State of disrepair?

I encountered the phrase "rec havoc" in an article I edited this morning.

Perhaps the writer, when he worked on the article, was preoccupied with the mess in his rec room.

Just one?

I think I could handle a "Director of Proposal" posting on Craigslist.

Multiple proposals would be a problem.

To borrow from Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I'm editing a singularly difficult (read: badly written) manuscript. I can tolerate about six or seven pages at a time before I have to close it out.

My version of Browning's Sonnet 43:

How Do I Hate Thee?

How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.
I hate thee to the height and width of each page
My eyes can reach, when you are within sight
For the ends of anger and frustration.
I hate thee to the level of every day's
Most horrid sensation, by natural and artificial light.
I hate thee freely, as editors strive for coherence.
I hate thee purely, as editors turn from incoherence.
I hate thee with the passion put to use
In my old manuscripts, and with my editor's discernment.
I hate thee with a hate I seemed to keep
With my past work. I hate thee with the gasps,
Frowns, pain, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but hate thee even better when remembering thee after deadline.

Work from Home

One of the requirements in a Craigslist posting today for a Content Writer: "Ability to work independently with very little super vision."

So, who needs super vision anyway when there's no watcher to watch.

If it's Wednesday, it must be s**t writing day.

Of the six online articles I've edited thus far, all but one have been sent back to the writers for a rewrite.

Maybe it's the pollen count.

Tell me something I don't already know.

From the book I'm currently editing:

"There’s no free lunch in life. We get to be young, but then we become old. . . . It’s what we call the human condition."

From what I've seen thus far, the publisher could market this book as a sleeping aid.

ZZZZZZZZZZ!

Why I Hate the Chicago Manual of Style

I had forgotten the rule on abbreviating certain titles. So I proceeded to section 15.13, which provides reason #3,985 for my hatred of the so-called guide:

Rep. Mark Kirk; Representative Kirk . . .

Senator Susan Collins ("Sen.," though used in journalism, is better avoided in formal prose)

It simply defies logic. And what the hell is formal prose? Anything not written on a napkin?

Let's add "CMS-induced frustration" to the inevitable duo of "death and taxes."

Mondo Loco Logo

Today's loser from the articles I've edited: "Sketch out you ideas for your logo one paper using colored markers."

Can you imagine if this writer were responsible for creating the logo.

A writer who no longer wants to contribute

From an article I'm editing: "Involvement in theater can attribute to future success for students."

Equal Opportunity Bad Writing

Oh, pity the poor writers who try their hardest to eliminate sexism from their work.

I just started editing a manuscript that is filled with well-intentioned but feeble attempts such as these: "the Congressman has his or her staff" and "Congress(wo)men."

English desperately needs a couple of new words to replace these and other similar conventions.

Where's Adam?

I just edited an article on how to remove old stain on a log cabin. The writer suggested starting "under the eve."

I think I'll have another cup of coffee first.

Found in my first online editing article of the week: "All three function in a similar manor."

Not ready for this yet.