tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post4865894449479627375..comments2024-03-28T01:11:53.559-07:00Comments on Electric Spec Editor Blog: On Editing Stories . . .lesleylsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-37858476297655453412011-03-18T19:40:45.625-07:002011-03-18T19:40:45.625-07:00I like being edited. One time I sent a story to a ...I like being edited. One time I sent a story to a place I'd already sold a couple pieces to and she said, with evident diplomacy, she liked it but thought it was too long and repeated itself in places. I cut it down from 6700 words to 5400 and sent it back.<br /><br />This time, she accepted it. And when she sent her edits back, she'd slashed it down to 4600. I only asked to restore one paragraph.<br /><br />It was a much better story.Ed Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02676758462715456024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-4383258530292234032011-03-18T09:36:10.819-07:002011-03-18T09:36:10.819-07:00Actually, Editor Dave, that uncooperative author d...Actually, Editor Dave, that uncooperative author did us a favor by announcing he was so uncooperative--we didn't have to deal with him/her!<br /><br />As for editing, it's amazing how a fresh pair of eyes can see new things...<br />The real trick is to look at your <i>own</i> work with fresh eyes and see new things. I wish I could do that reliably!lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-53011956610324202962011-03-18T02:13:24.892-07:002011-03-18T02:13:24.892-07:00Having been through that process a couple of times...Having been through that process a couple of times I agree with you. Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes.<br /><br />In my case there were some duplicate words that needed changing/removing and a bit of description that needed tightening up. The editor saw things that neither I, or my writers group noticed.<br /><br />The story hadn't changed, but it was much better.Martin Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605554706836638988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-26636804964902489572011-03-17T19:33:02.612-07:002011-03-17T19:33:02.612-07:00Definitely the right move there. I would say that ...Definitely the right move there. I would say that writer probably isn't ready to be published if he can't take a few edits. There is NO venue worth being published in that doesn't at least edit grammar and typos. And, let's face it, that story isn't as perfect as you think it is. Even published books could be better. And why not at least see what edits you all suggested before refusing them outright? Jeez.<br /><br />If you had agreed to that, this writer probably would've been nothing but trouble. ;) <br /><br />People are just crazy. Writers even more so. <br /><br />~TaraTara Lindsay Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00970258984995282462noreply@blogger.com