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Words to the Wise
Let’s Turn to the
Big Picture
Those of you who
have faithfully followed my articles in
The Beacon will have noticed that I have focused on the
minutia of editing—punctuation, verb style, word usage—detail
that I said in my inaugural piece makes writing flow, smoothes
the reader's way, spares the reader the irritation of
interruption and confusion. But minutia, defined by the
Canadian Oxford Dictionary as "a precise, trivial, or minor
detail," is only one part of editing (though it is often the
part that makes for the best debate; in fact, the debate can get
downright dirty!). Another part is "substantive" or "structural"
editing, what I like to call the "Big Picture."
When an editor looks
at structure, she asks herself, Does the structure of the
manuscript work as whole, given the nature of the publication? A
personal essay or opinion piece for a local newspaper will be
structured differently than a short story, website, or how-to
book. A letter to the editor cries out for a logical sequence
that the reader can grasp in seconds without effort. A novel
calls for a compelling sequence that will captivate and hold the
reader for many hours. Structural rules are not carved in stone,
but readers and publishers have expectations. Whatever your
piece its organization must be easy to follow, without gaps,
missing steps, or unclear transitions. Readers look for prose
that is clear, concise, and a pleasure to read. Few will
backtrack to figure out your argument or make sense of what your
characters are doing. What matters most is a structure that,
combined with all the other elements of good writing, draws your
reader right to the last sentence.
In my last piece I promised
to let you know the outcome of the West Coast Editor’s survey on
the serial comma. Final results: For—84.3%; Against—12.7%;
It doesn’t matter—1.5%; Only as required—1%; I abstain—1%. Let’s hear it for the serial comma!
Recommended
resource on substantive editing:
Editors’
Association of Canada Professional Editorial Standards
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