The Elements of Editing: A Modern Guide for Editors and Journalists

by Arthur Plotnik

This edition shares ISBN 002047430X with another edition.

A concise introductory guide to editing manuscripts, articles, and other writing.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Journalism, Unfinished, How To

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Arthur Plotnik is the author of nine books, including "Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style" and two Book-of-the-Month Club selections: "The Elements of Expression" (revised and expanded in 2012) and "The Elements of Editing." Among his many publications are award-winning essays, biography, short fiction, and poetry. He studied under Philip Roth at the Iowa (Graduate) Writers Workshop and worked as editorial director for the American Library Association. He serves on the Board of "The Writer" magazine and lives in Chicago with his wife, the artist Mary H. Phelan.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to share what is possibly the most erotic paragraph ever to discuss copyediting:

"An editor's only permanent alliance is with the audience, the readership. It is the editor's responsibility to hook that readership; to edify it, entertain it, stroke it, shake it up—do whatever necessary to keep the medium hot and desirable for the people who support it."

Hot and desirable. Exactly how I like my edits.

Most of the book's technical recommendations are way out of date, as it was published in the 1980s, but there are still nuggets of salient advice for those of us who make our living fixing other people's writing. Lent to me by my manager.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not particularly interested in ever becoming an editor, I have done some work line-editing, and with the amount of writing I've been doing, I soon hope to have dealings with someone bearing the earned title of 'Editor'. Though a few sections of this book were hopelessly outdated (The chapter on Information Retrieval, in particular) there was still a good bit of information to be gleaned in helping someone like me understand the process and motivations of my future editor. As some authors and editors seem to have a tenuous relationship, I'd prefer to go into the industry with empathy toward someone who is employed to improve the quality of my work.

I enjoyed the wit and general skill of the author in conveying a range of applicable information and scenarios, as it kept the book from being as dry as I'd expected. The chapter on troubleshooting was enlightening, though I'm not sure that the laws mentioned are up to date. The two-page exhaustive definition of a book editor (at the beginning of chapter 8) was an amusing bit I think anyone could appreciate. And I was particularly grateful for the emphasis in understanding that an editor ultimately is an advocate for the readers, not for the author.

What kind of person makes a good editor?:
“When hiring new staff, I look for such useful attributes as genius, charisma, adaptability, and disdain for high wages.”

What does an editor do?:
“An editor's job is to shape the expression of an author's thoughts, not the thoughts themselves.”

All told, I wish they would release an updated edition! This could continue to be a valuable tool among those dealing with the literary industry.

[Trixy Lemell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could find a more current updated version of this book. The Elements of Editing is perfectly edited. Of all the books on writing I've read this one cuts the fat and is nothing but what I need. There are no long winded stories and analogies that go on for paragraphs and pages. Nope, every page of this book had a post it for notes and the notes were straight forward. Just think of when you read reviews that say, "They could of said it in half the pages."

Plotnik says it in half the pages...and it is still entertaining.

[Jack T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half captured my fascination in the field of editing while i was left adrift during explanations of copyright and libel standards

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This broad-ranging handbook is mostly for journalistic editors, but I found it helpful and interesting (it's true that I'm intrigued by most discussions of editing and writing, but I think anyone can appreciate the simplicity, directness, experience, and humor with which this book was written).

I skimmed quickly through the chapters on copyright and libel (many of the rules have probably changed since 1982, when this book was written), but I found the section on electronic editing to be surprisingly up-to-date in places. For instance, Plotnik assures editors that computers will not push them out of existence because "readers get tired of information overload...readers will seek a level of selectivity, clarity, embellishment, and warmth that brain cells seem better able to achieve than microprocessors."

The section on being a book editor was very enlightening and convinced me I have no interest in pursuing that job position (though I wouldn't mind line editing for a book publishing company).

I have to admit, though, even if the rest of the book hadn't won me over, my technical writer's heart would have been won by Plotnik's advice in the photography chapter: "Be sure to safeguard the instruction booklets that come with the camera. These booklets used to be written in strange English: 'Please to insert eyeball in viewfinder.' Now, with gentle prose and lavish illustrations, they serve as well as any mentor..."

