This is hilarious, and oh so relatable. As someone who’s new to writing world, I’m definitely experiencing it. I find it difficult to edit my document and not to mention the fact that I feel every word written by me is master piece. Oh well! Getting there.
You put a big smile on my face when I read your comment before bed last night. Thank you so much!
I know the feeling. I've been there -- probably, I'm still there. Like you said, oh well!
What is it they say about learning a new language? "You have to immerse yourself" / "Spend a year in the a [language]-speaking country and you'll learn in no time."
I've found the same to apply to writing. Immerse yourself. Spend years in the country of letters. Things slowly but surely start to click. I'm not sure the learning is every "done," per se. But that's the beautiful thing.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Have an excellent day :) :)
That’s probably because I was smiling the whole time while reading your article. Look at us, spreading smiles and making world a better place! Haha!
What you wrote about “immersing oneself” makes perfect sense to me. I’m in that place. You wrote everything that I was thinking with respect to writing with perfect clarity. I’m learning to just write, get the words flowing, finding my voice, etc. It’s beautiful, indeed! Looking forward to read other stuff from you.
I have really enjoyed working with some good editors, and learned a lot from them. I learned how to get what I want from editors by giving them what they want. When I first started writing for newspapers and magazines, it was to promote the sport of Landyachting. I got a small book out of the library I called the sports editor of New Zealand's national editor and asked for his advice. Next thing you know he takes me into his newsroom and shows me exactly how it all works, the pile of stories that were coming in by the minute. He told me what he needed and I was the only person who had actually gone to him and asked him. It was a huge success which resulted in amazing coverage for our sport, including international TV shows coming down watch us race, as well as international sports magazines. Shortly after that, in my corporate role, I sacked our retained writing agency and took over writing my own stories. You've reminded me of another story I need to write lol. I have had some great editors, who have helped me. I would also affirm, editing your own work is very difficult. I've had columns which were untouched by editors, because people liked my style, which was often conversational, but I've also had sage advice from people who helped me grow.
I love this. Told with great wit too! Editing our own work is so difficult. There are a tools that can help with spelling and grammar but they can equally be distracting and cramp our writing style.
Thank you, Roland! I agree. For better or worse, I've turned off spell-check and suggestions in my Google Docs, forcing myself to catch everything. This is probably a bad idea for the rudimentary stuff, but I break a lot of rules in my writing and I don't like seeing red and blue lines all over the place. Wishing you happy writing (and editing) :)
I was grateful to read this tonight, thank you for sharing. I actually had some good belly laughs in a couple spots. The seppuku bit really got me. I have this great visual now to catch myself when I’m being a “two-hat wearing idiot.”
There is nothing that makes me happier than when someone tells me my rambling may have spurred a laugh. Thank you so much, Jeannie! And, yes, I too see myself wearing too hats too often, and yes, it is idiotic. But alas. We try our best. Hope all is well. Glad to have e-met you. Have a great weekend :) Catch you on the flip.
Its insane how the experience differs from scientific publications. I edit the articles my students and postdocs write, but only because I supervised the work, and not because I am a trained for it. Naturally, the experience is much less profound and eye-opening for the writers. I guess the scientific profession barely teaches us to write effectively, much less edit. And definitely no copywriters. Once I started writing on Substack, I discovered I love to write. Which isn't surprising in itself, unless you consider I have a dozen published articles, but loathed writing them.
My biggest realization? If you don't like writing, its likely because you are not allowed to be truly creative. I wish we had a Bennett to give us the right motivation, but oh well...
No editor, unfortunately. But I'm glad you thought so.
It's very interesting to hear about your scientific background. I hadn't thought much about the difference in writing, although I will admit to noticing most research papers are rather dry and rather dense. They probably should be dense, but must they be dry, too?
I love your realization, and I'm so happy for you to have a place to be creative now. Keep going. You clearly have a lot to say, as your little comment has given me a lot to think about. Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful reply.
I think dryness is a feature - not a bug - of academics making all the gory details available for reproducible research. But that is antithetical to the creative enterprise.
