Editors

write - no refunds ... pay as you go and i stand by that.

and, not everybody here needs a crying towel during discussions.

 

three points separates you and tears.

 

Ah, but 30 minutes separates me and one of my future husbands from unalderated (although sadly separate) joy.

(I had deleted a post that TP had hit reply to before I deleted it, something about me crying during discussions sometimes. If any of you are still reading this thread.)

 

But at least you're not a pencil dick.

And I noticed your comments about me having a point...stop kissing my ass!

 

Sorry. Some of us are just like that.

I really like that shirt. Is it new? It makes your eyes pop.

 

The problem with having rational discussions with copy editors is that the profession seems to attract some people like Tom Petty and DyePack.

Also some copy editors are quick to throw reporters under the bus. "Look at this crappy lede." "He got the yardage of that TD pass wrong!"

They will be glad to point out your consistent style errors if you ask but unless they are really good, may not help much in structuring a story.

Also, when they make a mistake, bad copy editors hide very quickly under the cover of "I was on deadline. I didn't have time!" As if reporters are never on deadline.

 

once again a self important post from the asshole.

you're not nearly as important as you think you are deskboy.

 

But I was on deadline. And I didn't have time...

 

But usually the slot won't give them writers who take a chance.

That may be the perception of writers who overhear such things. My perception is that the rimmer wants to ensure the person running the desk will note that the rimmer caught a factual error. Which is annoying, too, since slots are capable of seeing the change and the original copy in notes mode. But it's not quite throwing the writer under the bus.

You would have to be dealing with a really sucky desk for this to be true, as the job entails sometimes taking several stories from AP, McClatchy and LAT/WP and melding them into one coherent account.

"I was on deadline" usually won't cut it. What will cut it is saying that when we set deadlines, we allot the writer X amount of time to do his work and X amount of time for the copy editor to do his job, and this (goddamn) writer took all of his time and all but two minutes of the (poor bastard) copy editor's time, and the rimmer could have caught it if the (cocksucking) writer had made his (motherfucking) deadline.

 

Good points, Frank.

I have been on both sides. In my opinion writers tend to get their feet held to the fire more than deskers.

Deskers have a thankless role, though.

Good ones are golden.

 

It's too easy for many editors to sit on their fat asses and criticize a writer. It's also too easy for many of those said editors to not go the extra yard to make sure an error won't get into the paper.
The us vs. them mentality rules at many publications. We're all one team. If one part fails, the other part fails. I wish that people in this industry would understand that.

 

Notice, that I said "like" Tom Petty. It would have been worse had I said "such as" Tom Petty.