…at least the [Encyclopaedia] Britannica reading has given me some new
perspective on my job. It’s given me awareness of the power of editing. I’m
thinking, for instance, of the Ems telegram in 1870. Prussian chancellor Otto
von Bismarck edited the report of a diplomatic meeting to purposely offend the
French and start the Franco-Prussian War. I’m not saying that as an editor, I
want to start a war, but it’s nice to know I could.
~A. J. Jacobs, The Know-it-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
Monday, April 13, 2009
Have you hugged an editor today?
I read this and proceeded to fall off my chair laughing. This is made even funnier when I think of everything I have edited or will edit in the future. However, it does give a good idea of how much a good editor can contribute. And how much damage a bad or disgruntled editor can do. My advice? Be nice to editors. We are a sensitive lot.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
A blind date with a book
Discovering a new author is like a going on a first date. There’s an awkward period where you’re trying to figure out if you really are compatible and if you enjoy the company. Fortunately, with a book, you have no fear of rejection and all the power in asking for a second “date” with the author.
One of my friends recently suggested that I try out the style of Carl Hiassen, and proceeded to hand me Basket Case, a book that is immersed in mystery and the world of obituary reporting. Even though I graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree, I haven’t spent much time in a professional newsroom (if you don’t count the university newspaper). I did spend two weeks working at the Ottawa Sun, where I was lucky enough to write stories based on press releases (including one article about groundhogs in love. Unfortunately, I’m not joking). All this to say, that I’m not too familiar with the inner workings of a newsroom, but I have a feeling it might be run a lot like the one in Basket Case.
The book bills itself as a comedy/mystery, yet I find that it is much better classified as a noir novel. The comedy wasn’t slapstick or laugh-out-loud funny, but contained more the sarcastic, ironic humour that suits a hard-boiled reporter; the mystery itself wasn’t a great head scratcher, as both the reporter and reader knew who the villain was relatively quickly. What really drew me in was the snappy dialogue, the vivid descriptions, the neuroses of the characters and the fact that they act like real human beings. Too often in these types of novels, the main character goes it alone and is the sole hero in the book. This time around, the character knows enough to bring in his friends and anyone else who can help him solve the case and get the story. It is refreshing to read a book where, like any of us would, a character relies on the kindness of the people he knows and loves to get everything straightened out.
This book is entertainment, pure and simple, and I have discovered that Carl Hiassen is an author that I will definitely have a second date with. (Wait, that doesn’t sound right…)
One of my friends recently suggested that I try out the style of Carl Hiassen, and proceeded to hand me Basket Case, a book that is immersed in mystery and the world of obituary reporting. Even though I graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree, I haven’t spent much time in a professional newsroom (if you don’t count the university newspaper). I did spend two weeks working at the Ottawa Sun, where I was lucky enough to write stories based on press releases (including one article about groundhogs in love. Unfortunately, I’m not joking). All this to say, that I’m not too familiar with the inner workings of a newsroom, but I have a feeling it might be run a lot like the one in Basket Case.
The book bills itself as a comedy/mystery, yet I find that it is much better classified as a noir novel. The comedy wasn’t slapstick or laugh-out-loud funny, but contained more the sarcastic, ironic humour that suits a hard-boiled reporter; the mystery itself wasn’t a great head scratcher, as both the reporter and reader knew who the villain was relatively quickly. What really drew me in was the snappy dialogue, the vivid descriptions, the neuroses of the characters and the fact that they act like real human beings. Too often in these types of novels, the main character goes it alone and is the sole hero in the book. This time around, the character knows enough to bring in his friends and anyone else who can help him solve the case and get the story. It is refreshing to read a book where, like any of us would, a character relies on the kindness of the people he knows and loves to get everything straightened out.
This book is entertainment, pure and simple, and I have discovered that Carl Hiassen is an author that I will definitely have a second date with. (Wait, that doesn’t sound right…)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Me Canadian. Me read.
Some good news from the book world. It appears that Canadians are reading more, despite the downturn in the economy. Books stores are reporting a 7% increase in sales in the first quarter of the year, which is a wonderful thing to see. While I encourage people to visit their library and take out a pile of books, it is nice to see that people are supporting their book stores, both the big Chapters chains and the smaller independent shops. It is news like this that will ensure that writers can continue to make a living off their words and readers can continue to enjoy a wide and diverse range of material.
* * *
As expected, I have come to the end of Wonder Boys and could not recommend it highly enough. I leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the book that really speaks to the mind of the writer. Is this an all encompassing statement? Probably not. But you’d be surprised when the door is closed and you’re sitting at the keyboard what you will tell yourself.
* * *
As expected, I have come to the end of Wonder Boys and could not recommend it highly enough. I leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the book that really speaks to the mind of the writer. Is this an all encompassing statement? Probably not. But you’d be surprised when the door is closed and you’re sitting at the keyboard what you will tell yourself.
