Where has all the talent gone?

As serious scribes are well aware, writing takes time, effort, and skill -- as do most interests.  But while a stamp collector, for example, can get by with minimal knowledge on the subject, simply acquiring philatelic wares which catch his or her eye, writers must have focus, direction, and ability.  Training is helpful, too.  I certainly credit my own years in journalism school for providing me with much-needed feedback and guidance, not to mention a forum of preparation for future career endeavors.  But with the advent of self-publishing auspices, whether online or otherwise, genuine talent is not necessarily a criteria for writing and publishing.  Anyone who wishes to do so can with the simple click of a button on a mouse.

But while some bloggers/self-publishers possess legitimate skill and deserve a forum in which to exhibit their talent, others are foisting unpolished written product on the public with neither ability nor respect for the rules of grammar to which serious writers adhere.  I personally believe that anyone who spends the time and effort to compose an article, poem or any other written work should be applauded for the attempt as practice is a prerequisite for talent acquisition.  But there are some who believe that the less gifted who self-publish make the craft and the forum seem a little less legitimate. But should amateur writers, regardless of ability, really be discouraged from exhibiting enthusiastic creativity and developing fledgling skill?  Who amongst us has the right to judge the talent level of self-publishers?  And should professionals not embrace the technology of new media and its energetic participants?  Or are we content to remain in a strident, almost snobbish rut?

This point was reiterated in Mathew Ingram's 2012 article, Publishing is no Longer a Job or an Industry -- It's a Button (http://gigaom.com/2012/04/09/publishing-is-no-longer-a-job-or-an-industry-its-a-button/).  Commenting on author Clay Shirkey's assertion that publishing as an industry may very well be dying a slow death due, in part, to amateur writers and online publishing auspices, Ingram doesn't necessarily agree.  Rather, he believes that professionals in the industry need to focus less on stringency and more on skilled service in an effort to distinguish themselves from non-industry writers and editors.  Editing, proofreading, fact-checking, and research remain as in-demand skills for all writers.  Ingram also believes that professionals need to acknowledge the accomplishments of their counterparts in the alternate publishing world, pointing out the success of the self-published Amanda Hocking, who recently garnered over $2 million dollars in revenue utilizing Amazon's Kindle as a platform.  Ingram also cites the success of John Locke, another do-it-yourself publisher, who has moved over a million units of his written wares.  Ingram's observations are certainly on-point with current trend and his advice is undeniably sensible, but it may not do much to boost the esteem of skilled writers and publishers who have spent years honing their skills, many in a professional environs.

So, where has all the talent gone?  Skilled writers will always remain and they'll always find a way to publish.  And the good news for the gifted is the aforementioned online and self-publishing auspices.  Ingram is correct in his assertion that we need to roll with the times and embrace new mediums and burgeoning talent, regardless of the source.  Technology is opportunity and opportunity should be widespread.  The last thing writers need is to revert to the days of the typewriter, the printing press, and narcissistic isolationism.  Sure, online and self-publishing forums are available to all, but the inclusion of eager amateurs doesn't mean the exclusion of those with the genuine gift of writing or the professional credentials to back up these skills.  Rather, it provides greater opportunities for everyone and ensures that publishing, regardless of its platform or participants, will never perish.

The Return of the Pensive Proofreader

The Pensive Proofreader is back... and armed with an array of editorially oriented adventures!

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Okay, so maybe my proofreading life isn't all that exciting, but I have been working in the corporate world for roughly 1-1/2 years now, which is why I haven't been blogging very much.  My days are full to overflowing and my commute is a lengthy one -- roughly two hours door-to-door.  But thanks to my trusty iPhone, I'm able to pass the time in a productive/semi-productive fashion.  I pay bills, send email, read newspapers, spend quality time on social media, and keep the pace with multiple Words with Friends matches (a given for a wordsmith such as myself), all from the comfort of my very own smart phone.  Technology -- it's such a boredom-alleviating gift.

