tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post8436472107954205329..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: When will they ever learn? - by Dennis HamleyKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-13212653259048459302013-02-15T20:08:31.000+00:002013-02-15T20:08:31.000+00:00I have always read aloud - couldn't work other...I have always read aloud - couldn't work otherwise. And Dennis, I never knew you did this (how little we know about friends and colleagues).Enid Richemonthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218197995089241666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-90576156748489671882013-02-15T10:23:27.816+00:002013-02-15T10:23:27.816+00:00Love that 'read your work aloud' advice! Y...Love that 'read your work aloud' advice! You're so right. It is the single most important thing you can tell people to do.I even used to tell people to do it with academic essays. In fact, we should be spreading that one wherever writers are gathered together! Playwrights do it all the time - my husband has got used to the constant stream of 'acting out' that goes on whenever I'm writing a play. People used to ask me about writing dialogue all the time and it's one of those things that is very hard to teach, if people don't have an 'ear' for it - but that's also the key to writing good dialogue. Brilliant advice. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-27165256559891795012013-02-15T08:30:03.155+00:002013-02-15T08:30:03.155+00:00Lovely piece, Dennis. You sound like a wonderful e...Lovely piece, Dennis. You sound like a wonderful editor - empathic, guiding, sensitive and patient about letting the author be themselves. Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088813423467048081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-54275312195675096762013-02-14T22:48:01.863+00:002013-02-14T22:48:01.863+00:00Marvelous piece. I loved the Auden quote, or near-...Marvelous piece. I loved the Auden quote, or near-quote, which reminds me of how Byron's friends begged him to stop writing his 'beastly' poem, Don Juan, and write more of the famous old tripe they'd enjoyed. The very things they criticized--the digressions, the comically cynical tone, etc--are the best things about 'Donny Johnny'. Cheers.glitter noirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728649916344336118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-79184572975150108682013-02-14T20:15:14.123+00:002013-02-14T20:15:14.123+00:00lucky writers to have you editing them Dennis! the...lucky writers to have you editing them Dennis! there are lots of editing companies nowadays but how can people be sure their money's well spent, the example you give of useless praise suggests some do this just for money with no real interest in the writer or their work. Editing like you are doing is basically like a one to one workshop of many hours - I've tried mentoring people when asked, and tutored creative writing at university MA, and I find it very draining of time and energy if you do it properly. You must be a positive powerhouse!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-45447939352306063252013-02-14T18:39:07.680+00:002013-02-14T18:39:07.680+00:00And Cally, I'm not one-eighth as industrious a...And Cally, I'm not one-eighth as industrious as you are. Sometimes, as I curl up in front of the TV with a glass of wine, I think what a lazy slob I am.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-59212130891111226982013-02-14T18:31:08.245+00:002013-02-14T18:31:08.245+00:00ABE, despite what Sue says, I haven't got the ...ABE, despite what Sue says, I haven't got the energy to do a blog (except this one of course) and I don't use my website for anything but blatant self-advertising (and even that's out of date)but I do think it might be useful for me to write down the principles which I follow, with examples. I'm not a professional editor (well, if people pay me for what I do, I suppose I am!)and I follow my own system of common sense, experience in both reading and writing and from watching some very good editors at work. And some rubbish ones too, so I know what not to do. But I do think that help with self-editing is something I can provide and I'll find a form in which I can do it. But the first and most important advice I can give in self-editing is: READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. You'll see where you've gone wrong at once, all the way from weak punctuation, slightly wrong emphasis, unexpected ambiguity, up to finding that what you've written is actually physically impossible to say. I've found that before now. Silent reading will never give you that clarity. You make your prose three-dimensional and it can be a bit of a shock.<br /><br />Jan - how sad. Now I'll never know. Can't Matti find it for you? It's got to be sculling around somewhere.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-48672423538416439062013-02-14T17:14:45.669+00:002013-02-14T17:14:45.669+00:00You make one long for the experience of being '...You make one long for the experience of being 'properly edited,' of being courted and supported and coddled as one writes.<br /><br />The main problem is that those who need it the most can afford it least.<br /><br />Pardon my ignorance, but have you written a book on editing or self-editing? I would love to read your advice. I believe that before seeking professional editing, the writer should do as much as humanly possible to remove the obvious errors - so as not to drive the editor batty.<br /><br />If you have such books - and/or a blog or website, a link in your columns would be appreciated, too.<br /><br />Thanks!ABEhttp://liebjabberings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-82396739111552924382013-02-14T14:15:25.713+00:002013-02-14T14:15:25.713+00:00I've just written a substantial and thoughtful...I've just written a substantial and thoughtful comment. And me computer has just despatched it to the outer darkness. So - great post, Dennis. Thanks.Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-28451469678289127312013-02-14T11:03:41.038+00:002013-02-14T11:03:41.038+00:00Lovely read, Dennis. In some ways sad, yes, but re...Lovely read, Dennis. In some ways sad, yes, but reassuring to have it confirmed that there are still real editors at work who care enough about writing and new (and old) writers to devote lots of time to them. Thanks.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-32026292231656994572013-02-14T10:43:29.044+00:002013-02-14T10:43:29.044+00:00Yes, Dennis' energy and willingness to embrace...Yes, Dennis' energy and willingness to embrace new technology puts many much younger people to shame. Cheers, Dennis!Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-37204900812041131932013-02-14T10:17:28.486+00:002013-02-14T10:17:28.486+00:00I simply second what Catherine said about this pos...I simply second what Catherine said about this post - heartening and sad - AND what Dan says too re meetings! It seems that today I have NOTHING original to say, but that doesn't stop me writing now does it? But a fascinating insight into Dennis the editor. Where do YOU find all your time from Dennis and can you send me some? CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-35628264181169438622013-02-14T09:18:53.217+00:002013-02-14T09:18:53.217+00:00The Auden quotation seems incredibly wise (but as ...The Auden quotation seems incredibly wise (but as you found sadly very often true). I love the idea of meeting slients in the Eagle and Child. Of course, when I was tutoring philosophy I never ever did such a thing!Dan Hollowayhttp://danholloway.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-60327396696358439952013-02-14T08:32:42.751+00:002013-02-14T08:32:42.751+00:00Absolutely fascinating piece, Dennis, which manage...Absolutely fascinating piece, Dennis, which manages to be heartening and a bit sad at the same time. Heartening, because it's good to know there are real editorial agencies (and sensitive informed editors) out there still, and a bit sad because when we follow the progress of writers who are starting out, young or older, we can so often see our younger selves in them but have to let them find things out for themselves and have to hope they don't make ALL the same mistakes! I did a stint with the Open College of the Arts many years ago (another effort to keep the wolf from the door!) and I loved the variety of writing that came in.I learned a lot about self editing too, from working with other people.You're right, of course. Real writers will carry on writing, no matter what. But when you see somebody being given the run-around by the publishing industry - and I found myself in just that situation late last year - what do you say? I was doing an event and stayed to listen to a later speaker, a young, enthusiastic and clearly very talented writer who had been - so far as I could see - treated with cavalier indifference by his publisher. I could see it and the audience could see it.He had begun to accept it as normal.Had begun to believe that he himself was unreasonable in expecting the normal courtesies which happen in most other business relationships. Afterwards, people kept coming up to me and saying 'tell him, tell him' - but how could I? He was still at the thrilled and hopeful stage. I suppose, like you, you can only set out the options and hope for the best!Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.com