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Nish [BusterBoy] wrote:
Most authors hate their editors
Most?
One of my closest friends is an editor and she would go to the ends of the Earth for her authors. I also know a few other editors in the industry and all the ones I've met are desperately trying to ensure their authors get through the book on time. There are bad ones for sure, but 'most' is a harsh generalisation.
If you think the author is having a hard time with editors you should talk to editors who have authors who totally fail to deliver what they promise, or produce unreadable material, or who constantly treat the editor like they are their own personal whipping post. Then talk to the editors about the schedules the publishers foist on them.
Nish [BusterBoy] wrote:
My editors made so many changes that I thought were wholly uncalled for
Maybe they were justified. Think of how much experience they have vs how much you have. Did you talk to them about the changes with an open mind, and did they justify their position?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
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Actually in my case some of the confusion came cause the book I wrote [a romantic comedy revolving around cricket] had lots of references to technical cricketing slang. The editor disallowed words like off-spinner and leggie 
Finally we agreed though. By "failed novelist" I didnt mean they never approved my book. In fact they did and it went through the various stages and actually got published. But the problem is that they expect me to market my book and I dont have a clue how to do that.
I wish they'd simply print 5000 copies and put it out on the market. It's a pretty decent novel 
Regards
Nish
Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain
www.busterboy.org
If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
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Nish [BusterBoy] wrote:
I didnt mean they never approved my book. In fact they did and it went through the various stages and actually got published.
Oh, so you have a problem with the publisher, not the editor. Ok, makes sense.
Publishers need an almost guaranteed hit before they will go ahead and print thousands of copies. Remember, just like you, there are there to make money and be able to buy vindaloo three times a week.
Nish [BusterBoy] wrote:
I wish they'd simply print 5000 copies and put it out on the market. It's a pretty decent novel
Have you tried any of the online publishers? XLibris is the best, from what I have heard. They only sell online but print your book as it is ordered. Naturally you have to settle for a standardised size and book format but at least your book gets out there and is available to the public.
Don't just think "it has to be on the book stores shelves" to become popular. If you put it on the web and market it that way you may gain enough recognition for big print-run and get it on the shelves.
BTW we, your friends, never knew you had written a book. You should market by word of mouth. I would buy your book Nish. PUT it on the web.
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Chris Maunder wrote:
One of my closest friends is an editor
Do you think your friendship with the editorial and authoring type influenced you in the way that CP has come about? i.e. Article based site rather than downloads, tools etc.
Chris Maunder wrote:
who have authors who totally fail to deliver what they promise, or produce unreadable material, or who constantly treat the editor like they are their own personal whipping post
My God! Does that not sound familiar, Editor Chris?* 
*I promise man, the manuscript will be in this saturday, I wrote it yesterday on the tube so it must be inspired stuff, it's coming, I swear!
Chris Maunder wrote:
Think of how much experience they have vs how much you have. Did you talk to them about the changes with an open mind, and did they justify their position?
That is exactly what I think a lot of authors miss. They feel the editors remarks are a personal attack and end up getting hurt, rather than educated or corrected. I know I felt hurt by some remarks I got from just my english teacher (so I used the word "zzzoooommmm" in my essay, I was only 12!)
Do you think there will ever come a time when certain articles are "edited" and sent back to their authors on CP?
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Paul Watson wrote:
Do you think your friendship with the editorial and authoring type influenced you in the way that CP has come about? i.e. Article based site rather than downloads, tools etc
Nah - because I've been doing this stuff since '97 (oh God: 5 years...)
Paul Watson wrote:
I promise man, the manuscript will be in this saturday
Uh-huh. Sure.
Paul Watson wrote:
Do you think there will ever come a time when certain articles are "edited" and sent back to their authors on CP?
That's been happening since the beginning. I edit all articles as much as time permits (so some poorly edited ones will slip through during peak times) and if the article is simply not worth posting I'll send it back and make some encouraging suggestions. It would be interesting to show you some of the before-and-after's. I remember one guy who's english was terrible but I could understand it enough to reword it. He ended up getting employed by a guy based on his CodeProject articles, but his employer soon found out he couldn't actually write anywhere as well as his articles suggested he could.
