and I didn't see P-C in it - which means it had a very proffesional edge to it. Nice job. ( and I hate to say it - but your editor was right in takeing out a lot of the pop culture references)

Yeah, I think a lot of the professionalism did come from the editing. Looking back at my first draft, I think at the most, seventy percent made it through revisions unscathed. Of course, the first draft didn't have the interview, so of what went to print, maybe fifty percent was present in the first draft. It was my first article. And it's okay, Joss had no place in that article, really.

And I know you mean the fact that you didn't see me in it as a compliment, but to me, it shows why I don't want to write news articles forever. I want a place to write where you can see me. Cause that's what I want to bring to the table, dammit. Me. I don't know if there's even a job like that. Most want you to conform to their specific style. Which, okay, give me money.

It's a good article, P-C. I usually try to keep up with these things, but I haven't seen any other article that talked about the synergistic effects of Cox-1 and 2. When I first started writing for my student newspaper, I'd really look at what the editor did and sometimes ask him why, and then try to apply that to the next article. One thing I found over the years of working as an editor is that we'd sometimes get new writers who didn't understand that there's an appropriate style for everything and you have to match your writing to the publication. I, as the editor, was pretty damn unlikely to change the publication.

t doing the dance of negative bone scan, negative x-rays, with the minor side step of "let's do a CT scan just to be sure"

I realize now that I am not a free spirit.

P-C, could you put a link in Press?

We all blinked at her sadly, and one of us said, "But . . . but . . . you said there'd be breakfast." She replied, "There's breakfast right there. There's just no coffee."

Back when I was in the freak-ass church, whenever someone moved, you always knew you had a ready-made gang of people who would help you move. The FAC members were all, by and large, caffeine addicts, particularly coffee.

When we helped someone move out of the apartment bldg. I'm in now, we started at 7 a.m. The guys were moving the really big stuff, and I was just shuffling around all useless, until inspiration struck. I ran downstairs, brewed a pot of coffee, and brought it upstairs with mugs, cream, and sugar. You would have thought I brought in gold, or something that people would be equally ecstatic to be given.

From then on, whenever someone moved, I was in charge of making sure there was an adequate supply of caffeine.

I realize now that I am not a free spirit.

Whoa. Prisoner flashbacks.

P-C, could you put a link in Press?

Done, Betsy. I was unsure if it was really Press-worthy, since it felt kind of pimptastic, but you asked so nicely.

so of what went to print, maybe fifty percent was present in the first draft. It was my first article.

P-C, retaining 50% of the original is pretty good. Particularly in newspapers, they have to cut to fill the inches they have available, which isn't something they know when the story is assigned. I don't think it was because it was your first article -- that's always going to happen.

As both an editor AND a writer, let me say this: as a writer, I *loathe* being edited. I loathe it with a white-hot passion, because I am *positive* that Divine Inspiration came out of my pen on the first try, that every word, every comma, every paragraph break *belongs* there.

And every single time I let someone edit my writing, it ends up much better than it started. But with editing comes cutting things out. It happens. So brace yourself, my friend. It's going to happen to you over and over, particularly if you're writing for newspapers.

I want a place to write where you can see me. Cause that's what I want to bring to the table, dammit. Me. I don't know if there's even a job like that.

There are jobs like that, P-C. The problem is, and no one wants to hear this, is that you have to pay some dues first. Editors are not only looking for writing skill but also for a demonstated ability to deliver. Over time, I came to believe that I was ultimately a better writer from my years of journalism and some of my corporate writing, because my natural tendency is to be more discursive and, well, chatty, but the edited, more focused articles were better.

What Ginger and Steph Said.

Most entry-level writing jobs require collaboration. Some writing professions, like journalism and writing for television, require collaboration even at the most senior levels.

You have to learn to take an edit. And when you do, you'll probably learn to be retroactively grateful.