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RE: flashpoint of the week: editors and writers egos
Subject:RE: flashpoint of the week: editors and writers egos From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 16 Mar 2004 10:06:04 -0800
Quoting John Posada <JPosada -at- isogon -dot- com>:
> If you are editing a writer's content from anywhere other than an
> objective position, then all bets are off and you deserve all the grief
> and headaches that the writers can bestow on you
There's a difference between giving some consideration to the writer and
holding back on the criticism - especially when it's to your benefit to show
consideration, and/or when you're not dealing with professional writers.
If I tell someone, "This stinks on ice because it has a faulty pronoun
reference," I'm just as likely to get hostility as the changes made. But if I
explain what a pronoun reference is with some patience, I almost always get the
changes made. Sometimes, I even manage to teach the writer so that he or she
doesn't make the same mistake again. Yet, even in the worst case scenario, by
showing some consideration, I can generally prevent personalities getting in
the way of editing.
In fact, I find that I can get many people to accept very harsh criticism with
a little diplomacy.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604-421.7177
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