In contrast, good research presentations have humor, sarcasm and emotion: and these are better received than papers. Why? My answer is the "talk" format emphasizes on distilling the details and focusing on the big picture storytelling, where our personalities can shine through. Therefore, distillation breeds creativity? I dunno. That is why I like following trained writers like you to develop my craft. Looking forward to more!
You're right, D'Nivra. I love reading your comments. They are dripping with deep thought. As you say, I think it's "story" and "storytelling" that transform facts and statements something of a higher order. I'm sure we could ramble about this topic forever. Until next time! Lol. Have a great weekend :)
Great article! I will need an editor for my memoir in progress. Should I wait till its done ( God knows when) or do this soon to improve my writing & my own editing process?
Hi, Susan! Thank you so much for reading. Ultimately, of course, this is your call. But standard procedure is to give the work all you've got on your own -- to do your artwork. Then, when you're finished, and after you've edited a few times to get it just right, you share with an editor for yet another overhaul.
Here's (I think) why:
1) An editor is just that, an editor. Not a writer. They are there to improve your piece, not shape it necessarily.
2) Editing takes time. An editor will probably be less willing to look at something unfinished. They will want the THING to exist, so that they can help cut off the excess or add to it where it needs adding.
3) Editing costs money, money that will be best spent if your piece is already finished and the goal is clear: edit, not write. And if a publisher is paying for the editor, the only way that has been made possible is if the publisher has read your (rough) finished piece and decided to publish.
So, overall, I think your best bet is to try to "finish" before considering an editor. I hope that's helpful :)
Matt, So do you take in laundry and do a little editing on the side? I'm working on a book ... actually an autobiography for a friend. Been published since 88, got a book self published in 2016 It would be good to finish before we expire, I'm 80 and he's 92. Actually it's a good book but there will be a point where I need a read... and a publisher if you're in the mood... Can't thank you enough for just popping up like this. Fuzz
As an editor, I approve of this post. ;-)
Uh oh! I didn't know there was an editor in our midst. Hope I got it (somewhat) right. All hail you. Editors are lifesavers <3
Well, officially I'm retired, but once an editor, always an editor. As they say. "Lifesaver" is kind of you; most people would call me bossy. :-)
This is hilarious, and oh so relatable. As someone who’s new to writing world, I’m definitely experiencing it. I find it difficult to edit my document and not to mention the fact that I feel every word written by me is master piece. Oh well! Getting there.
PS: I love your vibe, energy and writing style.
You put a big smile on my face when I read your comment before bed last night. Thank you so much!
I know the feeling. I've been there -- probably, I'm still there. Like you said, oh well!
What is it they say about learning a new language? "You have to immerse yourself" / "Spend a year in the a [language]-speaking country and you'll learn in no time."
I've found the same to apply to writing. Immerse yourself. Spend years in the country of letters. Things slowly but surely start to click. I'm not sure the learning is every "done," per se. But that's the beautiful thing.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Have an excellent day :) :)
That’s probably because I was smiling the whole time while reading your article. Look at us, spreading smiles and making world a better place! Haha!
What you wrote about “immersing oneself” makes perfect sense to me. I’m in that place. You wrote everything that I was thinking with respect to writing with perfect clarity. I’m learning to just write, get the words flowing, finding my voice, etc. It’s beautiful, indeed! Looking forward to read other stuff from you.
Have a lovely weekend!
I have really enjoyed working with some good editors, and learned a lot from them. I learned how to get what I want from editors by giving them what they want. When I first started writing for newspapers and magazines, it was to promote the sport of Landyachting. I got a small book out of the library I called the sports editor of New Zealand's national editor and asked for his advice. Next thing you know he takes me into his newsroom and shows me exactly how it all works, the pile of stories that were coming in by the minute. He told me what he needed and I was the only person who had actually gone to him and asked him. It was a huge success which resulted in amazing coverage for our sport, including international TV shows coming down watch us race, as well as international sports magazines. Shortly after that, in my corporate role, I sacked our retained writing agency and took over writing my own stories. You've reminded me of another story I need to write lol. I have had some great editors, who have helped me. I would also affirm, editing your own work is very difficult. I've had columns which were untouched by editors, because people liked my style, which was often conversational, but I've also had sage advice from people who helped me grow.
