Re: [Re: ot: my first fanfic]

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

>And all professional writers employ them

Yes, but in that case they're called "editors" and are hired not by the
writer to improve his/her writing, but by the publishing house to make
sure that the product is good enough to justify the publisher's
investment. If professional writers could self-publish without needing
the printing/distribution/promotion facilities of the publishing houses,
I'm sure many authors would forego the editorial process.

And, I quite agree, the vast majority of the works would then be the
lesser for it. But to imply that the editor/betareader is a tool of the
trade that "great writers" have learned to employ, rather than an
economic necessity whose role serves as go-between for authors and
publishers, is an IMO misleading statement that shades the truth to
advance an argument that doesn't need such "help".

You know, the sort of thing an editor would catch :)

Best,

Dan