Comments on: Editorial Stupidity

By: Onedia

Onedia — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:24:10 +0000

Keli, I go bongos on a daily basis hearing news readers, reporters, even actors spewing dialogue from a “highly educated” character who cannot grasp the basics of verb subject agreement, pronoun usage, and modifiers. I cringe when I hear things like (from people whose English is first language)

her and me went . . .
she is more pretty than . . .

and other grammar rules that I learned by grade six. Is this a change in the English language that no one told me about or do the writers of TV and Film just not care. What about the people who read/say the mess? Do they know the difference?

I myself struggle with the nuances of grammar and punctuation but these errors are like huge pimples. How could they miss them.

By: Keli

Keli — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:50:29 +0000

Jen:
I’m afraid I would have had to file a lawsuit if I’d viewed the word “satiracle” as it would have caused me great mental distress, loss of consortium, etc. You’re obviously stronger in that dept. than I am.
Now if I could just find someone in the publishing biz with good sense… Thanks, Jenny!
Elaine:
I’m so glad you feel like you take something with you after your visits here. I can’t hope for more than that! (And hopefully, your being somewhat entertained!)
H:
Thanks very much! That is exactly what I try hard to do - a laugh (or at least a mental smile) and a thought.
Ferd:
I like that! A spiritual babe! That works for me! Thanks, Ferd!

By: Ferd

Ferd — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:10:25 +0000

I love it! That was the Serenity Prayer in action! You can’t change the stupers, so you accept them as is. You don’t have to like them, you can boundary the shit out of them, but you can’t change them. You know that all too well.
Then you move on to the things you CAN do.
You’re quite the spiritual babe, Keli! ; )

By: H

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:13:09 +0000

Well, it sounds like an organization that you wouldn’t want to be associated with anyway. Good to hear you made something positive out of the situation.

I always enjoy reading what you’ve posted here and I’m a fan. I am slowly making my way through some of the archives and I can’t leave this site without a good laugh and a thought to ponder. Thanks!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:12:03 +0000

I’m sorry about the rejection Keli, but it is amazing that an editor at such a prestigious magazine didn’t spell check his/her reply.

As always I take something with me when leaving:

Negative interactions should make us think of ways to improve ourselves. Lapsing into a rage, despair or irritation does not = progress.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:55:54 +0000

Girl, you do not want to get me started on spelling and grammatical travesties committed by those who should know better. The other day I sent an email to a major cable news station after they spelled the word “satirical” across the screen thusly: S-A-T-I-R-A-C-L-E.

**pulls hair out**

As for editorial rejections … well, I’m no stranger to them bad boys either.

*sigh*

Chin up, Chickie! Press on. Someone will have the good sense to publish what you wrote.

By: Keli

Keli — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:52:19 +0000

dawn:
I have to constantly remind myself of all the wise sayings I’ve collected. I don’t just want to collect them - I want to put them to use! A tattoo or two or three would do the trick!
Agnes:
Oh what a complete imbecile! One of my very early posts was about another idiot editor at a large publishing house that I’d submitted a picture book to about a dog who extinguished fires. She wrote back “I like the way the dog distinguishes fires.” How in the world does one distinguish a fire? By giving it an award?
Do you think we’ll stand a better chance against stupers if we collaborate? If so, I’m all for it!

By: Agnes Mildew

Agnes Mildew — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:56:09 +0000

I have gathered, from my many encounters with editors, that it’s not what you know or how you write: it’s who you know. Unfortunately, nepotism is rampant in the publishing world. You could write a corker, but if you don’t drink with the boss’s best friend’s vicar, you haven’t got a chance.
I wrote an article for a magazine once which was edited from:
‘The soil in Oman presented the Municipality with its first obstacle’
to…
‘The soil in Oman, despite its best intentions, presented the Municipality with its first obstacle’

Did you know that soil had intentions, good or otherwise?

Nope, neither did I.

I stormed in to the publisher’s office, demanded my hard copy back and refused to ever darken their doors again.

The chap who edited it was married to the publisher’s sister and English was NOT his first language…But his edition made it through to the final publication since they still had it on disc.

Thank God my name was removed from it all.

Keep your chin up, Keli. There’s hope yet! Perhaps we should collaborate?!

By: dawn

dawn — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:01:21 +0000

“The best way to snap out of a negative mode is to take action.”
I will have this tattooed on my forehead. That should work!