I love this. Told with great wit too! Editing our own work is so difficult. There are a tools that can help with spelling and grammar but they can equally be distracting and cramp our writing style.
Thank you, Roland! I agree. For better or worse, I've turned off spell-check and suggestions in my Google Docs, forcing myself to catch everything. This is probably a bad idea for the rudimentary stuff, but I break a lot of rules in my writing and I don't like seeing red and blue lines all over the place. Wishing you happy writing (and editing) :)
Thank you Matt
I was grateful to read this tonight, thank you for sharing. I actually had some good belly laughs in a couple spots. The seppuku bit really got me. I have this great visual now to catch myself when I’m being a “two-hat wearing idiot.”
There is nothing that makes me happier than when someone tells me my rambling may have spurred a laugh. Thank you so much, Jeannie! And, yes, I too see myself wearing too hats too often, and yes, it is idiotic. But alas. We try our best. Hope all is well. Glad to have e-met you. Have a great weekend :) Catch you on the flip.
Well written (With an editor's help, perhaps?) !
Its insane how the experience differs from scientific publications. I edit the articles my students and postdocs write, but only because I supervised the work, and not because I am a trained for it. Naturally, the experience is much less profound and eye-opening for the writers. I guess the scientific profession barely teaches us to write effectively, much less edit. And definitely no copywriters. Once I started writing on Substack, I discovered I love to write. Which isn't surprising in itself, unless you consider I have a dozen published articles, but loathed writing them.
My biggest realization? If you don't like writing, its likely because you are not allowed to be truly creative. I wish we had a Bennett to give us the right motivation, but oh well...
No editor, unfortunately. But I'm glad you thought so.
It's very interesting to hear about your scientific background. I hadn't thought much about the difference in writing, although I will admit to noticing most research papers are rather dry and rather dense. They probably should be dense, but must they be dry, too?
I love your realization, and I'm so happy for you to have a place to be creative now. Keep going. You clearly have a lot to say, as your little comment has given me a lot to think about. Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful reply.
Have a great week :)
Matt
I think dryness is a feature - not a bug - of academics making all the gory details available for reproducible research. But that is antithetical to the creative enterprise.
In contrast, good research presentations have humor, sarcasm and emotion: and these are better received than papers. Why? My answer is the "talk" format emphasizes on distilling the details and focusing on the big picture storytelling, where our personalities can shine through. Therefore, distillation breeds creativity? I dunno. That is why I like following trained writers like you to develop my craft. Looking forward to more!
You're right, D'Nivra. I love reading your comments. They are dripping with deep thought. As you say, I think it's "story" and "storytelling" that transform facts and statements something of a higher order. I'm sure we could ramble about this topic forever. Until next time! Lol. Have a great weekend :)
Great article! I will need an editor for my memoir in progress. Should I wait till its done ( God knows when) or do this soon to improve my writing & my own editing process?
Hi, Susan! Thank you so much for reading. Ultimately, of course, this is your call. But standard procedure is to give the work all you've got on your own -- to do your artwork. Then, when you're finished, and after you've edited a few times to get it just right, you share with an editor for yet another overhaul.
Here's (I think) why:
1) An editor is just that, an editor. Not a writer. They are there to improve your piece, not shape it necessarily.
2) Editing takes time. An editor will probably be less willing to look at something unfinished. They will want the THING to exist, so that they can help cut off the excess or add to it where it needs adding.
3) Editing costs money, money that will be best spent if your piece is already finished and the goal is clear: edit, not write. And if a publisher is paying for the editor, the only way that has been made possible is if the publisher has read your (rough) finished piece and decided to publish.
So, overall, I think your best bet is to try to "finish" before considering an editor. I hope that's helpful :)
very enjoyable and informative. Your writing is clearly benefitting from the 2 hat system.
Thanks so much, Fred. Maybe sometimes. Two-hat matt.
Matt, So do you take in laundry and do a little editing on the side? I'm working on a book ... actually an autobiography for a friend. Been published since 88, got a book self published in 2016 It would be good to finish before we expire, I'm 80 and he's 92. Actually it's a good book but there will be a point where I need a read... and a publisher if you're in the mood... Can't thank you enough for just popping up like this. Fuzz
Thank you! Yes, very helpful! Enjoy your writing time!