I edited the hell out of my book of short stories, so I was surprised to spot a misplaced modifier a couple of days ago. A few friends read some of the stories before they were published but they were just proud that their lovely friend Sandee had written pretty stories. Grammatical errors and structural defects weren’t on their radar. They read it and said, “Yay! Sandee wrote a book!”
I’ve been a writer and editor at different jobs. While I know it’s hard to spot grammatical and structural errors in your own work, I thought I was up to the task. The editor at Calliope made just a couple of changes to my short story for the sake of clarity, so I was confident in my editing ability.
I fixed the error for the hard copy version of the book. If I hadn’t used all of my book budget money for advertising, I would have purchased an editor, a big, hunky 25 year old who wouldn’t mind working in my apartment sitting on my lap. I’m looking into it for my other book.
1800ukillme 
I was an editor for years. I am sorry to tell you there are no hunky 25-year-old editors out there, unless they’re also insane.
Oh drat! I’ll take an insane one?
Do you think we could get Daniel Craig or Will Smith to become editors? I know they’re not 25, but then again, neither am I, and they’ll do just fine for me. 🙂
I’m down with this, Carrie. Jeremy Renner is finished with that new Bourne movie so he should be free right now too.
Oh, yes. He’d do just fine, too. Though I can’t wear high heels around him. Not that I ever do anyway.
I could wear heels with him but I probably wouldn’t. It’s all good. I just saw the commercial for the new movie—he’s aging mighty nicely.
Did you ever see him in a TV show a few years ago called “Unusual Suspects”? It was a great cop dramedy but it only lasted a season. I remember watching him in that saying, “That guy’s gonna go places.” Aren’t I clairvoyant? And yes, the years have been good to him.
Ahee heeeee! I’d like to take any one of those young English majors at Columbia University! 😆 (Laughing head, courtesy of your nice list of smiley faces!)
You’re such a cougar, you!
I MUST google image this man.
Oh, yes. You must.
Raowrrrrrrrrr!
I’ll take Ryan Reynolds. After all, he played an assistant editor in The Proposal…
Another fine choice. 🙂
Ryan Reynolds played an assistant editor — I’ll take it!
Sandee, I have gone through my manuscript so many times, and each time I find new things I didn’t spot before. I’m beginning to think the editing is never really done. I guess you just have to get to a point where you say, “It’s good enough” and hope for the best.
At this point that’s exactly my mind set. I appreciate the feedback very much.
Carrie is absolutely right. No piece of writing is ever finished. And no piece of writing is perfect. Go to the bookstore, pick up any book, you will find at least one mistake somewhere. You’re in good company, Sandee.
I’m glad I put it out there because comments like yours remind me that it’s maybe not as monumental. I have seen typos and errors in bookstores — one of the reasons against paying for editing is that I’d be pissed if there were any errors left after having spent money for an editing service.
That’s why I would become a writer. So that I can hire a hunky 25 year old editor who would work in my apartment sitting on my lap.
I think that’s the way it works! 🙂 I believe this is a perk.
Something weird is going on with wordpress. I was following you around the time we connected on LeC’s site, and then I wasn’t. Strange. Anyway, I’M BACK so let’s go have a cocktail to celebrate. Also, please send your editor my way when you’re, ummmm, done with him.
Yay! I’m glad you were able to come back — who knows how the heck these things work at wordpress! As co-followers — I am indebted to share any hunky editors I might have. 😉
Ha! A hunky 25 year old editor on your lap 🙂 You have the coolest mindset Sandee.
Thanks Anette!