And about editing, Plotnik says: "An editor edits above all to communicate to readers." Yes. It's that simple. And that difficult.

[Joseph Carrabis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious writers and all the authors I know know Strunk&White's "The Elements of Style," aka The Little Book.
Few authors and no writers I know have heard of Arthur Plotnik's The Elements of Editing and, while not what I'd call required reading, it is definitely useful reading.
Plotnik's The Elements of Editing is about the jobs of editors on the publishing end. This book will not help you edit your own work (at least not much. I did find some useful information in it, but I'm just that way. I'll find useful things everywhere. It's a developed trait and strongly recommended).
It will help writers and authors better understand what editors do and why some editors reject your work with a form letter and others write a glowing acceptance and ask for more. It will help writers and authors get a feel for an editor's day and what's required to put out a regular magazine, journal, anthology, newspaper, book, and basically any form of regular media.
Most importantly, it'll help authors and writers recognize a good editor from a bad editor (not to mention recognizing the unhandiwork of a machine editor. Avoid them in publishing).
You can find more on my blog.

[Alex]

This is a great text when it comes to understanding the basic structure of editing. If you are looking for something that talks about grammar mechanics, this might not be the right book. Very little time is spent on actual grammar. Rather, the book breaks down some key journalism terms while presenting a few cautionary tales.

Notes:

A discussion on the various forms of defamation and libel. This book discusses who is unable to seek damages against a media outlet based on their occupation. Though presidents, judges, or servers of the public (congress, etc...) may enjoy absolute privilege from defamation, the press only has qualified privilege when reporting quotes from such figures.

No damages can be awarded if defamatory material can be proved in front of a jury

[Cate Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The edition I read was from 1982 so in terms of technology, it's well outdated. Still, this succinctly written non-fiction account of the editing process for books and magazines has tips on relationships between writer and editor and commentary on important points in the editing process which are relevant even in today's technologically updated world. From a historical perspective, the chapters on now antiquated printing and photography practices were interesting. Overall, it's a nice journey into by-gone editing practices with some helpful tips that are still applicable today.

[John Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most people are familiar with Strunk and White's Elements of Style. This book was part of an effort by the publisher to expand the franchise established by Strunk & White into related fields. Although it remains available today, it initially appeared in 1982, at the dawn of the computing revolution, and therefore is highly dated. Separate and apart from that, I'm not certain it would have been all that useful even when it was new. One star.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being published in 1982, much of this 156-page book remains relevant today. Arthur Plotnik is an outstanding writer with a skill at using words in unexpected ways that get his meaning across while delighting and surprising the reader. Some of the chapters are out of date, but others are indispensable and filled with advice unseen anywhere else.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super outdated. But... identifies the ideal background of an editor as a voracious reader of classical literature--and the Great Books. Explains a lot.

[Andrew Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Outdated at this point. I wanted to learn about editing but I learned about editors instead. Not what I wanted.

[Love Jonson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bones are still good, but much is adorably antiquated.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would love an updated version of this

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good guide for any editor or the people who want to know why editors are as grumpy as they are.

[Gwen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction for new editors.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer on editing skills. First half of the book is full with general tips that hold to this day. Last few chapters are outdated.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book if you want to know that publishing looked like in about 1980. Some of the underlying principles are the same but most of it is out of date.

[Patricia Daukantas]

I actually finished this on December 31st but did not get around to posting about it. Be nice to me. I've had a rough two weeks.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book included brief, good advice about sensitivity to audiences and authors and the importance of near-compulsive attention to everything from the first invitation to an author to write (an article for a magazine, for example) to the last potentially defamatory statement, heading, and semicolon, the book is outdated and I decided to recycle it. It is outdated in terms of copyright and defamation law to some extent. But it is distractingly outdated in terms of the editing processes used today, which are almost totally online in word-processing programs. (The author discusses the pitfalls of typesetting and the use of Video Display Terminals, which are no longer with us, at least not in their former incarnations.) It would be lovely if an experienced editor would update this book for the twenty-first century as a companion to the still-relevant Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. Plotnick does explain well the need to be flexible in respecting the author's voice and avoiding "Miss Thistlebottom's hobgoblins" of usage--always good to be reminded of those things.

