Writing on the Wall
Graffiti on a wall at Pompeii. Today’s editing will be a bit easier than deciphering...
Read MoreGreat Article on Thoreau
In a fine piece from the Oct. 19 issue of The New Yorker, writer Kathryn Schulz challenges Henry David Thoreau’s experiment at Waldon pond, along with the canonical status resulting, in part, from his account of the experience (click on “read more” to see the link).
Read MoreSeeking Editorial Help for a Dissertation
Is it ethical for dissertators to seek help from a substantive or developmental editor? It depends. If at all possible, grad students should get such help from their committee members, especially the committee chair. But sometimes the chair is simply unavailable or has to be replaced, and replacements don’t always offer enough. When students know their subject matter but need help with argumentation or structure, working with an editor can be acceptable. But an editor cannot replace the committee chair or “fix” the thesis for the student. The upshot: Before signing a contract, both the student and the editor should vet the situation (and each other)...
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading
What am I reading these days? Jeanette Winterson’s new novel, The Gap of Time, is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale. I’m halfway through and loving it so far. A great book to curl up with as the air cools and the leaves...
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