Quote:
Originally Posted by Joykins
The examples you give are not necessarily bad *writing* so much as bad (or no) *editing* or even proofreading. Rewriting may address some of those problems but you can't expect the author to catch everything. The recent surge in self-publishing means many lightly to not-at-all edited manuscripts are out there, and it shows. I also see this lack in online journalism. An important stage in the publishing process is being cut out and we are, alas, living with the results.
signed, former editor.
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Alas, the book may well have been expertly edited but the author, who is the final arbiter of what constitutes appropriate prose, may have rejected every (or most) of the editor's suggestions. Editors are
not the final word; the author is the final word. I know from experience that this happens, and I also know that even traditional publishers will often bow to the author's wishes in this regard.
No matter how you cut it, I think both the blame and responsibility entirely belong on the author and no one else.
- If the author self-edited, the author deserves the blame for the crappy book the author self-edited.
- If the author hired an incompetent editor, author deserves the blame for the crappy book because the author should have taken steps to hire a qualified, professional editor.
- If the author hired an qualified, professional editor and then rejected the editor's advice and corrections, the author deserves the blame for the crappy book because the author should have at least accepted the editor's suggestions regarding word choice, spelling, and grammar.
I see no reason to pass the buck.