I’m Not Technically an Editor So…
Day 19…
Fail. Dammit.
Task 19: Finish editing Bix’s book*
It’s longer than I thought. I’m still working on it. Also, I often find myself just reading it to read it and not necessarily paying attention to the editing aspect. I imagine that likely makes an editor’s job more difficult — remembering to edit and not just sit and read. Could you imagine being George RR Martin’s editor? Or Barbara Kinsolver’s or, God forbid, Mary Roach’s? My guess is that unless their editors come across a glaring error they have to read their work 5 or 6 times to get to the content editing part. Other than that they likely get lost in the story and, in the case of Mary Roach, in the humor. I could listen to that woman read the newspaper and crack up.
I bought one of her books of essays (short ones from Reader’s Digest)a few years ago when I was on a little road trip. I stopped in Denver to see an old high school friend and, while there, also visited my favorite book store (Tattered Cover) and my favorite Denver hotel (The Brown Palace). At the time I couldn’t afford to stay at my favorite Denver hotel but I went to the hotel’s restaurant/tavern and had a drink at the bar. Since I was alone I thought it perfectly acceptable to pull out my new book and read while I had my glass of wine (ok, martini). It was Mary’s book and two pages in I was literally crying in my booze. Not out of sadness or dread but out of sheer oh-my-gosh-I-might-pee-my-pants. She is so damn funny. I’m certain the bartender was second guessing his choice to give me a martini in the first place. He looked at me like I was either the biggest lightweight in history or had somehow managed to hide being totally hammered when I arrived. I can’t recall the name of the book but seriously, find it. It’s a fast read and a great antidote to a bad day.
Actually, a lot of Mary Roach’s books are like that. I’m amazed that, prior to tackling some of her most famous subject matter (corpses in medical research, ghosts, sex), she had never had any experience as a science writer. Which is likely what makes her writing so captivating and so entertaining. Her abundant humility and child-like curiosity not only keep the subject matter interesting, but generally keep the audience in stitches. Her writing is really what we should all aspire to in life: admit that you probably don’t know what the hell you’re talking about; talk to experts until you think you do; admit that you still only know a small fraction; don’t take yourself too damn seriously.
If we all just aspired to that last part, a lot of life would be a lot easier.
Today I’ve been attempting to draft a comprehensive content creation plan (for work and for myself). It’s been interesting. It seemed like such a simple task at the outset — not so much. But more on that tomorrow.
It’s almost Friday!
*Bix is a very dear friend who I occasionally help with editing and content. He’s a bit of a conspiracy theorist (well, more than a bit), but he has a lot of interesting stuff. I’m not sure I’m convinced by all of his theories but a disturbing number of his facts are solid. If even half of what he says turns out as he predicts, we’re all in some deep doo-doo. Check him out: http://www.roadtoroota.com
