get no credit.

12-18-2008, 09:02 PM	#4
BarbaraGordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gotham City Posts: 7,157	Editing is a rare talent. A good editor won't infuse personal preferences into the writer's work. Nor will he make stylistic changes. A good editor should be reading for mechanics, coherence, and continuity. So to answer your question: No, I don't think this is a generational difference in identifying good writing. I think this guy simply has a fundamental misunderstanding of what proofreading is.

12-18-2008, 09:24 PM	#5
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I think I can relate to how MacArthur must have felt as he got the first reports that his entire Air Force had been destroyed by the Japanese surprise attack, and that retreat and defeat was essentially unescapable. This was after reading the first chapter of SU's book and thinking about his editor. Thhuuubbbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!

12-19-2008, 03:02 PM	#7
RedHeadGal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: DC Posts: 995	Well, I obviously had a view on this one, and I set it up to be validated, which was what I wanted. Plus, I needed a little vent, I think. But this was not a mere editor. It was a colleague. One who intended to put his name on the document after his edits. And he and I have a recurring conflict over this. I don't mind if he puts his name on, but I do mind the stylistic edits. I just find them unnecessary and frankly insulting. I'm trying to keep my pride in check, but the truth is he outranks me, so I can't really stop it. I hate his writing style, and I don't like it being interjected onto mine. He is NOT making substantive changes. He actually told me--I think to assuage my feelings of insult--that "the substance is all yours" so it's still your work. I've had trouble articulating the nature of my concerns in a diplomatic fashion.

12-19-2008, 07:54 PM	#10
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	jeez, feel free to complain when you get your ideas stolen and get no credit.