Dear Editor,
I met someone who was a bit disturbed by the way in which his letter to a newspaper was edited: “Deh seh wha seh yes, but ah don’t like how deh put it,” he said a bit scornfully, obviously displeased. Like it or not editing is a must, part and parcel of the writing game/trade. I remember a certain doctor gentleman being so highly annoyed at the way his letter was mangled he promised never again to deal with that publication. He said had it not been for his name printed below he would have had much difficulty identifying with it.
One of the most annoying things one can experience is reading a letter with your name attached as the author and feeling lost, since it does not have the same sensation or passion as when you first penned it. There are omissions and newness in the arrangements of words – and I’m not saying that it is not at times helpful – but it sure causes some discomfort when it doesn’t fit or convey what you had in mind, and when after reading it you ‘suck yuh teeth,’ don’t like it and are not sure whether you are pleased about it being published or not. From my little comprehension of editing, among other things it ought to allow for the refining of one’s contribution like the pruning of a plant – no fight here. Edit as much as is required but try not to strip the plant/material of all its flowers and its expression of radiance, leaving it listless. Remember this is not straightforward reportage, so it is not always a simple question of correction, prolixity, libel, etc, sifting and collecting basic points; retaining the gist of the text so that nothing else matters, and every other thing is irrelevant rendering the letter kind of cut and dried. Why should that be? There are times when one’s language is couched in a particular way for a reason and is not merely playing around. Many times you struggle for the type of effect you desire the reader to grasp – sometimes in a funny way, other times a serious way – to create an impression on his/her mind. One wants them to picture things through your mind’s eye, forcing your thoughts into them if you like; to see the point and beyond in all its nuances. Even a repetition, as you would know, at times is for effect and is not a mistake. The fact is, you don’t always just state the point!
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