While I worked I told myself lies. Writers, unlike most people, tell their best
lies when they are alone.
-Michael Chabon, Wonder Boys
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Yellow light means slow?
I’ve grown to love the writing of Michael Chabon. I’ve read his books before and enjoyed them, but it was only recently that I’ve appreciated the artistry of his words. Even the most deplorable situations are painted so clearly and with such grace that I can find myself squirming uncomfortably as the characters do and experience things that I could only imagine, yet enjoy every sentence.
A month or two back, I spoke admirably of his book, Gentlemen of the Road (or, using the working title, Jews with Swords, which, I think, is a lot better. Who wouldn’t read a book about Jews with swords?), and today I find myself devouring another one of his books, Wonder Boys. While I’m not quite done reading, I’ve read enough to know that it is one book that I will devour again and again, marvelling at the way he can give us characters that can do such horrible things to themselves and to those they love, yet do it all with a flourish of language that is unparalleled in my eyes.
Of course, reading this book has identified a weakness of my own writing, one which will be remedied in the second stage of editing, but also one which I am trying to keep in mind as I continue to write. Some people say the devil is in the details, but in my writing, the details seem to be somewhat lacking.
One of the things I realized reading Wonder Boys is that I’m not a very patient man. I love the imagery, the details and the evocative nature of literature when I’m reading, but when I’m writing, I’m very impatient. I don’t want to spend time talking about how the trees looked in the forest or describing the town that our heroes visit; I want to get to the next plot point, I want to be able to bring the characters from point 'A' to point 'B' to see what happens. Stop and smell the roses? No way! Rose smelling takes way too much time! Drop that flower and get yourself to your destination so questions can start being answered! I’m surprised that I haven’t given anyone a jetpack yet…
Stephen King, in On Writing, gives his opinion that when you finish a piece of writing, you should endeavour to slash 10% of it (I may be wrong about the number, but at this point in the day I don’t very much feel like going to verify it. Suffice is to say that 10% is a good number to start with). Cutting some of your scenes make sense, as writers often put in either too much detail or put in unnecessary detail that can be removed without harming the story itself. However, I may be one of those writers who, when looking back at a completed manuscript, may have to ADD 10%. Specifically, I will have to put in descriptions of what the characters see and experience, and I will do this knowing that I don’t have a need to see where the story will take itself.
In an effort to make myself a better writer, I am trying to slow down and, if not smell the roses, then at least acknowledge that there are roses in that bush over there. I don’t have a lot of experience in writing novel-length material, so I can only guess where my words will take me, but I know that to become a well-rounded writer, sometimes you have to stop, look around, and let your readers in on the world inside your head.
A month or two back, I spoke admirably of his book, Gentlemen of the Road (or, using the working title, Jews with Swords, which, I think, is a lot better. Who wouldn’t read a book about Jews with swords?), and today I find myself devouring another one of his books, Wonder Boys. While I’m not quite done reading, I’ve read enough to know that it is one book that I will devour again and again, marvelling at the way he can give us characters that can do such horrible things to themselves and to those they love, yet do it all with a flourish of language that is unparalleled in my eyes.
Of course, reading this book has identified a weakness of my own writing, one which will be remedied in the second stage of editing, but also one which I am trying to keep in mind as I continue to write. Some people say the devil is in the details, but in my writing, the details seem to be somewhat lacking.
One of the things I realized reading Wonder Boys is that I’m not a very patient man. I love the imagery, the details and the evocative nature of literature when I’m reading, but when I’m writing, I’m very impatient. I don’t want to spend time talking about how the trees looked in the forest or describing the town that our heroes visit; I want to get to the next plot point, I want to be able to bring the characters from point 'A' to point 'B' to see what happens. Stop and smell the roses? No way! Rose smelling takes way too much time! Drop that flower and get yourself to your destination so questions can start being answered! I’m surprised that I haven’t given anyone a jetpack yet…
Stephen King, in On Writing, gives his opinion that when you finish a piece of writing, you should endeavour to slash 10% of it (I may be wrong about the number, but at this point in the day I don’t very much feel like going to verify it. Suffice is to say that 10% is a good number to start with). Cutting some of your scenes make sense, as writers often put in either too much detail or put in unnecessary detail that can be removed without harming the story itself. However, I may be one of those writers who, when looking back at a completed manuscript, may have to ADD 10%. Specifically, I will have to put in descriptions of what the characters see and experience, and I will do this knowing that I don’t have a need to see where the story will take itself.
In an effort to make myself a better writer, I am trying to slow down and, if not smell the roses, then at least acknowledge that there are roses in that bush over there. I don’t have a lot of experience in writing novel-length material, so I can only guess where my words will take me, but I know that to become a well-rounded writer, sometimes you have to stop, look around, and let your readers in on the world inside your head.
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