It would be interesting to show you guys some before and afters. Actually, every so often an article will appear on CodeGuru that has also been posted here. Sometimes the differences in editing is quite marked.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
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Colin Davies wrote:
But I'm guessing that quite often the collaboration of the editorial staff are just as important as the Authors ability.
Editors etc can both filter and direct content.
Well said Colin 
Colin Davies wrote:
One thing I would like to see implimented one-day is a standard technical layout utilized.
So going from one book to another feels like you are in the same family
We cannot even get that right across the web which has a much easier path to change than a static book or the ancient printing industry.
But I agree, for technical books a standardised layout would be very useful, including a standardised "required" list of contents e.g. Summary, Requirements etc.
regards,
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge
Martin Marvinski wrote:
Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea
Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
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Well, I suppose we can't expect Chris to think of something exciting and controvertial every week.
Besides, it wouldn't be fair if a flame war on C# started and I was on holidays...
Christian
I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001
Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff.
Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.
Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOzI live in Bob's HungOut now
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Next week's topic will be :-
What's CP like without CG?
(1) Better
(2) I miss CG
(3) CG who>
(4) Didn't even notice
(5) Server got faster, wonder why!
(6) Hey, now who'll answer the GDI+ queries?
(7) But CG still posts from the internet cafe near the life-guard's post!
Nish
Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain
www.busterboy.org
If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
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I'm not getting c.c. emails either, which is a shame, because I might have missed this.
It's hilarious. Now I DEFINATELY want to buy your comedy book....
Christian
I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001
Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff.
Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.
Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOzI live in Bob's HungOut now
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You're forgetting the obligatory
(8) CowboyNeal
Oh, wait, wrong site.
Tim Lesher <tim@lesher.ws>
http://www.lesher.ws
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Sorry Nish - that suggestion you sent me via email for a sizzling hot poll must have become lost.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
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I wasn't being critical Chris. It's just that this time the topic is non-controversial
The sarcasm was good though
Nish
Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain
www.busterboy.org
If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
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How about this one:
When faced with having to reinstall Windows (version of your choice), would you rather :
1) Have bamboo slivers pushed under your fingernails
2) Be subjected to a 365-day-long Boy George concert
3) Have your skin completely removed from your body without being given anesthetics
4) Become another inmate's butt buddy in the maximum security prison of your choice
5) Think that maybe switching to Linux isn't the completely unattractive idea it used to be
6) Just go back to DOS and hope it makes a come-back
7) Just say f*** it and buy a whole new system with windows pre-installed (thanks to Chris Losinger for this one)
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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Reminds me of something a sysadmin once said to me:
Me: I tried the "repair mode", and it didn't work. Is there any step you can take between "repair mode" and a full wipe and reinstall?
Sysadmin: Yes. K-Y Jelly.
Tim Lesher <tim@lesher.ws>
http://www.lesher.ws
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I said it's always been the same - lots of rubbish about, but some pure gold. I bought Effective STL last year, and it was one of the best STL books I've read, and certainly filling a necessary gap. I buy a LOT of books, but I've learned to have a good look at the pages offered online and reader reviews - sometimes a bad review means a book is complex enough for me, and the reviewer is too stupid to read it, so care must be taken. But from the early days where I bought books I've never used, I can honestly say everything I've bought in the last year has been well written and has taught me a lot. I am going to buy several books while I am away, including 'Modern C++ Design', and 'The Design and Evolution of C++'. Again, I've done my research ( although nay book written by Bjarne requires little thought or deliberation ), and I expect to be no less than delighted, even though the exmaples will not compile ( that's why I have SOlaris now ).
I couldn't go past my CUJ subscription either - the columns never fail to interest and instruct.
Christian
I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001
Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff.
Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.
Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOzI live in Bob's HungOut now
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