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James Thomson

Working with an editor is a great way to improve your writing, except for the part where they want to change your undeniably perfect sentences.

@jamesthomson A good editor will make you sound more like yourself. Watch for editors who make you sound more like them.

@jamesthomson I noticed during the time I worked as a (sub-)editor – gradually winding down a few years ago – that people have got way more reluctant to be edited. They used to treat editing quite deferentially, now they are used to being able to publish directly to (insert long list of platforms) and often start to push back if you do anything more than fix typos.

@tomw Yeah, I can imagine. I've never been great with it, but I at least recognise I'm not great with it, and try to not let my ego get in the way.

@jamesthomson “kill your darlings”

“I will not!”

@jamesthomson they should know that “42 is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything”. That phrase can’t be changed.

@dmoren Don't worry, I'm not writing a book or anything, that's madness.

@jamesthomson @dmoren Are you sure? I found this book on my bookshelf the other day. J.T. Doe, is that you? 🧐

@Arcticulate @dmoren You can tell it's not me, because I would use my own name, because my ego is that big :)

@jamesthomson @dmoren Right 🤭. Btw, I chose “Delphi” for the “So long” quote, because it’s close enough to “Dolphin” (or “Delfin” in Swedish). Thought it would be appropriate because of the Pascal association – and then in turn – classis Mac app dev.

@jamesthomson Believe me, it’s worse when you ARE an editor…

@chrisphin @jamesthomson I’m currently editing a Q&A a dev sent me. It’s really great. Full of personality. But also 2x the length my editor would accept. So as an in-between editor, I’m going full-on red pen and really not enjoying it. Bah.

@craiggrannell @chrisphin That's a tough one. I know I tend to write too long answers to such things as well.

@jamesthomson @chrisphin Better to have too much than too little at this end. But it’s always tough when as an editor you need to cut things back that were good in the first place. But that’s the nature of the job.

@jamesthomson Oh, I realise I was unclear. It’s when you’re an editor who HAS written, getting your work edited by another editor. Jumped-up little shit…

@chrisphin @jamesthomson One of my editors now is much younger then me too. Which is just the universe being wrong.

@craiggrannell @chrisphin @jamesthomson It gets worse when you figure out your new editor finished school with your kids' cohort.

@chrisphin Ah! Well yes, those editors are objectively the worst, he said ambiguously.

@chrisphin @jamesthomson 100x this. “WHY ARE YOU REMOVING MY CAREFULLY PLACED COMMA DON'T YOU KNOW THIS HOLDS THE BOOK TOGETHER?!?!?!”

@dmoren @jamesthomson *fatherly voice* “The thing is, you see, that you have to know the rules before you can break the rules. And I think,” *warm smile* “you can trust from my CV that I know the rules.”

@jamesthomson ask them about commas. Really make it clear they have authority over commas and nothing else. Argue against the Oxford comma for a week. Let them win in the end. Good luck, you’re fighting the good fight.

@jamesthomson Editors have helped me, but sometimes I get a little worked up when it comes to a debate about content. Here's one about a short story set on the Florida NW coast: Did you put an Australian pine in this piece because you're submitted to an Australian journal? Me, containing my anger and the assumption that I am really that stupid and unprofessional: "No, these grow in Florida where the story is set." And, unable to help myself, I provide a link to substantiate my claim and choice.

@MargaretSefton Yeah, I can see that being very annoying!

@VoiceofDuum @jamesthomson Yes 😂 But I know the editor from online writer stuff and he seems, generally, like a good egg. Still, I was a bit miffed, but got over it. I did use it as an opportunity to "educate" him. lols. I get more and more like my grandma every day.

@jamesthomson remember you can always decline a change. It’s your book/article/words in the end. If you want a sentence in then you leave it in.