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Jan. 9, 2005 After hitting the send key on my computer, I had second thoughts about my last article. Not so much about the topic of my article, but about mentioning a member whose writing led me to my conclusion. I was thinking that she just didn't realize how unclear her writing style was, and if I had not mentioned her name and allowed an editor to gently suggest some revisions she would improve, while naming her paints her into a corner, as it were. But before I could write an apology, she wrote me. "Since you mentioned my name and note sir when I posted this whole controversay was started when a certain person asked for an opinion. Now you say you have trouble following my thoughts. I wrote an article that I do not have spell check on this particular column. To change and or edit another author's articles violates one essential element of the constitution on freedom of press. However since this is posted for free I believe and not for pay I try to do the best that I can. Now I have successfully written and had published a novel which I used a style guide. It interferes with the individual freedom of any author no matter how poorly any item is written. My main goal in posting on this particular forum was to deal with real issues and not be made to defend my life. It seems to me a double standard is issued here. However not everyone is going to agree and you are entitled to your opinion as are the others who have written articles. I do have my other novels to finish and I will express my opinion and guess what the odds are running twenty to one on Ron. He really seriously needs to take stock in what others have tried to tell him but he listens only to himself." The above was written by Judy Lloyd on Friday January 7th at about 8:31 PM. My response was "And you only listen to your own opinion too?" Trying to point out that she would get further both in life and in Useless Knowledge if she would open her ears and learn. But there is another point in her E-mail that I have to refute. Useless knowledge articles are written for a "online magazine," (per useless knowlege: "about us"). There is a difference between works written for a book publisher and those written for a magazine or newspaper. As the son of two newspaper editors, both of whom were former reporters, I am a little bit familiar with the genre. In a book, the author submits the writing to the editor, who revises and sends it back to the author, it is only published when the author is happy with it. In the newspaper/magazine industry, the article is given to the editor, who determines what changes are needed, and prints it with those changes. If you don't like it, don't submit to that genre. As for copyright, see http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wci the US copyright office. There are a few misconceptions several people have (especially people who use vanity or POD presses). One is that you have to submit a book to the library of congress, another is that the author of a commissioned work has copyright. Copyright protection begins when you write the text in question, the only reason to register it is to "prove," your claim. If you could prove that you wrote a article that another person submitted to the library of congress, you would retain the copyright, and they would not have any copyright rights. The only exception would be if the person who submitted the article had commissioned you to write it and you agreed to give them copyright. If an editor commissions you to write an article for a publication, and the two of you agree that the editor gets copyright, then you do not have copyright. There are certain "common use," copyrights traditionally granted to editors, most notably the write to edit the work without returning it to the writer for approval. But don't take my word for it, ask any magazine editor. The question I don't know the answer to is: is Useless Knowledge a professional periodical, with traditional editing rights granted to the editor, or a "letters to the editor," blog. The fact that the Editor specifically retains the right to choose your title suggests the former (see Useless Knowledge: "submission page"). Anyway, I should also mention Judy's rebuttal to my reply (at 9:49 PM Friday): "Well I just posted to Matt the fact that you guys can have it. I have to work on my novels so help yourself." Then she wrote me again (at 11:20 Friday)... "I went back and reread the terms of submission. This site was intended for fun and the love of writing. Not that it would really matter because you judged me already. However when I worked on my first published novel I had the help of several teachers versed and published many times over than I lucratively. They were given credit in my book. But then you never read my book so then one would not truly know my style. I also wrote for several newspapers owned by some very well known editors that did as you suggested. If my work was so seriously flawed as you have indicated then maybe it is because I remember one key thing as I wanted to point out to write and speak in the manner as appropiate for the character. However I am offended past the point of just laughing this off and that is why I told Matt I am leaving until further notice so you won't have to worry about my style. And I did write well over a hundred articles on this column and recieved National Attention for my articles on cancer. Sorry if I stepped on the toes of the old boy society." So since I haven't read your book I don't know your style? I have tried to read several of your articles (I have read all of the words in each article, but I can't say that I have read them, because that implies understanding). Are you saying that you intentionally write badly so that people will have to buy your book to see your perfect prose? While I can see the point of selling your best writing and giving away only trash, I was under the impression you were attempting to advertise your book by writing these articles. If so, you may want to consider putting better writing on here. I notice you slipped and used a better writting style in your E-mails to me than in your articles. I guess you didn't realize I might re-destribute them and give away your better work. You have mentioned a few times that "I wrote an article that I do not have spell check on this particular column" You know what, I don't think folks are talking about spelling, they are talking about sentence and paragraph structure. I might have written that "I did not have spell check when I wrote the article," or the slightly more wordy, "When I wrote the article I did not have spell check." But your exact meaning is unclear, perhaps you meant "When I write articles i do not have spell check available." I hope you see the difference. Yes everyone has their own writing style, and there are an infinate number of ways to put together a sentence. Experienced writers often make occasional variences from standard rules of English for emphasis (for instance I often begin sentences with "but," when I want to emphasize contrast, even though it is not an acceptable way to begin a sentece, and I overuse parenthetical side comments), but a sentence should still be NV, NVN, or NVNN. And please, please, please, keep your cases in agreement. "I wrote" (past perfect) "an article that I do not have" (present perfect) "spell check on this particular column" If "you wrote," "you did," if "you write," "you do." Ugh, I give up, I'm talking to a wall. Write what you want, I don't care any more. ------------ Email Aaron Baker: aaror@writing.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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