tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post8731722353081204556..comments2024-03-07T19:11:21.715-06:00Comments on Sandra Ulbrich Almazan: Speculative Fiction Author: Guest Post: Get Thee To An Editor (Maria Zannini)Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-4515564025394364912011-07-26T15:04:59.668-05:002011-07-26T15:04:59.668-05:00Precision Editing: Happy to do it. I know you guys...Precision Editing: Happy to do it. I know you guys do quality work.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-69121496235329743262011-07-26T14:22:31.074-05:002011-07-26T14:22:31.074-05:00Maria, Thanks for the link luv (Precision Editing)...Maria, Thanks for the link luv (Precision Editing). Very insightful points!Precision Editing Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17054725687044240043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-14498065211368939802011-07-15T12:36:49.256-05:002011-07-15T12:36:49.256-05:00Sarita: Nice to see you here! Thanks for coming ov...Sarita: Nice to see you here! Thanks for coming over.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-10744266563875661422011-07-15T07:05:26.790-05:002011-07-15T07:05:26.790-05:00Informative post. Thank you, Maria.Informative post. Thank you, Maria.Sarita Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09236262575377618259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-21009122884579172962011-07-14T17:27:10.580-05:002011-07-14T17:27:10.580-05:00I like that name "Movie Proofers" sounds...I like that name "Movie Proofers" sounds kind of snarky, and we do need a support group but doubt it exists Maria... Always like to follow you around, learn something new every post...Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02181111718630957098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-42320361495823514332011-07-14T17:16:49.911-05:002011-07-14T17:16:49.911-05:00Jackie: Do you think there's a support group f...Jackie: Do you think there's a support group for people like us? Movie proofers. :) Thanks for visiting me here.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-71662423631178179922011-07-14T14:21:06.074-05:002011-07-14T14:21:06.074-05:00Interesting and informative post Maria, really sad...Interesting and informative post Maria, really sad as a nit picker at the movies myself when I find errors like a cell phone ringing in the background during a big budget western or sci-fi flick and non essential bodies roaming around in the background occasionally in scenes in movies where you would think perfection would be easy to come by as much as the movie cost to make!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02181111718630957098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-37598677776051962272011-07-14T13:36:15.950-05:002011-07-14T13:36:15.950-05:00Sandra, yes the differences are quite large. Havin...Sandra, yes the differences are quite large. Having lived in the US for ten years I have an appreciation for the depth of the cultural differences between the US and the UK. British and American writing reflects those cultural differences as well, and those parts are probably harder to judge when it comes to editorial choices.Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-10176148651512268612011-07-14T13:33:39.253-05:002011-07-14T13:33:39.253-05:00Maria, thank you so much for the follow up. That&#...Maria, thank you so much for the follow up. That's an interesting response, and seems quite appropriate. <br /><br />My target would be to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, including Europe and US, but not to have my nationality erased from my writing. That's a fine balance which needs trust with an editor. <br /><br />Plenty of publishers edit differently for US and British audiences. As an example, the Harry Potter books, bought from amazon.com are different from the same books bought from amazon.co.uk. They've been translated into American. I'm not clear that's the best way to go, though.Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-71864958349397093992011-07-14T13:15:27.476-05:002011-07-14T13:15:27.476-05:00Sarah: Developmental edits don't change your s...Sarah: Developmental edits don't change your story--or at least they shouldn't. They enhance it, giving it richness and depth.<br /><br />Sandra: I think because I critique authors from Britain and Australia, I don't even notice the punctuation differences anymore. I know for their market, the absent periods after 'Mr' or Mrs' and the single quotes are perfectly correct.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-73092408649755986412011-07-14T12:08:06.343-05:002011-07-14T12:08:06.343-05:00Hi Tony,
