FUCK EDITORS

mc fuckin hammer!!

Good ideas, all. And thanks for the link, t-diva. Appreciate it very much.

some advice from an editor:

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/002/686/Deal_with_it_dog_gif.gif

if the check shows up on time don't worry about it

agree and understand on both counts

Having experienced that a long time ago (and only a handful of times; most editors I dealt with always discussed changes), my own opinion is that no one should ever have to put up with that.

But I'm also not going to ask the editor why they keep butchering my stories.

Why not? If they're good editors, they'll understand how upsetting this can be. (Of course, if they were good editors, they wouldn't be doing it in the first place.)

You're probably right, clemenza. The best thing to do would probably be to address the issue, just like I should go talk to my neighbor who keeps putting little bits of trash in my trash can. Easier said than done, though.

And aside from just the "avoid confrontation" aspect of it, I have to ask myself: Do I really wanna take the time to craft this email? Do I wanna have to make this editor read it, and think about it, and respond to it? He's a busy guy. I'm not some brilliant writing talent. He could easily decide I'm not worth the trouble and cut me off. I don't think that's what would happen, but is it really worth the effort and heartache to find out?

Plus, I certainly think there's some truth to dealwithit.gif if I'm getting paid, which I am.

Also, since last time I wrote, I've definitely decided my problem is actually with some copy editor or web-department power-tripper downstream from the guy I work with.

Complaining about it anonymously on this thread is really the easiest way to go.

My two cents (also given I've worked as an editor): you should write the email, the kind of revisions and editing you're describing is unprofessional. Without intervening, it's contributing to the erosion of best practice, and feelings of precarity, while understandable, are precisely the sort of thing that allows for the depreciation of standards and care in support of writing, cultural criticism, journalism, or any other professional text-based content.

I mean, it would be one thing if the edits weren't introducing errors into the text, you know?

Totally. I hear what you're saying and am on your side.

To be clear, I do write and ask for typos and other errors to be corrected. And by errors, I don't so much mean factual stuff, but more like "this alteration of my word choice changed the meaning of this sentence slightly enough to where it's not quite right now" or "this edit messed up the subject/verb agreement" ... but still, it's mostly typos added by someone who ... uh ... maybe lacks attention to detail? Or is in too much of a hurry. Or both.

And I pick my battles on some of the more phrasing/readability kinds of things. Partly because I know that's subjective, but moreso because if I write asking for 2 or 3 typos to be fixed, I don't want to feel like I'm high-maintenance by also asking for "bigger" stuff, for lack of a better word.

I really see both sides ... dealwithit.gif and "no, you should deal with it" ... again, appreciate the chance to vent and the feedback. Truly.

better to work with an editor you trust at a place with less name recognition than a place that turns your writing into pulp

imo

whiney's advice was better in an era where a strong editorial hand was common & publications had stronger voices but now there's a chance you're being edited by a 22 year old

when i wrote about music - i remember this one editor changed "that's a bold claim" to "them's fightin' words"

annoys me thinking about it and it was about 12 years ago

lol

keepin' that ol' meme alivey

Haha the writing equivalent of wearing suspenders or a handlebar mustache

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4S2LvMKMrA

http://www.clickhole.com/article/man-mission-man-adding-and-thems-facts-end-every-w-2182

Thought this thread was about the band

the worst kind of editor is one who swaps your phrase in clear English for a cliché.

otm.

send the freelance pitch at 5:15 pm Wednesday on the East Coast or wait till Thursday morning?

Thursday morning is my instinct

mine too. the pitch is probably too long and has taken too much time, which has landed me here!

a good pitch is sent at 2am and explains why it was sent at 2am

i thought this thread was about the band editors

probably should've revived a different, less aggressively titled thread