tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post840806591583496098..comments2024-02-02T15:37:59.678-05:00Comments on tony's miscellanea: Editing. Or as it's also known, Critiquingtonylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-1413211335084842922011-04-05T15:14:04.912-04:002011-04-05T15:14:04.912-04:00Yes, I find editing my own work hard as well. I ne...Yes, I find editing my own work hard as well. I never thought about changing font or size-that is a tip I will have to put into use. Helpful post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-33433525881847523172011-03-27T19:35:05.171-04:002011-03-27T19:35:05.171-04:00Thanks to all of you. And Nick, yes, that also wor...Thanks to all of you. And Nick, yes, that also works for both me and others. I agree that a fairly substantial time is needed, as you mentioned.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder of an inexpensive tool to assist.tonylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-46151537912096773052011-03-24T19:39:40.634-04:002011-03-24T19:39:40.634-04:00Great blog post. Editing is one of the hardest th...Great blog post. Editing is one of the hardest things for an author to do for themselves -- it's impossible to get an objective look at what you write. It helps though when you and your book "take some time off" from each other. In my case, it has to be a few months. When I come back, I'm already deep into another project and it looks like some idiot wrote it. Then I remind myself I'm the idiot, and off we go to the editing table. ;-)<br /><br />Best,<br /><br /><a href="http://nicholaslasalla.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Nick</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B004P1IZY8" rel="nofollow"><i>One More Day: A Modern Ghost Story</i></a>Nicholas La Sallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00672628766188470171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-43217077058691226152011-03-22T20:25:32.132-04:002011-03-22T20:25:32.132-04:00Have you seen the stuff I edited for Twelve Worlds...Have you seen the stuff I edited for Twelve Worlds?!? I'm totally a copy-editor ;)<br /><br />It can be hard to edit your own stuff. I think I'm lucky in being inflicted with the Writer's Curse (nothing I write is good enough, I feel like I wrote crap today...) because I forget what I wrote and when I go back again it's not as as bad as I thought, etc.<br /><br />If you're the copy-editing type I might want you as a beta reader <3 :3<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEINV6" rel="nofollow">Shackled</a></i><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cheat/J-E-Medrick/e/2940012270610/?itm=1&USRI=cheat" rel="nofollow"><i>Cheat</i></a>J. E. Medrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09505810773159064262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165393288283987838.post-43495910748489834792011-03-22T18:49:53.441-04:002011-03-22T18:49:53.441-04:00You're absolutely right.
I'll add that wh...You're absolutely right.<br /><br />I'll add that while I do highly recommend Critters and Critique.org to any writer who is starting out and learning, I think that most will eventually outgrow the workshop experience. <br /><br />For one thing, those communities, while very helpful, have their problems, the biggest of which is people who are frankly just really bad not only at writing, but critiquing. Of course, those are usually (but not always) the same people.<br /><br />We need all that starting out, though, not only because even the bad critters have some good points, but also because we need to see that there will always be people who don't like our work (some for legitimate reasons) and we need to learn how to live with that.<br /><br />The thing that really makes Critters worthwhile though is of course the good readers- the ones who know how to review fiction and give constructive criticism. Better yet, some of them will really get our work. They'll appreciate it and understand it in a way that is really fulfilling for author and reader alike. That's not just about ego, either, as that understanding can be helpful in concrete ways.<br /><br />I can see why some authors don't think workshops are worth much, but I think they can be an effective initiation into professional writing for an author who approaches them with the right attitude. Like I said though, we outgrow them. that happens when we've developed our own process and discernment more, but also when we build up a good group of smart readers who know what we're trying to do and how to help. Not yes men by any means, but colleagues. It's that community that ultimately makes workshops worthwhile.<br /><br />I know that in this case I do consider you (Tony) to be one of my first and biggest fans, and you've been very helpful in multiple ways. I'm thankful for that and I'm glad to work with you.Edward L Cotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261808281615177237noreply@blogger.com