Comments on: Toggling from editor to writer and back again http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:44:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Zakary http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18331 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:24:18 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18331 hi nice post, i enjoyed it hi nice post, i enjoyed it

]]> by: MaryK http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18121 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:52:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18121 Distance from my work is key for me. Distance from my work is key for me.

]]> by: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18083 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:30:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18083 The key to being as effective as possible is gaining "distance" from your work. I've a post on Flogging the Quill about ways to help with that. I'll put the link below, but if it doesn't work, Google "flogging the quill distance" (no quotes) and it should come up. http://www.floggingthequill.com/flogging_the_quill/2004/11/ideas_for_creat.html Ray The key to being as effective as possible is gaining “distance” from your work. I’ve a post on Flogging the Quill about ways to help with that. I’ll put the link below, but if it doesn’t work, Google “flogging the quill distance” (no quotes) and it should come up.

http://www.floggingthequill.com/flogging_the_quill/2004/11/ideas_for_creat.html

Ray

]]> by: Nienke http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18080 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:15:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18080 Hi Ray! I think it's easier to edit others (or criticize) than to edit ourselves. Any advice on how to be most effective in editing ourselves? Nienke Hi Ray!
I think it’s easier to edit others (or criticize) than to edit ourselves. Any advice on how to be most effective in editing ourselves?

Nienke

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18001 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:06:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18001 There ARE lots of bad commercials out there. I sit up and take notice when one surprises me into paying attention. You said: "Although I do consciously notice when I come to what Elmore Leonard calls “the parts you skip.”" Well there's something I'd like to hear more about. Maybe another blog post when you're up for it? There ARE lots of bad commercials out there. I sit up and take notice when one surprises me into paying attention.

You said: “Although I do consciously notice when I come to what Elmore Leonard calls “the parts you skip.””

Well there’s something I’d like to hear more about. Maybe another blog post when you’re up for it?

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18000 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:04:50 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-18000 You said: "Having your copy critiqued by a wide range of people on every assignment and researched for effectiveness has led, I think, to a reflexive assessment of how well a particular bit of language is doing its job, and then a sense of how to make it better—if need be, that is." Yes, yes and yes. I worked for a year as a staffer at Prevention Mag, and I learned so much during that time--particularly because any copy I produced had to go through so many hands. Sometimes the commentary was overwhelming, sometimes contradictory, but usually it was informative on some level. As a freelancer, I have less opportunity to receive this kind of feedback (aside from a generic but much appreciated: "Good one, thanks."). But writing nonfic articles at a rapid-fire pace has helped me to meld writer and editor; I don't have the time to turn off one for the other to take command. Not for long, in any case. Thanks for this post, Ray. Lots of good stuff here. And welcome to Writer Unboxed! It's great to have you on-board. You said: “Having your copy critiqued by a wide range of people on every assignment and researched for effectiveness has led, I think, to a reflexive assessment of how well a particular bit of language is doing its job, and then a sense of how to make it better—if need be, that is.”

Yes, yes and yes. I worked for a year as a staffer at Prevention Mag, and I learned so much during that time–particularly because any copy I produced had to go through so many hands. Sometimes the commentary was overwhelming, sometimes contradictory, but usually it was informative on some level.

As a freelancer, I have less opportunity to receive this kind of feedback (aside from a generic but much appreciated: “Good one, thanks.”). But writing nonfic articles at a rapid-fire pace has helped me to meld writer and editor; I don’t have the time to turn off one for the other to take command. Not for long, in any case.

Thanks for this post, Ray. Lots of good stuff here. And welcome to Writer Unboxed! It’s great to have you on-board.

]]> by: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17999 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:02:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17999 If the writing is of professional caliber, my editor self stays in its corner, probably taking notes on how the good guys/gals do it. But the second sloppy narrative or storytelling glitches (especially continuity) show up, I'm turned off and will probably not finish the book (unless the story is truly gripping). Although I do consciously notice when I come to what Elmore Leonard calls "the parts you skip." I spent a lot of time creating TV commercials in my previous life, and I still evaluate the commercials I see--it's reflexive. There are soooo many crummy ones. Ray If the writing is of professional caliber, my editor self stays in its corner, probably taking notes on how the good guys/gals do it.

But the second sloppy narrative or storytelling glitches (especially continuity) show up, I’m turned off and will probably not finish the book (unless the story is truly gripping).

Although I do consciously notice when I come to what Elmore Leonard calls “the parts you skip.”

I spent a lot of time creating TV commercials in my previous life, and I still evaluate the commercials I see–it’s reflexive. There are soooo many crummy ones.

Ray

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17997 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:36:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17997 Do you ever turn off the "internal" editor when you read a book? I have a hard time with that. Sometimes when I read an incompetent novel, I start re-writing it. Do you ever turn off the “internal” editor when you read a book? I have a hard time with that. Sometimes when I read an incompetent novel, I start re-writing it.

]]> by: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17996 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:25:03 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17996 Thea, the answer is yes and no. I have no difficulty in line-editing my text--a sentence is a sentence is a sentence. The hard part is gaining enough distance to see flaws on the storytelling side--too much exposition, lack of pace, etc. Letting lots of time elapse helps, but I never get there. I've posted novel openings that nagged at me as somehow being not right on Flogging the Quill, and insights from readers have been a huge help. I also get help from critique group members. Ray Thea, the answer is yes and no. I have no difficulty in line-editing my text–a sentence is a sentence is a sentence.

The hard part is gaining enough distance to see flaws on the storytelling side–too much exposition, lack of pace, etc. Letting lots of time elapse helps, but I never get there.

I’ve posted novel openings that nagged at me as somehow being not right on Flogging the Quill, and insights from readers have been a huge help. I also get help from critique group members.

Ray

]]> by: theamcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17989 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:39:47 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/15/toggling-from-editor-to-writer-and-back-again/#comment-17989 thanks, ray. i think i've learned the most about writing during the editing process, as torturous as it can be at times. and giving the examples of how to 'show' the eeriness rather than just say eerie is how i have learned to write. (not that i'm saying i now do things particularly well; i am still in a deep learning phase). having read your flogging blog, what i like about your style of editing and critique is that you have chosen to make it a learning experience as opposed to a slaying experience. i have known many budding writers that have stopped writing after a devastating editing/critiquing experience. one question on your mastery of toggling: is it still hard for you to edit your own work, even though you have so much experience with the editing process? thanks, ray. i think i’ve learned the most about writing during the editing process, as torturous as it can be at times. and giving the examples of how to ’show’ the eeriness rather than just say eerie is how i have learned to write. (not that i’m saying i now do things particularly well; i am still in a deep learning phase). having read your flogging blog, what i like about your style of editing and critique is that you have chosen to make it a learning experience as opposed to a slaying experience. i have known many budding writers that have stopped writing after a devastating editing/critiquing experience. one question on your mastery of toggling: is it still hard for you to edit your own work, even though you have so much experience with the editing process?

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