Thursday, July 06, 2006

Sticking My Blog In My Mouth... Part 2

Hmmmm... what do you all think about someone rewriting just about every word you have written in order to make it more "accessible" and "moderate"?

Damn. Why can things not be easy? I need to think this over...


***

And they can't pay me.

Every email brings more fun.

I can totally clean up the language... but, I don't really think I know how to do true "Mommy Blogging"... funny stories about sippy cups and potty training. I mean, I can, but it sounds lame...

People, I jumped into this wayyyyy too quickly. This falls in the "be careful what you wish for" school of thought...

I'll keep you all up to speed. They don't need (expect) anything from me until the September 7th issue (technically, the 31st of August), so I have plenty of time to practice writing more sweetly and to clip coupons.

***

and yet again, I update... here is where we stand: regular guest columns (monthly) on timely topics for free... for now.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The editor's red pen is like a dagger to the heart. Ow.

I like the raw edge to your writing. I wouldn't want you to change that. Unless they wanted to give you a book deal, then I could live with it.

Mom101 said...

Welcome to the hell that is editing. Antique mommy said it.

On one hand, you have to be true to you. Don't sign your name to anything you're not proud of.

On the other hand, if it's cleaning up language and the concepts still feel like your own, it's probably worth it for the experience and the exposure. Your choice...

Melissa said...

Yup, what Antique Mommy and Mom-101 said all the way.

Maggie said...

Kristin - stick with it. I'm employed as a writer and I have an editor that red pens everything I write. Every paper, company, and magazine has their own style -- you just have fit your groove with theirs. It won't take long. The editing will lessen in time.

Gracencameronsmomy said...

That is a tough decision.It's a start, I guess. Don't let them change too much!!
Lisa

Joannah said...

Do what you love - the money will follow...

I can't believe *that* publication wants you to clean up your language! Are you serious? That has got to be the most subversive rag these innocent eyes have ever read! ;-)

M3 said...

Ok, I clicked over to leave a comment saying "No pay? Forget that, that's the same as you get paid to do whatever you want on your own blog!" But everyone else seems to disagree, so what do I know...

Wendy said...

Very cool! Can I tell all my friends in OC that I "know" the very funny mama who writes that column in their paper?

carrie said...

I agree with the opinion that you should keep your work your own as much as possible, and I think that it is a very cool experience for you as long as you're enjoying it!

Carrie

Anonymous said...

I would do it for free as long as they are willing to put a tag line that reads "you can find more of Krisin's stuff at www. "

The exposure would be worth the grief.

j.sterling said...

i would hate that. i would hate if someone wanted me to clean things up- because then it wouldn't be true to who i am. you know what i mean? iw ouldnt' want you to write any differently because someone didn't want you to say a certain word, or word things a certain way... i would want you to write with no holding back- no cage around you- just being you. but mom101 makes a good point, that if you can clean up the language and still feel completely like you, that's one thing. if you can't, that's another.

Suburban Turmoil said...

If it makes you feel any better, I have an editor who changes one WORD here and there and it totally freaks me out! We get spoiled with our self-published blogs!

I say do it. Use it as a stepping stone to get somewhere better. Keep your edge as much as possible. Leave as soon as you find something that pays.

The reality is that a lot of places won't even look at you unless your writing is IN PRINT somewhere, so I think this job will definitely help your prospects.

Good luck! :)

Kevin Charnas said...

Are you sure you want to do this when you have complete creative control here?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations - it's a start, and that is something to be said for yourself!

Anonymous said...

Ditto Antique Mommy - I think a link to your personal blog would be a reasonable request.

If you consistently don't like what you're seeing in the edits, then it may not be a fit. But give it time.

Anonymous said...

As long as "you" can be heard, go for it!

Kelly Wolfe said...

Ask yourself, will the paper be getting more out of you than you are out of them (money, creative control) it may not be worth it. You have total creative freedom and world wide fame :) from your blog. It may not be worth the hassle. Wait and see.


Friends of mine who were sports fans and became sports writers now HATE watching games. Know what I mean? When it become a job, the fun is taken away.

Do whatever makes you happy.

Lisa

Lisa

Erica Douglas said...

Wow, Congratulations, that's a real acheivement, and after all, it's all about exposure. Free today....who know what tomorrow will bring though!

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