25Sep

You are not inside your subject’s head, but if so, maybe only to the extent they want you to be

Against a light blue background, an illustration of a human brain, darker blue in this case, has chains and a lock on it, and the lock is unlocked.

Voice-of-God reporting is a problem in American journalism. The stakes aren’t as big in sports as in politics, but I have examples to share.

22Sep

This is the kind of editor I aspire to be, with an emphasis on ‘kind’

A woman unknowingly tracks a piece of toilet paper on the bottom of her boot, which makes for an embarrassing time.

What does being a kind-hearted editor have to do with toilet paper? I’m about to tell you: free, gratis. No charge.

20Sep

Oh, the places you’ll go with ACES in your editing life

Against a burgundy wine fabric background, items from ACES 2016 are spread out. An ACES 2016 tote bag, a black Olympus digital recorder, a pair of blue sunglasses, a copy of Bill Walsh's "Lapsing Into a Comma," an iPhone with the cover of the ACES 2016 program and schedule showing, a pen on top of a notebook on which notes have been jotted down from the session titled "Sexist Creeps: How to Catch and Fix Sexist Language," and one of several sheets from a session titled, "Sweat This, Not That."

Have you ever wondered, “Why is this an English language rule? Is it still a rule?” If so, ACES might be a good fit for you.

16Sep

A podium? A lectern? Both? A detail worth sweating at all?

Football season makes me think about lecterns and podiums far more often than I’d like. Let me say this, then.

26Aug

Let’s talk about ‘unnecessary’ words

An April 25th screenshot from The New York Times shows a teaser with the headline: Follow the Funeral of Pope Francis. Under that are five headshots of people, presumably members of the paper's coverage team. Under the photos, there is this: The New York Times will have more than a dozen reporters and photographers on the ground in Rome covering the funeral of Pope Francis. Join us for live video, updates, images and analysis from St. Peter's Square on Saturday. Under that, in bold type, it says: Here's what to expect." There is an arrow indicating the reader should click there to find out more.

If you’re not careful, you can let cutting words from a story become its own moral good, one with diminishing returns.

17Dec

When I read somewhere that ‘a spokesman declined comment,’ I think, ‘What? It’s not tea’

Editors Tea Club mugs in front of a Wonder Woman movie soundtrack album purse.

Lest you get the idea that I don’t know how to be a cranky old-timer about words and how they are used, I have a treat for you.

13Dec

I have many thoughts about heavy-handed editing, especially that it feels so dreary

I think many who prefer to work that way have never had more inclusive, loving, liberating, conscious editing and writing modeled for them.

30Oct

People are remembering Vin Scully’s words, but let’s not forget his well-timed silence

Here’s a World Series bonus blog post for you before the Dodgers and Yankees play Game 5.

13Oct

Pro tip: The more you make the job about style, maybe even grammar, the easier it will be to lay you off

There are worlds where style and grammar are everything. This is not about them. This is about where there’s so much more editors must do.

12Oct

The best decision I ever made about my writing was also the easiest one

Don Draper said it in the “Mad Men” world of advertising: “Stop writing for other writers.” I heard it long before the show ever aired.

CarlyJDubois.com

Tag: language

You are not inside your subject’s head, but if so, maybe only to the extent they want you to be

This is the kind of editor I aspire to be, with an emphasis on ‘kind’

Oh, the places you’ll go with ACES in your editing life

A podium? A lectern? Both? A detail worth sweating at all?

Let’s talk about ‘unnecessary’ words

When I read somewhere that ‘a spokesman declined comment,’ I think, ‘What? It’s not tea’

I have many thoughts about heavy-handed editing, especially that it feels so dreary

People are remembering Vin Scully’s words, but let’s not forget his well-timed silence

Pro tip: The more you make the job about style, maybe even grammar, the easier it will be to lay you off

The best decision I ever made about my writing was also the easiest one