Posted by John Nichols on September 15, 2003 at -1:55:44 from 165.91.70.18 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Re: 'Jibbooms and Bobstays' posted by Peter H on September 14, 2003 at 19:53:35:
Dear Peter H:
I was taught to edit and write by a very nice American women in Australia. She is an excellent poet and editor. She told me that the story MASH was completely ruined for her when she found a single grammar/editing error in the book. It took me three reads to find the error. She merely indicated the form not the place. She was as usual correct. But it did not spoil MASH for me, merely made me understand that some people are mere humans and some are editors who miss nothing.
My cousin is such an editor. If I recall correctly this is the board where I posted her response to a convulted saying from CC? about a double negative that we were discussing.
On the other hand as some of you will have noticed I am a bit slack with proofing and sometimes I am sure my posts are obscure to say the least. However, I do act as an associate editor for a major Engineering Journal. I read many articles that are poor to say the least.
I have also had numerous articles returned. My friend Heber once said it took me three days to calm down after a nasty NZ reviewer shot holes in my arguments. I mean I bounced off walls and threw things. (I kid you not I am not always the calm level person you see here.)
I write articles for reviewed Journals and Conferences, as a matter of fact I had one about nuclear power stations and seismic loads accepted last week. I am currently writing one for Mixed Moss with Ed on Beckfoot. We have about four pages done. Hopefully we can finish it in the not to distant future and hopefully Joy will accept it. I would not waste my time if the MM was not up to an acceptable peer reviewed standard. The fact that it is a small journal is irrelevant. I can not remember seeing an editorial mistake in MM that I can recall. And I would remember as I was taught be an expert.
So to the writer of Jibbooms etc., I would like to say, Peter H gave you a review and pointed out the types of errors. I will now buy one, because: As soon as I get my email running and I find out if I buy it of Dave Thewlis.
Just remember Tolkien took years to get his errors out and now there is a need to state which edition one is using because of the changes in the Lord of the Rings series. Welcome to the writing club. My only comment is it is easy to criticize, but much harder to write and a darn sight harder to find a decent editor. It is ok to go outside and scream out Great Galoots and enjoy it.
John Nichols