Easy things first: in a twist of irony and flash of poor planning on the part of building services, I had to make a fast move out of my executive office to a cubice on Monday… which lies directly outside of BigEditor’s office. This forced me to get the fuck over the flap, and now we are best buddies. Well, not really, but things are back around where they were.
It is really intimidating to be talking to writers about the editing process and editing them outside the door of BigEditor’s office. I’m highly aware that I am still a baby editor in many ways and faking it until I make it. I know that I will make some mistakes with my relationship with this first batch of freelancers. But now I have to make them essentially in public.
On the plus side I actually think that despite all the refining and learning I have to do about The Way Things Work(tm) when it comes to getting people to stop burying their leads, or to bring out the best in their writing, I am really starting to hit a certain level. I’m not saying I’m a star or anything, but I truly think that I have reached just barely enough maturity to leave much alone, while tweaking the bits that really do bring out the good stuff. Of course soon this will be put to the test and I will get drawn and quartered. But… I don’t know. I just think that even though there will be arguments and errors and blah blah, that I actually can find the story in things.
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I was also thinking about this whole “opting out” thing and it’s frustrating. More on that in a later post.
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I’ve been hesitating about this one because it is just so big, and no links. But one of the multiples I know via DP, a system who was very thoughtful and kind to us after Emily died, has suffered just sheer tragedy this week as their eldest son, 25 yrs old, committed suicide. My and our hearts go out to them totally.
Anything else that I could say would be so pointless, and don’t I know it. I found something I liked on a site about bereavement and Jewish traditions that was answering the question “what do I say to a Jew in mourning?” and it said be silent and listen.
Thank you.
Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles.
Listen. Do not have an opinion while you listen because frankly, your opinion doesn?t hold much water outside of Your Universe. Just listen. Listen until their brain has been twisted like a dripping towel and what they have to say is all over the floor.
Famous remarks are very seldom quoted correctly.
True friends are those who really know you but love you anyway.