Sometimes within a sentence or two, I regret having clicked on a particular title in my article queue (for my online editing job). Usually that which starts badly only gets worse.
To wit: The introduction to an article on roundtable conferences includes, "This process is a peaceful one, sometimes heated, yet it's a ways to a means."
That phrase could only work as a response to the following question posed to a hitchhiker by a lost motorist: "Excuse me. Could you tell me how far it is to Ameenz?"
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
"A bug on the windshield of life"
You've heard it, you've said it, you've been there. And the reason the expression reads exactly that way is no doubt explained in an article (in my queue for my online editing gig) I simply can't bring myself to click on: "Reasons Why a Fly Doesn't Smack Against the Back Window of a Car."
Call me a coward if you will. Say I have no sense of adventure, that I'm incurious. I fear if I were to edit this article, I would tell the author, in my rewrite request, to add a warning relating to what happens if you put your car in reverse and put the pedal to the metal.
Call me a coward if you will. Say I have no sense of adventure, that I'm incurious. I fear if I were to edit this article, I would tell the author, in my rewrite request, to add a warning relating to what happens if you put your car in reverse and put the pedal to the metal.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
1000+ is the new 500
In my freelance editing of articles for posting to the Internet, I've been getting slammed in recent days by articles way over the suggested word count. These articles read like treatises.
I return the articles to the writers and politely request a rewrite, and suggest that they review the appropriate style guide. What I feel like writing is RTFSG!
Writers: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
I return the articles to the writers and politely request a rewrite, and suggest that they review the appropriate style guide. What I feel like writing is RTFSG!
Writers: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
Monday, July 27, 2009
"All you've done is editing."
I had a so-called mid-year review with my manager last week.
Her assessment was peppered with language about being a team player, chipping in, stepping it up, and so forth. Not a word was uttered about my editing.
Her view is that the editing workload in the proposal center is generally very light. She is one of the unenlightened who thinks editing takes no time or effort. Thus, she broached the subject of redefining my role.
She said, "Looking at your resume, I see that all you've done is editing." The emphasis is hers.
This trivializing and undervaluing editing is not uncommon. But I have never worked anywhere as an editor (since 1983) where this view was as prevalent as it is in my shop.
It is very likely that the name of this blog will change in very short order.
Her assessment was peppered with language about being a team player, chipping in, stepping it up, and so forth. Not a word was uttered about my editing.
Her view is that the editing workload in the proposal center is generally very light. She is one of the unenlightened who thinks editing takes no time or effort. Thus, she broached the subject of redefining my role.
She said, "Looking at your resume, I see that all you've done is editing." The emphasis is hers.
This trivializing and undervaluing editing is not uncommon. But I have never worked anywhere as an editor (since 1983) where this view was as prevalent as it is in my shop.
It is very likely that the name of this blog will change in very short order.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The gatekeepers have misplaced the keys.
One of editing's occupational challenges is to learn and apply any number of different style guides when moving from one employer to the next, depending on particular house style preferences. There's AP, GPO, and Chicago style guides, to name just a few.
Being responsible for riding herd on style is a process of learning, unlearning, relearning, etc.
Take that challenge and increase it by an order of magnitude, and you've got the nearly impossible juggling act that me and my fellow copy editors (for the freelance, online content editing I do) are responsible for.
We currently have no less than sixteen sets of guidelines. These comprise: eleven categories of articles (how to, about, fact sheet, etc.); two blacklists (competitor websites never to be cited); and the house, image, and references guidelines. Plus, we must absorb and apply whatever information and/or feedback that our roughly 400 peers receive from our various team leaders or glean from looking at other forums on our website in addition to our own for copy editors.
Many of our forum posts reflect the sheer frustration of trying to sort out an incredible amount of information.
I'm hard pressed to recall any time since '83 (when I started my editing career) that so much effort has gone into so few words (the articles are from about 150 to 400 words). Much of that effort involves just preparing to edit.
To borrow a phrase from William Wordsworth, "The style guides are too much with us."
Being responsible for riding herd on style is a process of learning, unlearning, relearning, etc.
Take that challenge and increase it by an order of magnitude, and you've got the nearly impossible juggling act that me and my fellow copy editors (for the freelance, online content editing I do) are responsible for.
We currently have no less than sixteen sets of guidelines. These comprise: eleven categories of articles (how to, about, fact sheet, etc.); two blacklists (competitor websites never to be cited); and the house, image, and references guidelines. Plus, we must absorb and apply whatever information and/or feedback that our roughly 400 peers receive from our various team leaders or glean from looking at other forums on our website in addition to our own for copy editors.
Many of our forum posts reflect the sheer frustration of trying to sort out an incredible amount of information.
I'm hard pressed to recall any time since '83 (when I started my editing career) that so much effort has gone into so few words (the articles are from about 150 to 400 words). Much of that effort involves just preparing to edit.
To borrow a phrase from William Wordsworth, "The style guides are too much with us."
