Prescribed burning/ Editing
Saturday, March 28th, 2009I just did two rounds back to back of editing. Mary, my editor at Lyrical has pushed me as a writer in ways I didn’t know I could be pushed. I’ll never look at word the same 8-D. I guess today, I’m going to talk about two topics.
For me the process of editing is much like the process of prescribed burning. Yes, you read correctly.
Here is a link if you’re not familiar with the term (Prescribed burning):
http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/prgrass/df03s41.en.html
Now go to this link to see what can come if prescribed burning is managed without loss of control:
http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/prgrass/df03s41.en.html#1
This list on prescribed burning below is directly from the environment Canada website. The editing list is my own.
| It is important to know that burning can do the following: | It is important to know that editing can do the following: |
| -Remove unpalatable dead plant matter-Enhance flowering and seed production
-Topkill shrubs and trees -Create a seedbed -Control and reduce undesirable, introduced grasses and forbs -Provide browse at a height that grazers can reach -Reduce fire hazard -Control insect pests
|
-Remove dead words-Enhance word use and description
-Helps stop undesirables (was, that…) -Creates great imagery to work from -Control and reduce undesirables, (But, very…) -Provided more wholesome nourishment for the readers mind -Reduce the hazard of the entire book going up in flames of confusion -Controls all those pesky warning words, telling, |
This is how I see the similarities between this two activities. Leave the prescribed burning to the professionals in forestry management. I do however encourage you to edit your writing.
Mary, my editor at Lyrical did a wonderful article on writing on the my publishers blog please check it out.
http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/2009/03/writing-tips.html
Kiss,
Mason