Which brings me to the return of The Pensive Proofreader.  As much as I enjoy my work (and I do enjoy it), I sometimes feel stuck in a rut with the daily grind of editing and expediting my wares to an anxiously awaiting clientele.  So what's a pensive proofreader to do when they're in the doldrums?  Technology to the rescue. of course!  So, the plan is to begin blogging on my laptop on the weekends again.  I don't believe my smart phone would be very serviceable for blogging purposes, not to mention that public transportation tends not to lend itself to the serenity writers require as part of the creative process.  In any case, I'm back on track again and I'm looking forward to journaling the world as I see it.  Join me on my online journey.

 

Down, But Not Out

Regrettably, The Pensive Proofreader is on an enforced hiatus while my laptop is being serviced.  Meanwhile, I'm writing my blogs out in longhand, so I'll have lots of new material to share once I'm up and running again.  Stay tuned.  I will be back!

Happy Thanksgiving

As part of my ongoing mission to help the homeless, I made the trek yesterday to a local food pantry to donate a few sacks of groceries.  Granted, it was a small offering, but I'm hopeful that my next donation will be bigger.  And the next donation won't be next Thanksgiving.  My goal is to eventually donate on a once-monthly basis, contingent on my financial circumstances.  But I promise to do my best.

As you segue into the start of the holiday season, please take the time to remember the less fortunate.  If you're willing but unable to donate to a food pantry, simply send your silent but loving good wishes their way.  Pause for a few minutes to give gratitude for the warm bed you sleep in, the scrumptious feast you'll dig into, the roof over your head or the good health I hope you enjoy.  If you're employed, appreciate the opportunity to work and for a regular income.  And if you're searching for a job, hang in there.  Just remember -- your new career may be only days away.  You never know.  Please carry that hope in your heart.  It's so important.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Pensive Proofreader!

P.S. -- If you're able to donate, please consider the links to the right of this page.  Thank you.

Better Late Than Never -- Part II

Just wanted to blog a very brief postscript today.  Yesterday, I learned from a surprise connection that the daughter of my now-deceased former co-worker, Lenny, recently gave birth to a baby girl.  So, while Lenny didn't get to experience firsthand the joys of grandparenthood, I'm positively thrilled for Lenny's wife, a first-time grandma who I just know will spoil this special newborn girl absolutely rotten!

And it's so good to know that a part of Lenny will continue to live on -- the next link in his amazing chain.

Write On!

Because my time is limited and there is much I need to accomplish today, I've decided to write a quick blog about writing a blog... or a term paper... or an article... or whatever else.  By nature, I'm a perfectionist, and as I write, I'm constantly in edit mode.  Producing quality, error-free copy is important, so I'm anxious to uncover how I write, why I write, and what steps I take to produce copy which I'm proud to pass onto my readership.

Writing has always been relatively painless for me.  For the most part, I scribe with ease and enjoy all that goes along with it, particularly the research aspects.  But for others, it's a much different story.  Less gifted writers often struggle with the task and tend to produce copy in need of organization, strength of voice, a dictionary or grammatical guidance.  The good news for the less gifted is process writing -- a five-step procedure which involves 1.) brainstorming/pre-writing; 2.) composing a rough draft; 3.) revising that rough draft; 4.) editing as a precursor to producing the perfect copy; and 5.) finally publishing that finished product. 

As a writer, I've rarely had to rely upon the process writing model in its proper form, although I do use some version of it as I write.  I certainly brainstorm before beginning a blog, and God knows I'm constantly editing and revising prior to clicking the "Publish Post" button here on Blogspot.  I'm not much of a rough draft person, though.  I'd rather just write and revise as I go along, which has been my preferred method for decades.  As an elementary school student mastering the process of writing, I could never see the point in writing a rough draft and then rewriting the entire piece over in an attempt to right the first go-round.  It seemed pointless.  So I'm a huge fan of editing and revising my first attempt, which will eventually become my final masterpiece.  However, complete overhauls and I are not friends.

