Things I've Learned From Copyediting, No. 1

In fiction, if you want to apply any unlikely detail to anything, something that is kooky and makes no sense in context but, damn it, you love it and want to throw it the heck in there, use the word somehow. This word is invaluable in allowing you to drop in a detail or situation without the responsibility of having to explain it. For example, "The eight-year-old somehow cooked the coq au vin for the entire congregation." Now, I made that up, but you get the idea. . . .

Happy Christmas everyone!

Blackadder's Christmas Carol down, Alastair Sim's Christmas Carol to go.


Baldrick: ... I've nearly finished the Christmas cards.

Ebenezer: [taking off his tall hat] Oh, splendid! Let me see... [opens up a card he has picked up from the desk] "A Very Messy Christmas." I'm sorry, Mr Baldrick -- shouldn't that be "merry"?

Baldrick: "A Merry Messy Christmas"? All right, but the main thing is that it should be messy -- messy cake; soggy pudding; great big wet kisses under the mistletoe ...

Ebenezer: Yes ... [going to hang up his coat and scarf] I fear, Mr Baldrick, that the only way you're likely to get a big wet kiss at Christmas -- or, indeed, any other time -- is to make a pass at a water closet. However, be that as it may... [Baldrick gives him the card again] "A Merry Messy Christmas." "Christmas" has an H in it, Mr Baldrick.

Baldrick: Oh ...

Ebenezer: ... and an R. Also an I, and an S. Also T and M and A ... and another S. Oh, and you've missed out the C at the beginning. Congratulations, Mr Baldrick! Something of a triumph, I think -- you must be the first person ever to spell "Christmas" without getting any of the letters right at all.

Perfect!

From Time magazine ...

SARAH PALIN to get $7 million book deal. Copy editors to demand half.

Things are getting very scary in the publishing world ... been following the changes and layoffs through contacts I have and through Publishers Weekly. (This article, for example, which talks of things that directly affected a client.) My Listserv called it Black Wednesday, and it seems true. This article was also rather cheery regarding pay freezes.

It's all made me grateful for the work and contacts that I have; because journals are rather lucrative, I feel that my work is probably generally safe. (*gulp* I hope.) But of course, as a freelancer, I must grow and change and keep my eyes open. I can't put off taking some editing courses any longer; next time they come up I'll be registering. I'll also have to go back to assessing my workload, checking on new opportunities when available, and so on.

2009 should be very interesting!!