Copy Editors

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 43719

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., alexpie at a... wrote:
bboy_mn said in the heat of the moment:
> >I REALLY REALLY don't like this, REALLY. I think it is fine for
> > copy editors (or whatever they are called) to correct minor 
> > errors, but by no means whatsoever should they be rewriting the 
> > book, and certainly shouldn't be throwing out entire paragraphs. 

Ba's (alexpie) scathing reply:
> 
> A copy editor makes no changes (whether minor or substantive) 
> without them being okayed by the author.  I've been a copy editor 
> for more years than I care to count, and the process is: copy edit, 
> then back to the author, then into production.  Always.  We are also 
> usually told how light or heavy the edit needs to be and, yes, that 
> sometimes involves a great deal of rewriting (not all authors can 
> write, you know).
> 
> I'm a bit red with rage at the moment (whatever we are called?) at 
> the implication that copy editors are some sort of grindylows of 
> publishing.  If changes were made, JKR signed off on them.
>  Ba

bboy_mn, now ever so humbly responds:
Let's say that I might have overstated myself in the heat of the moment. 

It's just that with so many discrepancies between so many different
versions of the same book, I have to wonder whether people are REALLY
following the rules that you so clearly laid out?

When one version says Hagrid borrowed a motorcycle that he clearly
says in another book, was given to him, and when one version says he's
going to take it back to Sirius and another says (roughly) he is going
to store it, that would seem to imple that if Rowling is reviewing all
this, even she doesn't know what happening in the book. JKR knows her
books to well for changes like this to slip past her. Given the
significants of some of the changes, I have trouble believing JKR
approved them. Can't prove it, but that's how I see it.

I think one of the problems is that the US and the UK have different
publishers, and they are having trouble keeping themselves coordinated.

So while I'm sure you are 99% of Copy Editors (so that's really what
they are called, huh?) do a fantastic job, my own personal private
view is that somebody is falling down on the job with Rowling's books.

Sorry, like I said, in the heat of the moment and as pointed out by
other people, I certainly overstate by position in my original post. 

bboy_mn