tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3340831264933167750.post1102851316679871410..comments2022-05-02T09:13:40.331-06:00Comments on the lithium press: No More Harper LeesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3340831264933167750.post-45854484134956258872011-03-19T01:14:21.416-06:002011-03-19T01:14:21.416-06:00Hocking discusses how terribly difficult it is for...Hocking discusses how terribly difficult it is for her to secure good editing. It's murder. I know a dozen or so copy editors personally, but only two will do what I call substantive editing (improve your writing). Both are very difficult people to work with, and only one is really gifted. He's also a chaired professor of law who attended Oxford on a Fullbright. Not someone you can just hire to help you. I sometimes assist my authors with substantive editing, but I hate it, am not good at it, and find it supremely exhausting. We employ five copy editors, but all they do is conform to style, proof, and do layouts. My impression is that most other publishers in our tier do not do much more, and even at that, everyone is cutting editors. It's by far the largest expense in publishing.<br /><br />I think all authors have no choice but learn to edit their own work, and trade edits for edits. Publishers can only afford to take on work that is just "promising" during fat times. No more of those.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll join your circle of proofers, if that is ever useful to you. It's the one editorial task I'm solidly decent at. I almost always take last read for our publications.carl ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14291193391743469159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3340831264933167750.post-88726947879906449892011-03-18T14:53:30.766-06:002011-03-18T14:53:30.766-06:00I think the worst part of the future of books comb...I think the worst part of the future of books combines in the lack of professional editing and in the collapse of filters.<br /><br />Moderns counter that argument with: "Well, I've read some poorly-edited books and some really crappy books, so the current editing and filtering we've got isn't working all that great."<br /><br />I'd agree with that -- but as you say the professional editing and filtering of most e-books is nonexistent, so how are things getting any better? (The best-edited e-books out there started in the traditional printed-book realm.)<br /><br />I'm afraid the future of publishing is going to go the way of journalism. Michelle got a post from one of her masters professors who says there's a new prof of journalism at USU working on helping the students make the transition from print to web, and who also advocates that they take on journalism as a hobby rather than as a profession. I'm worried in the future I'll be looking for a "hobbyist" editor. Or maybe I'll be one of those hobbyist editors. And they definitely will be looking for authors who are doing their own marketing.<br /><br />No more Harper Lees? I hope not, but I believe you're right.Mister Fweemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339287419996343926noreply@blogger.com