The Dangers of Editing

Peer Editing is bad for me. So is writing in books.

Point Number One.

This semester I'm in an introduction to creative writing class. So for every class we're supposed to read one of our classmate's stories and write a 200 word or more critique by the next class (and trust me, that gets old after a while). But the reason I bring this up is that now my automatic mode is to grab a pencil and start marking up someone's work.

Point Number Two.

Some teachers have finally forced me to admit the necessity of writing in books. I've spent the first nineteen years of my life avidly resisting this intrusion. When asked why, the best I can do is fumble for an answer that consists of "Well, I've always shared books with my siblings, or checked them out from the library, so writing in them wasn't really in option." While this is mostly true, I've been reflecting on it and realized that there was a bigger reason. I think of books primarily for enjoyment. And if a whole bunch of notes are scattered all over the page, you can't let yourself fall into the secondary world; you are always being pulled back and forced to analyze the passage before you can even really read it. If a book is worth reading, I liked to pass it on to someone else and let them enjoy it as well. They can't do that if notes are written all over the page and passages are underlined for no apparent reason. Why did they underline that passage about the circus? Or so-and-so's hair? Maybe this is only a problem for OCD people like myself, who must read every word of every sign, cereal box, and posted flyer. But one of my good friends brought this up too, so I don't really think so.

Result.

There are reasons why crazed OCD editors are not let loose on the unsuspecting world. Now that I have overcome my law about not writing in schoolbooks, at least (in pencil, mind you), and now that I have been consistently reviewing and critiquing people's work, I can't get myself to stop. I was reading a fiction book last night, and while I liked the plot idea, silly though it was, my overwhelming desire was to take a pencil and write notes of correction all over the pages. Change this sentence, please please please show don't tell, is this your character's view, or your own, check historical accuracy, lame sentence, etc.

This new editorial furor is not limited to books. I find errors on websites, handouts, everywhere. Unfortunately, there are a few problems and limitations. It has not helped me look at my own work objectively. I see what I think I wrote, and often not what is actually there. Second, it is not a consistent gift. I suppose that’s what happens when you have a dyslexic, spelling-disabled fantasy reader turned journalist to deal with. So in the end I’m left in my lovely castle of words until a jarring error sends me spiraling down to earth. Just make sure yours isn’t the one in a hundred error I’ll catch. :)


P.S. I have no clue why they make “dyslexic” such an impossible word for dyslexics to spell. It’s cruel.