Perhaps I should consider embracing the complete overhaul.  It could be helpful, and I'm sure it would give my copy fabulous wings with which to fly.  But I remain reluctant, viewing its absence as wise time-management on my part.  Interestingly enough, in some fashion, I probably have performed extensive, Joan Rivers-style plastic surgery on my writing, but just the same, I remain in deep denial over the probable existence of any rough draft spawned from either my pen or my keyboard.  So the rough draft continues to receive the cold shoulder treatment and probably will as I continue to write on.

Better Late Than Never

I really need to stop the random Google searches on names from the past.  Sometimes, you're better off not knowing what's become of old friends, long-lost neighbors, and former co-workers.  I found this out the hard way when -- partly out of curiosity and strictly out of boredom -- I recently Google'd the name of a former colleague with whom I'd lost touch a few years ago.  I hadn't seen Lenny since 2008 when he was laid off from the proofreading job in which he took fierce pride.  After the layoff, we kept in occasional touch, primarily by swapping holiday cards.  Last I'd heard, Lenny had been diagnosed with cancer, probably about two years ago, but I'd been told by another former co-worker that, for the most part, he was holding his own.  A health supplements enthusiast and a feisty former Brooklynite, Lenny was the ultimate survivor, so I just knew he could spit in the face of cancer.  He wasn't going anywhere.  He'd be fine.  That's what I thought, anyway...

But cancer spit back and Lenny passed away last December at the age of 74.  Having lost touch with the one former colleague closest to Lenny, I remained unaware of his passing until today when I randomly Google'd his name for an update.  I didn't expect to find much of anything when I initially keyed his name into the search engine, but there was his obituary right before my eyes.  And what followed was an incredible sadness... followed by a rash of respect and admiration.  The Lenny I knew was a solid proofreader who always showed up to work on time, ready to tackle the day with determination as well as whatever job was placed before him.  A cantankerous curmudgeon through and through, he was always primed for battle with any publisher, typesetter or graphic designer who dared disagree with his professional assessments.  Clutching his ballpoint pen, Lenny boldly confronted any number of colleagues, and when things didn't go his way, he simply dismissed it all with a decidedly declarative "To hell with it!"  No standard red proofreader's marker was ever found on Lenny's spotless desk.  He couldn't be bothered, so he stuck with his black ballpoint pen with a vengeance.  Occasionally, he clashed with management, and while I didn't always agree with his stance on certain departmental issues, I had to admire his unabashed zeal in stating his case, as well as the unmistakable pride he took in his proofreading -- a profession he continued in until his early 70s.

But Lenny was so much more than just a proofreader.  He was also a devoted husband and loving parent.  He frequently spoke with love, affection, and fatherly concern about his grown children, who were clearly an integral part of his life.  As for his better half, it just so happened that Lenny and his wife had the good fortune to work at the same firm (albeit in separate departments), so they commuted to work together, took their lunch at the same time, and drove home in each other's company.  Some spouses might have found it tiresome to see so much of their partner during the day, but Lenny's first priority was his wife and his wife's first priority was Lenny, so too much togetherness was never an issue for this loving couple who married in 1958 and would stay together until the final day of Lenny's life in 2010. 

When I first began writing this blog entry,  I was initially experiencing some remorse over Googling Lenny's name and learning of his fate in such a removed, behind-the-keyboard manner.  But in retrospect, I'm glad I took the time for a keyword search.  Granted, it's nearly a year after Lenny's passing, but as the old saying goes, better late than never, so it's time for a tribute to this very deserving man.  So, I'm grateful that that Google search has given me an opportunity to reflect on the life of this fine, feisty gentleman.  It's allowed me to express written appreciation for a person who was once an important part of my life.  It's also given me the chance to continue to value those who remain part of my living cast of characters.  And it's finally time for a very fond farewell...

Love you, Lenny, and I'll never forget you.  Ever.