It's a tough (sometimes, thankless) task being an editor. You're meant to make the writer look good, while not drawing too much attention to yourself. Rescue the fire from the smoke sort of thing. Good editors know what a writer is trying to say, how they wish to achieve it, and do their magic backstage, allowing the writer to bask in the limelight. Good, humble writers, in turn, know to give credit to their editors and fully realize that the task of selection and omission is in itself an art.
But, sometimes, an editor (misreading the intentions of a writer, or asserting their own) might overstep their boundaries and trample on a writer's fragile ego. How dare they presume to take such liberties with my work? the scandalized writer recoils, with a sharp intake of breath, incandescent with righteous indignation. A milder version of this occurred to me as a result of a rather unusual, recent experience.
Upon the request of an editor to submit work, I sent in a batch of new aphorisms. This was the response I received:
I really like what you are up to and where your spirit goes. What you sent won’t really work for me on its own. To that end, I’ve taken the liberty of selecting particular lines to make a more condensed piece.
Over the years, I've grown accustomed to rejections, due to differing tastes, etc... but, this was a first. This intrepid editor had actually, selected some stand-alone aphorisms of mine and turned into a 'poem'! I did not wish to rush to judgement, but admit to feeling conflicted about results of the uninvited collaboration.
The words, below, are mine--minus connective tissue, such as: for, that or and. But the sequence, the line breaks, the "poem"... I don't know that I can call my own. One one level, I'm flattered (strangely moved, even) that an editor would take the time and care to engage in this manner. But, writing is such an intimate matter... The aphorisms I submitted were conceived as stand-alone and, even though some naturally cluster together and share common concerns, this editor's presentation somehow felt alien to my spirit. In the end, I had to trust my instincts and decline publication.
We’re here to pass around the ball of light, while trying
to keep our fingerprints off it. We are here
to remind
each other that we do not choose our work,
we merely consent to it.
Heaven save us from tragic seriousness; teach us
to play, divinely, for no matter how
we dream or scheme,
being born is always a surprise.
Poor rational mind, it would sooner accept a believable lie
than an incredible truth. Certain silences
are more damning than words; they are actions.
As with any wild animal, it's unwise
to turn our back to life. Those who speak ill of life
only smear their own names.
And said a poem to a poet: can I trust you? Is your heart pure
to carry me; are your hands clean to pass me on?
For a poem arrives like a hand in the dark
and carries the native tongue of hysterics - adolescents and mystics, alike.
We steal from ourselves when we share an idea,
or a feeling – before it has ripened.
When in doubt, meditate upon your wound.
Art is the love we make by ourselves,
says the ego. Art is the love we make with an invisible other,
replies the spirit.
Strange, how our weaknesses can be strengths
in disguise, and vice versa.
Treat life as seriously as you would a dress rehearsal.
For each time we betray our conscience, we strangle an angel.
And, yet,
it’s not certain we are allotted an infinite supply
of winged pardons.
I love love love this- but I find collaborations like this inspiring, and have never had my work published or reviewed by a professional editor. I guess the real question is, do you give the editor co-writing credit for doing this? Or just editing credit?
Grinning broadly
You’re just the person I hoped to hear from on this.
Books, for example, are long term relationships & I think a certain affinity between author & editor is quite important.
Whereas, magazine/online publication is a comparatively brief affair & generally dictated by whimsical tastes.
In this case, had I agreed to publish, I might have wished to include a short note explaining that this was a kind of creative collaboration (something this editor did not request).
Different folks... 😀
It is encouraging that the editor took the time to "cut and paste", but I agree that you must be comfortable with whatever is published, as it is out there forever.
Writing for posterity is a daunting prospect... But, whether we know it or not, and like it or not, this is what we do, even when we post on here, too.
Yes, I think of that often. It gives you pause. I have no journals or writings of my ancestors. Quite different now.
It used to be only professional writers had to worry about such things, no more. We all live outloud, now, and might taste immortality...
If he had worded his response to you differently, perhaps you would have considered it differently.
Editors can very easily overstep their bounds. Trying to help someone with a work is a very careful thing. You might see where they could rewrite something to sound better, but you can only suggest small changes. If you completely rewrite something, you become a coauthor.
In a way, the editor may have overstepped his role...but he isn't the author. You are still clearly the author. What he made is something between a colage and an abridged version.
I think what he made is beautiful, but I don't really like the way he formatted it. It looks weird to me.
You know what, I think you may be right... If he had presented it as a kind of collage, I might have been more intrigued. But, a collaboration needs to be consensual, and he didn't really ask...
Thank you, for your considered response and for finding beauty in it. I think that it's there, too, which made it hard for me, initially, to give a flat No.
But, it just didn't feel quite right, the approach or outcome and, for better or worse, I try to remain true to some crazy ideal of art that I carry in my heart.
Generally speaking, I hate editors. I was married to one, trust me on this :)
Actually, I have had more than a couple of editors make my writing better. I have had two or three that made me completely crazy. Not counting the ex wife. She never edited anything of mine except by accident.
Even worse than editors is being asked to edit something. That makes me hop up and down crazy.
I've never, ever had an editor do anything like that to me. I strongly suspect hop up and down crazy would be appropriate there. What a strange thing.
Haha, that's funny! Wives, I suspect, are contractually obligated to edit us :P But, for her to be a professional editor is another order of magnitude...
I have a hard time editing the works of others, too (past the obvious spelling and grammatical stuff). It seems like censoring their soul!
Thanks, for commiserating & confirming that I was right to pass (minus the hop up and down crazy; I save that for my personal affairs ;)
Yes, I think he over-stepped, given that was not the guise of acquiring the submission. If he wanted to collaborate, he should have approached you from this perspective. Where art is concerned, one is wise to trust his instinct; for instinct is in touch with the spirit. If it didn't feel right; it didn't feel right:)
Thank you, Pryde, for answering my quandary with my own words --- as my work is already a collaboration with the spirit :) Still, perhaps, if it were better done, or took the work to the next level, than I would think differently...
I was thinking the same thing:)
@yahialababidi, The success of a writer there is a great editor, The editors are praying for the author successful and prosperous, the editor is always behind the scenes and behind the stage waiting with the anxious appearance of a book that raised the name of the author.
Yes, what you describe is the best kind of editor 🙏🏼
Thank you very much @yahialababidi.