Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemurion
As an editor, I hate working with writers who believe everything they write is sacred. I don't make a lot of changes (other than obvious typos) but I do make suggestions, and any writer who isn't willing to listen to suggestions is going to have an almost impossible time improving their craft.
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I wouldn't have a problem listening to suggestions. I tend to know when my writing isn't right anyway, I just get a sort of feeling about it or someting will nag away at me for a few days until I figure out what is wrong.
The main problem really I think is a lot of writers see it as an artform rather than a collaborative process. But publishers tend to see things in terms of monetary value and how they can maximise profits.
So they will want things like 10 page kitten killing descriptions cut out because it will affect profits, or they will tell you not to write about snail racing syndicates because the potential market isn't large enough, or they will say you can't have the narrator swear in every sentence.
Those are the sort of things that will cause friction between "artist" and businessman.