tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post4178516780471275632..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: The role of editor in an on-line worldJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-88876118477810518932012-07-25T21:32:05.372+10:002012-07-25T21:32:05.372+10:00Evan, you are just so right re proof reading!
kv...Evan, you are just so right re proof reading! <br /><br />kvd, Clare's latest post - http://reading-wild.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/temptation-in-literature.html. I am going to bring up the link plus earlier piece referred to in the main story, along with my reactions to tonight's course. <br /><br />Why thank you, Winton!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-2616746586033170782012-07-25T18:04:47.145+10:002012-07-25T18:04:47.145+10:00Forgot to put up this link, which is - sort of - o...Forgot to put up this link, which is - sort of - on topic:<br /><br />http://www.smh.com.au/national/in-the-frenzied-world-of-digitalfirst-news-a-quick-fix-is-essential-20120724-22n43.html<br /><br />It's a necessary improvement, but my idea of hell would be to be the poor sod who attended to readers' queries.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-89238088153452754442012-07-25T17:48:30.776+10:002012-07-25T17:48:30.776+10:00Good post, good discussion!Good post, good discussion!Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-62626211439645434772012-07-25T17:36:55.083+10:002012-07-25T17:36:55.083+10:00You can't proofread your own stuff. Other eye...You can't proofread your own stuff. Other eyes are needed.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-44525889512274895222012-07-25T17:33:12.306+10:002012-07-25T17:33:12.306+10:00Hi Jim
I've held off commenting on this piece...Hi Jim<br /><br />I've held off commenting on this piece, because I agree with you wholeheartedly, but wonder how to say (with best will) that I agree even more about your lovely daughter's grammar, and how it so distracts.<br /><br />Neil's piece was also very interesting, and he mentions some young up and coming fellow, but in the middle of what I assume was a direct quote we have "were goose-stepping <i>and had their hands rose</i> in a Hitler salute". As Neil said, the writer can write; but 'rose'? Maybe it's local parlance, but it was a minor irrit for this 'audience' and hence a distraction.<br /><br />And the weird thing is, when you posted this, I had just finished reading a very interesting article in 'The Conversation' about shark attacks in W.A. - but very much reduced in effectiveness by an obvious lack of anyone actually reading the piece after hitting 'submit'. Option (c) was converted to the copyright symbol maybe five times, and we were referred to some Florida based listing of 'shark attachs'.<br /><br />I think the editor role is very important, and I will be sorry to see it consumed by the needs of marketing. And the other irrit I have is that any time such very basic things as spelling and grammar are raised, I always feel somehow demeaned by politely making the point that it really, sometimes, does actually distract.<br /><br />kvd<br />ps all edits humbly accepted ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-23776279935232863492012-07-24T21:34:26.828+10:002012-07-24T21:34:26.828+10:00Good evening, Evan. I agree with you re distributi...Good evening, Evan. I agree with you re distribution. That's a common complain among authors and small publishers in the print field. Add to this reduction in the availability of outlets.<br /><br />Without justifying my position, let me outline my very tentative initial conclusions. <br /><br />First, the world of e-publishing holds out real e-publishing niche opportunities below the world of Amazon et all especially when combined with some physical production.<br /><br />Secondly, the aggregator should not be equated to the distributor except in the broadest sense as an interface between publisher and the the e-store. Amazon and kindle is an e-store. <br /><br />Thirdly, outside smash hits spread by almost viral marketing in areas like soft porn or management pop, the author will have to promote just as hard as now. <br /><br />Forth, the skills involved in getting good content and good presentation are at least as specialised as they are now. It's just that the payment point is shifting from traditional publisher and more to author.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-54273400793699925092012-07-24T21:13:06.419+10:002012-07-24T21:13:06.419+10:00Hi Jim, the limitations of the software are huge I...Hi Jim, the limitations of the software are huge I think.<br /><br />I did say the role had elements of editor still.<br /><br />The big advantage publishers had was distribution. I think this will be part of the mix too (not really what an agent did I suppose but related - instead of selling the book to a publisher it will be helping sell the book to customers I think - and perhaps giving advice about amazon and kindle and so forth)Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-80680316568395485392012-07-24T21:05:27.638+10:002012-07-24T21:05:27.638+10:00I'm inclined to disagree with you, Evan. As I ...I'm inclined to disagree with you, Evan. As I wend my way though the e-publishing maze, the more convinced I am that an editor, not a editor/agent, is essential. A good editor improves clarity for the medium in question, not just grammar as such, although Clare needs help here. This is a literary skill that can't be matched by a program. Then you have the limitations of e-publishing itself and of the programs such as e-pub. You actually have to be aware of these.<br /><br />I don't pretend in any way to be an expert, but the limitations seem to be significant, as is the need to be aware of simple things like scrolling and the impact of font variations, difficulty with wrap around text and so on.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-86548799734401844912012-07-24T09:27:19.363+10:002012-07-24T09:27:19.363+10:00I think the role may be a mix of agent and editor ...I think the role may be a mix of agent and editor (with less emphasis on grammar - you can get good programs for this (for a price!)) and a bit more strategy.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.com