tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post7932880222363791548..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Don't make others payL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-78602659950230803462013-09-14T20:54:58.499-07:002013-09-14T20:54:58.499-07:00Well, yes. Why don't they put this in all thos...Well, yes. Why don't they put this in all those "how to write a bestseller in 5 minutes" books? <br /><br />Actually, I think high school and college teach students not to value the editing process. Students come to the writing process with a "one and done" attitude. The idea of drafts, of playing with ideas, structure, words is either not taught or grade-penalized. Students are so tuned to the A, product, that process doesn't get the time it deserves. <br /><br />Maybe Jodie can verify this, but from my experience teaching freshman comp, and even advanced writing, students believe that what comes out first on the page must be brilliant. (At which point I tell them the Oscar Wilde/Isaac Asimov story.) Perhaps this is a leftover from the misunderstanding of the Romantic notion of inspiration.David Y.B. Kaufmannhttp://www.davidybkaufmann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-19047871206131198892013-09-12T11:13:08.128-07:002013-09-12T11:13:08.128-07:00I'm with you on this one. Editing is a test in...I'm with you on this one. Editing is a test in a way; after a set of edits I start to wander off in my mind, to that place deep inside where new stories emerge. That is the difficult part for ne; not the long hours at my desk (I can beat that with coffee), but keeping my mind from wandering to a new story. Because once that gets going, there's no stopping.M.H. Vesseurhttp://www.mhvesseur.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-2613887927505044442013-09-11T12:18:27.607-07:002013-09-11T12:18:27.607-07:00I agree with you 100%, Jen, and I tell people this...I agree with you 100%, Jen, and I tell people this every chance I get. It really bothers me when I come across a poorly (or non) edited book. When people tell me they can't afford to hire an editor, I tell them they can't afford not to.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-9632017936075444902013-09-11T12:04:15.995-07:002013-09-11T12:04:15.995-07:00I have a friend who is beta reading for another au...I have a friend who is beta reading for another author at the moment, and has become convinced that the author has not done any self-editing at all prior to sending it to her to read. That's just wrong.<br /><br />Self-editing is hard and it's something that's learned, usually manuscript by manuscript, page by page.<br /><br />Two words I went over the top with for the one currently getting finishing touches: pull (or some variation) and just.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-10831230588803799272013-09-11T08:46:23.091-07:002013-09-11T08:46:23.091-07:00Great post, Jenny! I find editing manuscripts exha...Great post, Jenny! I find editing manuscripts exhausting, as I don't only look at style and grammar, but I get deep into the novel and look at characterization, point of view, plot, pacing, logistics, and so much more. Makes my brain tired! LOL.<br /><br />Then, like you, when I go to read a book for relaxation and entertainment, it's hard to turn off my editor brain and just enjoy the story! So I find I have to stick with really high-quality novels to really get swept into the the story world for the escapism I seek!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-20720716229654567012013-09-11T08:08:19.515-07:002013-09-11T08:08:19.515-07:00Me, too, Richard. By the 9th or 10th go around on ...Me, too, Richard. By the 9th or 10th go around on each of my manuscripts, I'm usually pretty tired of reading the same story :-)Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-20190247490437245712013-09-11T06:14:04.885-07:002013-09-11T06:14:04.885-07:00Wow, I'm going to post this one over my comput...Wow, I'm going to post this one over my computer: "If you're not sick of your own manuscript by the time you're done editing....then maybe you haven't read through it enough times."<br />Thanks for sharing.Richard Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15993592219849830777noreply@blogger.com