I'm sure everyone has read a book that she/he thought needed an editor. And every book does need an editor. Unfortunately, editors edit less than ever before. I have never had a bad editor and don't have one now, I'm happy to say.
Today in The New York Times there is an article about Anne Rice. I quote her:
"People who find fault and problems with my books tend to say, 'She needs an editor.' When a person goes over and over a manuscript and wants every word to be perfect, it's very frustrating."
Ms. Rice also took umbrage with readers who reviewed her last book on the Amazon site. She was so incensed that she posted a 1200 word diatribe.
She told The Times: "I have no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut or otherwise mutilate sentences that I have edited and re-edited, and organized myself. I fought a great battle to achieve a status where I did not have to put up with editors making demands on me."
Having someone edit your work is very important. The writer has a stale perspective by the time the novel is finished. This is why I have a first reader before the book ever goes to my agent. After my agent it goes to my editor. My own rule is that if three people say that something isn't working I must pay attention.
The strange thing about Ms. Rice's remarks is that I've never known an editor to cut, distort or mutilate a sentence of mine. Editors suggest. In the end it's your book and you have the last word. Even I do. And I'm not a blockbuster writer.
I don't always take the suggestions but often I find them helpful and see that they make the sentence or paragraph better. A suggestion, for example, might be to shift the beginning of a chapter to the end.
I admit that at first I kick and scream. No one likes to be told that what they've written isn't wonderful. But, eventually, if the suggestion is good, I take it.
Ms. Rice talks about making every word perfect. I don't see how that's possible. No writer can make every word perfect. You do the best you can. And then an editor tries to help and often succeeds in making it damn near perfect.
Also in the article Ms. Rice says: "When you take home a CD of Pavarotti or Marilyn Horne, you don't want to hear another voice blended in."
Aside from this being an absurd analogy, Ms. Rice has put herself in very lofty company.
But I'd better be careful because she writes to Amazon reviewers: "Your stupid, arrogant assuptions about me and what I am doing are slander. You have used the site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies."
I certainly don't want to be accused of slander. I am, after all, merely a novelist who needs and desires an editor.
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Whether in combat training, board rooms or classrooms, gaming can add much to our daily lives. We can meet new people and increase our knowledge and abilities as we enjoy a change of pace from our daily routines. The following article has online game recommendations and tricks that you can apply today.
If you buy pre-owned games, make certain to purchase a quality disc cleaner. It is almost impossible to tell ahead of time what condition used games will be in. Even though you may have let the discs get very dirty, the cleaning kit can help to get them working again. Research all the options that are available, though. There are a lot of cleaning kits out there.
In today's computer game world you can oftentimes find lots of stuff available on the Internet. You will be able to download games for your game ps3, PC or mobile device. While convenient, it's also somewhat risky. Don't buy on a whim; make sure you evaluate your budget first. Before you spend your hard-earned money on a new game, do some research on it first.
One question modern gamers must ask themselves is whether they want to be a computer gamer or a playstation gamer. Most games, these days, are available for either format so you need to find out which one is best for the type of games you want to play. Also, some games, such as flight simulators and real-time strategy games, are better suited to a specific type of hardware, so if you like a specific genre, plan your hardware purchases accordingly.
Be cautious of online gaming. Sometimes you must pay a monthly fee for access. If your kids want to join a site that many of their friends are using, make sure that you take a look at it first. Evaluate the advantages of the games you find against the monthly fees that are charged.
Parents must always verify the ratings on games. A lot of games look like they are okay for kids, but they are not. It's important to not only check the rating, but also the actual objectionable material (e.g. language, suggestive themes) that caused it to get that rating.
Keep your children safe in terms of online gaming. Pay attention to the people they play with. Some people use online gaming in order to manipulate young children. It is important to protect kids when they are gaming online by being aware of whom they are playing with.
You don't have to play video gaming on a wii - if you are reading this, you obviously have an Internet-enabled device, and you can play games on that, too! Lots of ps3 games also offer versions for computers, allowing you to play your favorite titles on any system.
Make sure you duck and take cover before reloading your weapon. A lot of time people get killed when they are just not controlling their character. Be smart and avoid this. Find cover first, and then reload your weapon.
Check the Internet for ideas and tricks for you favorite games. When you get stuck somewhere in a game, it can frustrate you and maybe even make you give up. Consulting a walkthrough or asking other gamers on a message board is the surest way to conquer that tough level and start enjoying the game again.
Figure out how to operate the safety and parental controls of any gaming system that comes into your home. You can likely make adjustments that keep kids from viewing mature content. Some allow each gaming profile to be customized separately, allowing adults to enjoy games not meant for younger audiences.
You can get many hours of enjoyment from many different kinds of video games. Use this advice to make the best from your video game purchases. The world of online gaming has evolved into a highly competitive market with games for everyone.
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