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Mother of All Mental Lapses
I'm a very good job hunter. I've got the resume/cover letter/phone screening/interview drill well in hand, with the results to prove it.
However, this past week I made a mistake for which I'll be beating myself up for a while.
I'm in the process of putting in place a number of permanent part-time freelance positions that will enable me to move away from FT employment toward a semi-retirement supported by several income streams.
One of my current freelance jobs (previously written about here) is for a West Coast media company that provides content to many websites. I edit short articles for the company.
I found an identical position posted on craigslist for a Boston company looking for copy editors. I applied online. And then I realized that, indeed, I had taken leave of my senses when I composed the email cover letter.
Among other things I wrote: "I am most interested in the copy editor position and am currently doing similar work for a company on the West Coast."
Let's rewrite that, shall we, for a tip on how not to get a job: "I'm working for one of your competitors."
Wishing you were here: You'd be more than welcome to act on the "Kick Me" sign on my butt.
However, this past week I made a mistake for which I'll be beating myself up for a while.
I'm in the process of putting in place a number of permanent part-time freelance positions that will enable me to move away from FT employment toward a semi-retirement supported by several income streams.
One of my current freelance jobs (previously written about here) is for a West Coast media company that provides content to many websites. I edit short articles for the company.
I found an identical position posted on craigslist for a Boston company looking for copy editors. I applied online. And then I realized that, indeed, I had taken leave of my senses when I composed the email cover letter.
Among other things I wrote: "I am most interested in the copy editor position and am currently doing similar work for a company on the West Coast."
Let's rewrite that, shall we, for a tip on how not to get a job: "I'm working for one of your competitors."
Wishing you were here: You'd be more than welcome to act on the "Kick Me" sign on my butt.
Stop. Now go.
The author of the book I'm currently editing consistently does a bizarre thing with em dashes.
She basically understands that one of the em's proper uses is to indicate an interruption or a sudden change of thought.
However, her execution of the em's function is literally halfhearted. For example, she writes, "These differences—as in concepts of time--need to be understood to make social interactions easier."
Why the double dash rather than the em to finish the interruption? All I can think of is that it's her way of first saying, "Stop and take note of this break," and then giving us the go-ahead to proceed to the rest of the sentence.
I have a feeling that she's never run a red light.
She basically understands that one of the em's proper uses is to indicate an interruption or a sudden change of thought.
However, her execution of the em's function is literally halfhearted. For example, she writes, "These differences—as in concepts of time--need to be understood to make social interactions easier."
Why the double dash rather than the em to finish the interruption? All I can think of is that it's her way of first saying, "Stop and take note of this break," and then giving us the go-ahead to proceed to the rest of the sentence.
I have a feeling that she's never run a red light.
Friday, July 17, 2009
More from the illiterate who evaluates me
Email to the team:
[Misspelled name] has declined the proposal coordinator position, but has agreed to stay on as a consultant until we find a replacement. Loni’s last day as a temp-associate is Friday, July 17, on Monday she will convert to a consultant, her email will most likely change to UCON after her name.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
As a matter of fact, I do have questions: (1) Do you realize you've strung three sentences together? (2) Can you define "sentence"? (3) What's with the commas in place of periods? (4) Why don't you have the decency and respect to spell staff names correctly? (5) How in the world do you keep your job?
These gems just in, from the latest of her emails today: less then one year; They just need to make sence.
[Misspelled name] has declined the proposal coordinator position, but has agreed to stay on as a consultant until we find a replacement. Loni’s last day as a temp-associate is Friday, July 17, on Monday she will convert to a consultant, her email will most likely change to UCON after her name.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
As a matter of fact, I do have questions: (1) Do you realize you've strung three sentences together? (2) Can you define "sentence"? (3) What's with the commas in place of periods? (4) Why don't you have the decency and respect to spell staff names correctly? (5) How in the world do you keep your job?
These gems just in, from the latest of her emails today: less then one year; They just need to make sence.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The most thankless profession
I've been doing freelance nonfiction book editing since April '08 and just started my twentieth book.
Yesterday I received my first thank-you, from a co-author of the nineteenth book.
One out of nineteen: It doesn't make it all worthwhile, but it helps a bit.
I've been an editor since '83 and understand that this is a profession in which its practitioners are judged primarily by their mistakes, not by their contributions. I can live with that.
Anyone who needs to be thanked for a job well done needn't apply.
Yesterday I received my first thank-you, from a co-author of the nineteenth book.
One out of nineteen: It doesn't make it all worthwhile, but it helps a bit.
I've been an editor since '83 and understand that this is a profession in which its practitioners are judged primarily by their mistakes, not by their contributions. I can live with that.
Anyone who needs to be thanked for a job well done needn't apply.
Monday, July 13, 2009
comm·a·tose
Pronunciation: ˈkah-mə-tōs
Function: adjective
Etymology: French comateux, from Greek kōmat-, kōma
Date: 2009
1 : characterized by lethargic inertness (The commatose editor reached a point where he didn't have the wherewithal to decide whether to insert or delete commas in the book he was editing.)