The differences between Americans and Br...Hi Tony,<br /><br />The differences between Americans and Brits isn't just a matter of spelling and word choice. I just started reading <i>Eats, Shoots & Leaves,</i> and the British author does mention that there are punctuation differences between the two countries.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-711416426866517842011-07-14T12:05:45.757-05:002011-07-14T12:05:45.757-05:00I guess I'll be the dissenting voice here, as ...I guess I'll be the dissenting voice here, as usual. I think copy edits are important. It is essential that your grammar, spelling and sentence structure be as perfect as possible. And when readers complain about "bad editing", I think this is what they mean, bad grammar and spelling. But I do not think that anyone should ever have their book edited for story unless they are being paid for it. (In other words, your book is being traditionally published, the publisher is paying you and they edit your book and request changes.) As soon as you let someone else, professional or not, edit your story line by line and tell you how you should improve it, you're no longer the story's writer. That's my opinion, anyway.Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-17904834024517725942011-07-14T11:56:07.417-05:002011-07-14T11:56:07.417-05:00Tony: I contacted my editor at Carina Press, Debor...Tony: I contacted my editor at Carina Press, Deborah Nemeth and asked her your question.<br /><br />This is an excerpt from her email to me: <br /><br />"Your instinct is on target that it's probably a good idea to have an editor who's familiar with the market. If a book is going to be sold in the US, it's not a bad thing to have a US editor. But it's best to have one who's got some experience with the spelling conventions and expressions of the author's native country. <br /><br />What I try to do is retain the flavor and expressions of the author's native country, while making sure these expressions can be figured out by context, and suggesting revisions when there might be difficulty in comprehension. Unless of course it's a Brit writing about American characters in an American setting, when of course the editor needs to make sure American phrasing replaces British." <br /><br />I hope that helps.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-54102217921192325982011-07-14T11:35:01.335-05:002011-07-14T11:35:01.335-05:00Maria, thank you. I might contact Deanna and see w...Maria, thank you. I might contact Deanna and see what she thinks of this issue. Can't hurt to ask.Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-89799771399199123012011-07-14T10:31:56.181-05:002011-07-14T10:31:56.181-05:00Tony: Deanna Hoak is an American if I'm not mi...Tony: Deanna Hoak is an American if I'm not mistaken.<br /><br />But you brought up a most fascinating question about British and American editors. I think the way to look at it is not so much on whether they can edit you, but what markets they serve.<br /><br />As the market is usually global, you want someone who has an ear for both cultures. I have a friend on the other side of the world who keenly feels the effects of American vs British/Aussie editors. But she writes for a publisher that caters to both the North American market and European. <br /><br />It takes an exceptional editor to know both cultures and what each comprehends.<br /><br />This is a really excellent question. I think I might do a little sleuthing to learn more. Thanks!Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-31209845011828235562011-07-14T10:23:54.744-05:002011-07-14T10:23:54.744-05:00Angelina: I usually give a book a couple of chance...Angelina: I usually give a book a couple of chances, but I find I'm not as forgiving as I used to be.<br /><br />Raelyn: Exactly. I even catch nitpicky stuff during the credits of multi-million dollar movies. (drives my husband crazy when I point them out)<br /><br />Goofs happen. The trick is to have as few as possible.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-10622528674206971562011-07-14T09:51:10.570-05:002011-07-14T09:51:10.570-05:00Hi Sandra *waves*
Maria, I enjoyed this post. It&...Hi Sandra *waves*<br /><br />Maria, I enjoyed this post. It's a subject I've been wondering about and I too consider it of paramount importance. I was interested by your mention of Deanna Hoak. I looked at her blog and she seems like a great person to consider for the task. What I can't see on her blog is any indication of her nationality. Do you happen to know? I realise it sounds like a strange question, but I'd guess an American editor would be most suitable for an American author, and in my case a British editor for a British author. Any thoughts?Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-63938168665756558092011-07-14T09:30:19.466-05:002011-07-14T09:30:19.466-05:00Excellent tips!
The nit-picky stuff will make me...Excellent tips! <br /><br />The nit-picky stuff will make me grit my teeth while reading but the big stuff will pull me right out of the story. I'm not quite as unforgiving as Angelina about not buying but authors/publishing houses have three strikes or they're out.<br /><br />Thanks for the links as well, Maria.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-3294050178586617352011-07-14T08:03:38.520-05:002011-07-14T08:03:38.520-05:00Great post, Maria.
Editors are so important. When...Great post, Maria.<br /><br />Editors are so important. Whenever I read a good book with horrible editing, I never buy anything from that publisher again as they couldn't hire a decent editor. <br /><br />Thanks for all this information.Angelina Rainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16953868243120764347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-60925235209987847612011-07-14T06:58:19.217-05:002011-07-14T06:58:19.217-05:00Thank you for hosting me, Sandra!
And thank you f...Thank you for hosting me, Sandra!<br /><br />And thank you for asking for this topic.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.com