It’s unbelievable the things people say to you when they find out you’re an editor. “Oh, really,” and she walks away before she can make a grammatical error in her next sentence. Or, “Here’s a copy of my newsletter for you to read, as long as you promise not to EDIT it,” he writes. And, here’s the really passive-aggressive response—a warm welcome from a member of an online group I once joined: “Great, you can be our critic! (only kidding)” It all makes me feel lonely, depersonalized and unappreciated. Guys, I’m really not that bad. And I really like people. I think of them as flesh and blood, not a just a bundle of words and thoughts that must be placed into some kind of order. I don’t care how you speak, or how badly you write. I’ll still listen intently to what you have to say, and read your writing with great interest. And I’ll gladly provide suggestions, but only when I’m invited to do so— and preferably for money. So, please think of this, the next time you meet an … [Read more...]