One of the first things I did when I started learning how to be an editor was proofreading. This is the last step in the editorial process before a manuscript goes to the printing press. It’s been through developmental editing and rewrite; it’s been through copyedit and all the words are approved; it’s been typeset. Now we have actual pages that look like what a reader will see.
The publisher sends these printouts (a first-pass proof) to several proofreaders—let’s say three, though I’ve seen more—who mark up the pages with a red pen. Proofreaders are the publisher’s last line of defense; they are all that stands between the printer and the reader with a sharp eye. (You can read more about this here.)
When the proofed pages come back, the marks are consolidated by an editorial assistant; they will be sent to the typesetter for correction. But let’s pause here for a Big Life Lesson, shall we?
On occasion I was both proofer and editorial assistant. This means I got to look at the work of other proofers and compare it to my own. One would think—wouldn’t one?—that these three or more sets of notes would be pretty much the same. (Especially if one is under the impression that she’s pretty clever when it comes to all things Word.) So you can imagine my mortification when I routinely discovered some other proofer had caught things I had, well, missed.
Oh, the humanity.* (In fairness, each of us caught most and missed a few.)
This makes me cautious, now, as I write these little articles. I research. I parse. I write and rewrite. And even so I run into people who feel the need to make me be wrong when I’m perfectly capable of being wrong all on my own. Read down the list of comments in my most popular post and you’ll see what I mean (and if you view the comment stream about it on Reddit you may need to take a Valium). Often these commenters have misread or misunderstood my words, but they are very convinced of their rightness and my wrongness.
That’s OK; I’ve been guilty of that myself. And I’m a mom; I can take a little guff—which is why I’ve left those comments up. More recently, though, I got a long (330 words) comment on a different post that I ended up removing … because every single thing this gentleman (who billed himself as a publisher/editor) said was in error. He contradicted everything I said. (Complete with the words, “Editor, edit thyself.” Oh. My.) I read it, did my Hugh-Grant-raised-eyebrow impression, wondered if I really had been getting it wrong all these years … and then I deleted it. 🙂
There’s just not room for both of us in this blog, cowboy.
I thought about all this today because an editor friend of mine posted a little Facebook rant about authors who double space after periods. Predictably, some of her friends were outraged (outraged!) to learn we don’t do that any more. “Who says we don’t?”—I once had an author say that to me over this very issue.
What is it about human nature that makes us certain nothing in this life changes? And that we are always, always right? What is it about human nature that makes us into the smart-mouthed, judgmental people who leave snippy comments on Amazon or blog posts? In the comments of this fun post from Jon Acuff, it was noted that some folks just want to stir things up (trolls) and others want to use the platform for their own voice. (This is precisely what my publisher cowboy wanted.)
I don’t have an official comments policy, but I strive to be like industry expert Jane Friedman, who is unfailingly gracious, even to people who misread or, it seems, willfully misunderstand. (Have a look at the comments on this post and you’ll see what I mean.) All this fight-picking wearies me, even when it’s not me being criticized.
Don’t get me wrong—I love a lively conversation. And I’d like to see more comments on my posts, not fewer. (So speak up, for heaven’s sake!) We don’t have to agree, as long as we’re polite. Though I’m pretty sure I’m right. 🙂
* This phrase, often used ironically, amused me so much I looked it up. Did you know it originates from the decidedly unironic news coverage of the 1937 Hindenburg disaster? I didn’t.
Tweet: Haters … gotta love ’em, right? We don’t have to agree, as long as we’re polite.
Tweet: Commenters have misread or misunderstood, but they are convinced of their rightness & my wrongness.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
All this makes me sigh. Right now, we have a production team, including our production editors, who are going through the latest Chicago Manual of Style, chapter by chapter, section by section, to make sure everyone’s up on what’s changed, where it varies from our house style, etc. I sat in on a couple of meetings, and was amazed at their dedication to make everything consistent with the work.
But I’m also amazed at how often people confuse GRAMMAR with STYLE. Pronoun/antecedent and subject/verb agreement issues are GRAMMAR. Two periods after punctuation and the Oxford comma are STYLE. Grammar changes, usually more slowly than style, which can vary drastically between houses and stylebooks. For instance, who DOESN’T use the Oxford comma? At least two stylebooks that I know of as well as two publishers.
Why do people get mad? Ego. When we believed something for many years, we feel like fools if proven wrong, even though what we believed WAS right at one time. Especially if it was never right. Somewhere along the way we’ve started believing that being wrong equated being stupid, when nothing is further from the truth.
Then again, I’ve had people get mad at me because I took an extra 30 seconds leaving McDonald’s so I could buy a street paper from a sidewalk vendor. I guess it’s because their time is so much more valuable than mine or the vendor’s.
Haters gonna hate, my friend. Too true.
🙂
I think the wordsmiths of the world have their talent encoded in their DNA, and the haters are just feeling left out. I once had to reconsider my relationship with sweet my sister in law after she turned into a vicious rival in a game of scrabble that left my ego in shambles.
It’s all very interesting to me, this need to be right. As long as the written word remains the most efficient vehicle for the expression of ideas, we need the rules, rule-makers, and the wordsmiths; but it’s a tough job. Haters gonna hate, and the rest of us write post-it notes and file away numerous blog posts from favorite editors under files called, ‘reference,’ and have to work really hard to get it 98% correct.
Agreed! For a business that is so hard to get into and so full of heartbreak, there are sure a lot of people who want to be IN it! 🙂
(And re games: I have a hard time with anything competitive these days. I get too nervous! Give me my solitary jigsaw puzzle, please!)
ACK?! Dear editor why is there no edit button for comments? Above should read, “…my sweet sister-in-law” and the irony is not lost on me. Laughing now!
This made me smile this morning. 🙂
Perhaps the writer distraught over having to go from two to one space after a period doesn’t know about control-f and how easy find/replace can magically change two spaces to one.
It certainly made my life easier! 🙂
Honestly, adults (and I’m using that term loosely) don’t like to be told they’re wrong. And I’m sympathetic to that. But I also don’t argue with my doctor. Or my accountant. But yes, fixing the double space problem IS easy. 🙂
I. Love. This. Post!
Annnnd I especially loved “There’s just not room for both of us in this blog, cowboy.” Preach it, Jamie! *giggle*
As Jon Acuff indicated and I agree–I think there are folks who live to disprove just for the sake of argument. And those who get a real kick out of correcting the editor. And also those who want to push their own agenda, have egos stroked, or their platform elevated. Need I go on? Probably not.
I’ve learned more from you than I have from my mountain of craft books. And that’s saying a lot. 😉 What I adore: Your mirth. Your spirit. Your tenacity. Your unwavering desire to help and teach (even when it hurts. *gulp*)
Don’t ever change. And keep the gems coming! (((HUGS)))
And in case anyone is wondering… No, Jamie is not my editor. And no–this is not a paid promo.
You just made my day. Thank you. 🙂
Jamie, I was tempted to offer a Shakespeare play title to characterize the Proximate Causes of so much sound and fury. But then I read your Hindenburg confession…and alls I can say is y’all have GOT to watch more TV!
Hahaha. Much Ado About Nothing sprang to my thoughts immediately, a play I’ve just recently watched on video and is, in part, about people who criticize because they love and others who are merely jealous and want to cause trouble. 🙂 Or perhaps I should just take it literally.
You nailed it. Much ado indeed…though we who wield the pen struggle to avoid that rabbit hole.
Yeah, but at least I got a blog post out of it. 🙂
Yepper. Lemons –> Lemonade.