Comments on: Dewey’s Negativity Meme & More http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/ "You never paint what you see or think you see. You paint with a thousand vibrations the blow that struck you." --Nicholas de Stael Sat, 17 May 2008 15:14:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: heather http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15828 heather Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:56:33 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15828 <b>Aaron:</b> It certainly happens that writers get matched to editors who don't share their style. However, remember that the editor of a book might well have had a hand in deciding whether the publisher would buy the book in the first place, in which case they presumably did so because they liked the style and thought it was good. So I don't think it's incredibly commonplace. That said, when it happens, I think most authors learn to get over it and move on to another publishing house. The one time that I was very unhappy with what an editor had done to my work, it was because his predecessor was the one who accepted my article for publication, and he didn't share the same tastes. As another writer friend of mine recommended, "cash the check, enjoy the money, and move on to another magazine." <b>SFC:</b> I definitely have far more positive reviews than negative, too, just because I tend to read the books that I want to read, which means they're already self-selected to have a high chance of being books I'll enjoy. I think that isn't a problem in itself; as long as you're being honest people can tell, even if you rarely say anything bad about a book. Aaron: It certainly happens that writers get matched to editors who don’t share their style. However, remember that the editor of a book might well have had a hand in deciding whether the publisher would buy the book in the first place, in which case they presumably did so because they liked the style and thought it was good. So I don’t think it’s incredibly commonplace. That said, when it happens, I think most authors learn to get over it and move on to another publishing house. The one time that I was very unhappy with what an editor had done to my work, it was because his predecessor was the one who accepted my article for publication, and he didn’t share the same tastes. As another writer friend of mine recommended, “cash the check, enjoy the money, and move on to another magazine.”

SFC: I definitely have far more positive reviews than negative, too, just because I tend to read the books that I want to read, which means they’re already self-selected to have a high chance of being books I’ll enjoy. I think that isn’t a problem in itself; as long as you’re being honest people can tell, even if you rarely say anything bad about a book.

]]> By: SciFiChick http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15774 SciFiChick Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:53:38 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15774 Oops. I didn't mean "not being biased" but I'm sure you got what I meant. Oops. I didn’t mean “not being biased” but I’m sure you got what I meant.

]]> By: SciFiChick http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15773 SciFiChick Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:52:50 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15773 Thankfully, I've only disliked a handful of books in the past year. I either didn't bother reviewing them at all, or I'd state honestly what I did and didn't like. Most times I won't even finish books that I'm not enjoying. People may see all my positive reviews and think I'm not being biased. But whatever. I'm just doing this for fun. And only want to talk about books that I enjoy. Thankfully, I’ve only disliked a handful of books in the past year. I either didn’t bother reviewing them at all, or I’d state honestly what I did and didn’t like. Most times I won’t even finish books that I’m not enjoying.
People may see all my positive reviews and think I’m not being biased. But whatever. I’m just doing this for fun. And only want to talk about books that I enjoy.

]]> By: Errant Dreams Reviews » Blog Archive » Upcoming & Memes, 3/12/2008 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15606 Errant Dreams Reviews » Blog Archive » Upcoming & Memes, 3/12/2008 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:23:39 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15606 [...] Dewey’s Negativity Meme & More addresses negative reviews, honesty in reviews, and [...] […] Dewey’s Negativity Meme & More addresses negative reviews, honesty in reviews, and […]

]]> By: Aaron http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15531 Aaron Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:21:03 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2008/03/14/deweys-negativity-meme-more/#comment-15531 It sucks when you're only editor (or your main one) is someone coming from a completely different aesthetic background than you. That only happened to me in creative writing courses in college, though. Do you think it's common for professional writers to get matched up with editors who they're completely at odds with? Or do writers usually get editors who match their styles even during their first publishing contracts? Anyway, someone used to tell me he would thoroughly enjoy Stephen King books if King ever knew how to end his stories. That's probably the most common change that would be made to stories... the ending. It sucks when you’re only editor (or your main one) is someone coming from a completely different aesthetic background than you.

That only happened to me in creative writing courses in college, though. Do you think it’s common for professional writers to get matched up with editors who they’re completely at odds with? Or do writers usually get editors who match their styles even during their first publishing contracts?

Anyway, someone used to tell me he would thoroughly enjoy Stephen King books if King ever knew how to end his stories. That’s probably the most common change that would be made to stories… the ending.

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