Comments on: On Editing

By: bloglily

bloglily — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:52:19 +0000

Ann, You can tell from just this little excerpt that Q-C was a clever, funny guy — and I’m so glad to hear about these essays. They sound terrific. I think some of them must be online, because that’s where I got this excerpt and it was part of a much, much larger piece.

That is the funniest description of editing I have ever read, Archie. Thank you for that!

Hi Charlotte, I’m so glad you’re liking this little sojourn on the prairie! xo, BL

By: Ann Darnton

Ann Darnton — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:04:21 +0000

Quiller-Couch, or ‘Q’ as he was most often known, was one of the great professors of English and his essays on writing should be standard fare for anyone who wants to write good, plain, effective English. I don’t know if they’re still available. My edition was published in 1946 and cost one shilling (about two and a half cents at today’s exchange rates) but I wouldn’t part with it for a fortune. Everyman put out a collection of his lectures in 1943 so it may have made its way into the new series. Do look for them. They are really worth reading.

By: archiearchive FCD

archiearchive FCD — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:38:23 +0000

I edit my writing as I used to prune, back when I had a garden. With large shears, little knowledge and great enthusiasm. Both are best done after long neglect.

By: charlotteotter

charlotteotter — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:15:23 +0000

I edit professionally and that’s a brilliant description of how I do it – “little alarms under the skin”. It is largely an instinctive process.

I’m also loving the Little House on the Prairie project!

By: bloglily

bloglily — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:37:23 +0000

Hello dear Dorothy, yes, that’s the thing, when you wait long enough, your work seems like it belongs to an entirely different person and then you can have at it.

Litlove, it is sort of fun, isn’t it? Much easier than writing in the first place. And when you type up your changes, it does feel like you’ve done a big spring cleaning.

By: litlove

litlove — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:00:57 +0000

I was so interested in what you had to say about editing! I never look forward to it and then when the moment comes I adore cutting. All the bits that never worked, all the words that didn’t fit, anything half-baked or overdone, it all goes in the bin. It feels like the very best kind of spring clean. I’m enjoying the LHOTP updates, too!

By: Dorothy W.

Dorothy W. — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:41:39 +0000

I know just what you mean about giving yourself time and then being able to see what works and what doesn’t — you can read your work as though it were someone else’s. Your editing system seems like it works perfectly well! I’m enjoying your Little House updates, by the way.