Re: Article length

**"* P* <R*@comcast.net>**

Peter,

I totally agree. If an editor wants the article shortened, I shorten it. I
have had editors just truncate the article...or change the meaning
completely by deleting important information. Oh yes...I prefer to "fix" or
change it myself!

Sandie Parrott
Clarkston, Michigan
Writer & Photographer
Website: www.SandieParrott.com
Subscribe to my Travel and Garden Blog: http://skparrott.wordpress.com
Phone: 248-394-1532

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Peter Garnham
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 7:24 PM
To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [GWL] Article length

My regular Organic Approach column for Horticulture (sorry, Andrew, but
while my pieces are short I don't think they are either inconsequential or
or limited value!) is nominally 400 words. I like that length for the
column, which is designed to introduce readers who garden "conventionally"
-- that is, with chemicals -- to other less hazardous ways of doing things.
I get a nice big photo, or series of photos, to show what I'm writing about.
If a subject needs more, I do a feature for the magazine.

One thousand words . . . oh, just acres to roll around in! If it can't be
written in 1,000 words maybe it should become two separate pieces.

I've spent more time as a copy editor, factchecker, and editor than as a
writer, and to be honest I think some writers (only some!) benefit from the
discipline of writing to a shorter length than they might prefer. And if
something I wrote had to be severely reduced, I would never let anyone else
do it if they offered me that opportunity!

Peter Garnham
editor@hamptons.com
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters