tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post7144517796701781369..comments2023-10-28T05:33:15.060-05:00Comments on The Writing Playground: Are editors evil?Marilyn Puetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073134550080890157noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-80009824382684859962009-03-17T12:41:00.000-05:002009-03-17T12:41:00.000-05:00I heart my editor too. Even though she makes me w...I heart my editor too. Even though she makes me work, she is often right. When I really, really feel strongly about something, she lets me keep it. And I guess I've learned to tell the difference between when I should feel strongly and when I shouldn't. Truthfully, it's happened once, and after I addressed the issues she raised, the thing I wanted to keep worked.<BR/><BR/>It is hard to accept constructive criticism, especially at first. And sometimes it's hard to tell what is constructive and what isn't. I'm talking about contests and fellow writers, mostly. When your editor tells you something is wrong, she probably knows what she's talking about.<BR/><BR/>I've had the same experience, re the line and my voice, etc. My editor knows what the line is, knows what works, and helps me shape my story to take advantage of my voice and the expectations of the line. She is my partner in this, and I'm happy to have her. We've even agreed, after two books, that it's best for her to have input during the first three chapters so she can help me avoid those wrong turns you talked about. Once she gives me feedback there, I incorporate it and move through the rest of the book. <BR/><BR/>ALL unpublished writers need to realize that what they write isn't sacrosanct. There can and will be changes. If not to the first book you have accepted, then to a future book. It's as inevitable as dying and taxes.Lynn Raye Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05823590040842807378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-45577321516589902342009-03-17T12:05:00.000-05:002009-03-17T12:05:00.000-05:00Oh, the wallow is important. I play the "I suck" g...Oh, the wallow is important. <BR/><BR/>I play the "I suck" game a lot. I moan, I groan, I stomp my feet. No one likes to hear their baby is ugly -- me included.Problem Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456049865200737618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-72139309321512087532009-03-17T10:20:00.000-05:002009-03-17T10:20:00.000-05:00I won't say that I'm good at taking criticism...ye...I won't say that I'm good at taking criticism...yes, rationally I realize it's there to make me better. However, I won't lie and say it doesn't still hurt. But can I take it? Deal with it? Learn to process it and use it to make myself better? Absolutely. Will I wallow in self-pity for a few hours? Probably :-) That doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. I think it just means I'm human. <BR/><BR/>InstigatorKira Sinclair - AKA Instigatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14274056066229852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-27255032051911106952009-03-17T09:49:00.000-05:002009-03-17T09:49:00.000-05:00Criticism used to bother me. Now, its more of the ...Criticism used to bother me. Now, its more of the criticism with the rejection that gets me. I have no chance to redeem myself. I'm sure when I get the chance to revise, my angst will be over how exactly to execute the changes.Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pantshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13518751514879244662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-35648688237247875832009-03-17T09:43:00.000-05:002009-03-17T09:43:00.000-05:00I'm much better at taking constructive criticism n...I'm much better at taking constructive criticism now that when I first started writing. Lordy. I felt like I was being attacked, like the person was saying "You suck!" <BR/><BR/>I've learned to take it much better, and while it sometimes still stings, I know that if I just let the comments marinate for a few days, I'll see my work differently and be able to fix it.<BR/><BR/>Interesting post. Wish I had an editor to *heart*. :)Carol Burnside aka Annie Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12293010041077113759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-63589882136292417242009-03-17T09:15:00.000-05:002009-03-17T09:15:00.000-05:00Great post. So far my only experience with an edi...Great post. So far my only experience with an editor was last week when she said "I would definitely like to see the full ms for this. Can you send it to me at the New York office?"<BR/><BR/>Yes ma'am, I most certainly can and will. And when the constructive criticism comes back, I will remember your post and take it all in stride.Playground Monitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444337591281145863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-38841387236269042342009-03-17T08:20:00.000-05:002009-03-17T08:20:00.000-05:00Good job PC explaining all that. And I do see whe...Good job PC explaining all that. And I do see where you are coming from even though I don't write books but read them. It's very disappointing to start reading a book and it basically goes nowhere and I am ready to put it back down unread. I hope that as a person I can take constructive criticism well, as this makes me a better person and employee.<BR/>robertsonreadsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-75229719396683272402009-03-17T08:13:00.000-05:002009-03-17T08:13:00.000-05:00Fabulous post, PC! Constructive criticism is key, ...Fabulous post, PC! Constructive criticism is key, and those who don't handle it well don't need to be doing anything that subjects them to it in the first place. I would be nowhere without my wonderful critique group and especially my critique partner, who is a brilliant (and becoming a big-name) writer - my own writing has improved by leaps and bounds because of her.<BR/><BR/>Admittedly there are times when I don't necessarily agree with some of the comments from my group members, but that's why they're there - to discuss why something doesn't work for them. And I take it pretty well (at least graciously - I hope). In most cases, they represent your target audience, and getting feedback on the front end as opposed to having someone throw your book across a room? Easy choice.<BR/><BR/>Because my first two books are one step above self-published, I know firsthand what it's like to let your baby out into the world WITHOUT the guiding hand of a good editor. They say hindsight is 20/20, and looking back I do wish I'd known then what I know now. That's why I'm on a different road today, looking for an agent and subsequently a new publisher, one with one of those wonderful editors who will make my stories sing.<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on your success, on your relationship with your editor, and thank you for expounding on the truth - that a good editor is an invaluable asset for a writer to have. =) JBJ.B. Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12049987457932998092noreply@blogger.com