[Mark]

Arthur Plotnik is an arch stylist, which made this book at least partly worth reading.

Originally published in 1982 and apparently never revised in subsequent editions (like its namesake, The Elements of Style, which is now in its fourth edition), this book, needless to say, has become quite dated. It's hard to imagine, for example, in the era of digital cameras and laser printers, that an excursus on half-tones remains necessary for editors. Likewise the relatively lengthy exposition on 35mm cameras. I'd hoped for something different.

Still, I enjoyed the use of some forgotten editorial terms from my high school years (does anyone ever need or use a non-reproducing blue pencil these days?). And, as I said, Mr. Plotnik's style is a pleasure to read. In the final analysis, I suppose, the most succinct thing I can think of to say about The Elements of Editing is that it is of historical interest.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most valuable book I've read on writing.

If you want to sell your writing, you have to write in a style that someone with purchasing power really likes. Generally that someone is an editor. If you know what an editor wants, he/she will be MUCH more inclined to buy what you've written. When I found this book at a thrift store, it was the BEST couple of bucks I've ever spent.

After reading it, you will know how editors think. If you can think like an editor, then you're much more likely to sell your article to an editor. The best way to know another person is to walk a mile in his moccasins. "The Elements of Editing" will take you on this journey in a pleasant manner.
This book is geared toward people who are writing for the non-fiction market. However I think many of the principles hold true for fiction writers, too.

[Sean Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a novel writer I found a few of the chapters really useful, some interesting, and about a third of it was either for newspaper editors or is outdated by technology.

The last book I read was The Elements Of Style, and while I would call that a book for writers, The Elements Of Editing is for editors. It's been useful to get into the mind of an editor for my own self-editing and also for working out how I want to proceed with the editing process.

It's also great to get another opinion on writing and I especially enjoyed reading Plotnick's defense of the passive sentence.

[Hazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skipped over the parts that are outdated. But those parts that are about editing are still relevant and informative. The information is concise and well-explained. The criteria for editing manuscripts, in particular, is definitely going on a post-it note that will have a permanent place beside my computer monitor as I edit.

It was also a fun read and gave me quite a few laugh-out-loud moments.

The author and publisher should consider revising the contents for modern desktop publishing. Everything else is gold.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who would have guessed that there could be so much animosity between writers and editors? But after reading this book, I can see how they might aggravate each other. As a writer, I guess it gave me a chance to glimpse "the other side." This would surely be a most instructive book for anyone who aspires to be an editor, for its sage advice, and for the experienced viewpoint of the author to really spell out what it's like to be an editor.

[Anna Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book lost a star because it is older and needs to be updated. Adjusting for that, it was a good, solid general editing book. A second star was lost because it could have given more realistic examples.

A helpful how-to guide for the beginner. If you are just starting out, this book would be a good place to start.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looks ok, but not terribly helpful for me. It is probably excellent for someone employed by a publisher and dealing with authors and the nitty gritty of type of font, letters on a page, etc. As a freelance copy editor, I think there are more helpful books out there for me--hopefully.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this very helpful when I first began editing and proofreading. I don't use it so much anymore because I'm editing for only one person (company) and she and I have worked together for a long time (she once worked at the same office) and have our habits set.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was published in 1982 so many of the chapters are dated, but overall, the book is still full of relevant advice. The editorial process hasn't changed much. A pleasure to read - Plotnik is pretty funny. This one's a keeper.

[JULIE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a tie-in to the certificate course I am taking in editing. Having been published in the 1980s, it was somewhat dated (e.g., video display monitors), but it still provided useful general information about the editing field at that time.