And how, you might ask, did I come down with this affliction?
First, the style at my FT job is to use the serial (aka Harvard or Oxford) comma.
Second, one of freelance employer's style uses the serial, the other doesn't.
Third, some style guides give it a thumbs up, others don't, and still others don't even have a thumb.
Such a tiny little punctuation mark, yet so problematic.
Function: adjective
Etymology: French comateux, from Greek kōmat-, kōma
Date: 2009
1 : characterized by lethargic inertness (The commatose editor reached a point where he didn't have the wherewithal to decide whether to insert or delete commas in the book he was editing.)
And how, you might ask, did I come down with this affliction?
First, the style at my FT job is to use the serial (aka Harvard or Oxford) comma.
Second, one of freelance employer's style uses the serial, the other doesn't.
Third, some style guides give it a thumbs up, others don't, and still others don't even have a thumb.
Such a tiny little punctuation mark, yet so problematic.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
This is the person who reviews my performance.
I did a quick edit of a "white paper" my manager sent to me at 3:30—quick because it was 12 pages and I had to leave at 4 sharp.
She still can't grasp the concept that editing takes time. I've talked up my varying "pages per hour" capability (depending on the level of effort required), but to no avail. This is as close to truly talking to a wall as I've ever been. Back to the point.
The title of the article contained "Area Processing Center (APC)." Throughout the article there were singular (APC) and plural references (APCs).
After I submitted the paper to her she asked me why, as the title contained "APC," I added "s" in many places. I actually had to explain that there is more than one APC.
She still can't grasp the concept that editing takes time. I've talked up my varying "pages per hour" capability (depending on the level of effort required), but to no avail. This is as close to truly talking to a wall as I've ever been. Back to the point.
The title of the article contained "Area Processing Center (APC)." Throughout the article there were singular (APC) and plural references (APCs).
After I submitted the paper to her she asked me why, as the title contained "APC," I added "s" in many places. I actually had to explain that there is more than one APC.
I call them Hackquisition Editors.
The publishing company for which I do freelance book editing has, as do all publishers, acquisition editors. They're responsible for bringing in titles to be published.
The AEs are supposed to reject (or return for additional work) manuscripts that do not meet the company's submission guidelines and requirements.
Based on what I've seen in my year and a half with the company, it's clear that quotas trump quality. I've worked on some manuscripts whose authors could write the book on how not to write a book.
The MTF
Along with the manuscript, the editors receive from the AEs a "Manuscript Transmittal Form" which contains design and production details and, importantly, notes to the editor (e.g., level of effort required, things to look out for, author's history with the company).
The MTF is supposed to be based on a thorough manuscript review by the AE. I have not seen one yet that accurately reflected the work actually required on a manuscript. What I have seen, however, are a few edits in a book's foreword or preface made by the AE to indicate that they've "reviewed" the manuscript.
I just started to edit a book on the Middle East. In the preface, the AE inserted "Engyptian president Anwar El" before "Sadat."
Engypt: Isn't that where the Great Sphincter is?
The AEs are supposed to reject (or return for additional work) manuscripts that do not meet the company's submission guidelines and requirements.
Based on what I've seen in my year and a half with the company, it's clear that quotas trump quality. I've worked on some manuscripts whose authors could write the book on how not to write a book.
The MTF
Along with the manuscript, the editors receive from the AEs a "Manuscript Transmittal Form" which contains design and production details and, importantly, notes to the editor (e.g., level of effort required, things to look out for, author's history with the company).
The MTF is supposed to be based on a thorough manuscript review by the AE. I have not seen one yet that accurately reflected the work actually required on a manuscript. What I have seen, however, are a few edits in a book's foreword or preface made by the AE to indicate that they've "reviewed" the manuscript.
I just started to edit a book on the Middle East. In the preface, the AE inserted "Engyptian president Anwar El" before "Sadat."
Engypt: Isn't that where the Great Sphincter is?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
I'm back to doing some freelance editing for the online media company. The pay's not great, but it adds to my nest egg. And in these increasingly tough times . . .
In the past 24 hours, I've encountered two self-plagiarizing writers; one double dipped, the other triple dipped. Each simply cut and pasted identical content into an article with a different but similar title.
Self-plagiarism is, of course, a cardinal sin and specifically discussed in several of the company's style guides.
Nevertheless, these two writers have taken the spirit of the Fourth to heart, perverted it, and declared independence from company and professional rules. The editorial team will quash their little rebellions.
In the past 24 hours, I've encountered two self-plagiarizing writers; one double dipped, the other triple dipped. Each simply cut and pasted identical content into an article with a different but similar title.
Self-plagiarism is, of course, a cardinal sin and specifically discussed in several of the company's style guides.
Nevertheless, these two writers have taken the spirit of the Fourth to heart, perverted it, and declared independence from company and professional rules. The editorial team will quash their little rebellions.
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