Re: Editing issues

**"bbmackey" b*@prodigy.net**

As a writer and editor, I may as well jump into the discussion.

Just after college I was a copy editor at a publishing house and learned
about house style plus language standards and conventions.

Later, home with babies, I became a freelance writer. My ability to turn in
a clean manuscript to an editor was a help. But I would sometimes
overexplain or over reach. It can be hard to see one's own errors.

I've written magazine and newspaper articles and several books. My all-time
favorite editor is Jean Byrne, retired editor of Green Scene Magazine. She
subtly fixed whatever was wrong, but I still sounded like myself.

Now I edit books written by others, who have two to three levels of
manuscript review in which to complain if they disagree with any of the
editing. Right, Nellie Neal?

One of my main tasks as editor is to ask for more, not less. Sometimes
additional topics or points should be covered, so I ask the writer to supply
more text. Or, in the case of one book, I asked (in the outline phase)
Monica Brandies, the author, to visit expert herb growers in person in a
number of different areas, and write up the visits in special chapters. It
was a lot of trouble for her, but she agreed that it would be good for the
book. I joined  her on one of these treks and we had a wonderful time.

It's a great thing when the editor and writer can cooperate for a better
outcome than either could produce alone.

Betty

Betty Mackey, Publisher
B. B. Mackey Books
P. O. Box 475
Wayne, PA 19087
bbmackey@prodigy.net

http://www.mackeybooks.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <FRIELSTER@aol.com>
To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 9:02 AM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Editing issues

> Marge writes,
>
> "Let us assume the given that the "author" has the ability to write in
good
> form and an interesting manner to begin with."
>
> Sorry, Marge, that's too large an assumption. In the green industries
> especially, many publications prefer working with someone who really knows
his or her
> subject, be it orchids or hydroponics, over a good writer who doesn't.
That
> involves a LOT of editing.
>
> "What do you all see as the purpose of an editor?"
>
> Editors are necessary evils who serve many purposes, e.g., making sure
their
> readers get their money's worth from the articles they publish, and
keeping
> their publications and their writers from getting sued more often than
necessary.
>
> "The two articles I have had published in print media..."
>
> If you ever decide to try selling more than those two, you'll have to see
> magazines and editors for what they are: Customers. And then you have to
learn to
> produce a product that the customer wants to buy.
>
> Writers write. Editors edit.
>
> Get over it and move on to the next story.
>
> JF
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