I am a new writer and recently had my first story published. The print version arrived a couple of days ago and tonight I finally sat down to read it.
To my surprise, my story had been edited. All of the content is still intact, but the style of the prose is no longer my own. Is it normal for a journal to edit a story and then run it without the author's approval? Maybe I am naive, but I figured they would check with me before making changes. Spelling and grammar corrections I can understand. But to me, making style changes feels like the editor scratched out my voice and replaced it with his own.
Has anyone else experienced this? Or am I just being too sensitive?
Normally what happens is the editor will go back and forth you using an LBL of suggested changes, at which point, you will either approve or disapprove of said changes until you both agree on a final version. That's how it's supposed to go anyway. If your voice has been changed--that's not supposed to happen. Sounds like your editor took advantage of you.
I recently started edited for an online zine and I handle edits the way Brandon mentioned. Also, of the three stories I've had published, two of them had back and forth dialouge between me and the editors for the final version. Just how Brandon described. Fortunately the last was accepted as it was submitted. I'd probably feel uncomfortable if an editor made stylistic changes without running them by me first.
It did feel a little dirty...but I wanted to start with a small journal since I have no credits to my name. I'm glad that it isn't standard practice to edit without an author's approval. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I feel much better now.
I feel a bit dirty hawking my wares so blatantly - but I wrote about editing clauses in short story contracts here: http://litreactor.com/columns/analyzing-a-short-fiction-publishing-contract
There's very little you can do about your story now, but for your own sake, have you contacted the editor to ask them why they did this without asking you first?
Thanks for the link. That will be helpful info to have for future submissions.
I did not get paid or sign a contract. It's a very small journal. I'm sure he just made the edits because he thought they improved the piece. I disagree, but yeah, there's not much to do about it now. I just won't submit there again.
What's the journal?
You really should follow it up with the editor. I would simply ask for an explanation, and let him know that you weren't pleased having the edits made without your permission. It's poor form, and he should be made aware of it.
Maybe she shouldn't call them out by name in public. I don't know, just a thought.
Why not?
Maybe they shouldn't change her story without her permission, and publish it in public, bearing her name. Just a thought.
Writers should let each other know when publications are taking liberties, whether it be not paying, not meeting their own stated guidelines, or putting their own words into your story under your name without warning (which many writers would consider the most egregious offense).
They have the right to suggest changes and not accept your story if you don't agree to them. You have the right to decline their suggestions and take your story elsewhere. That's how it's supposed to work. It's useful for the community know which magazines to avoid.
I've always had the editor tell me they're gonna edit my story a little bit and send me the edited version before it went live or to print but it was never more than a word or two changed, i never felt like they changed my voice. I'm with Brandon, you got screwed a little bit.
@MattF - Because life isn't fair, so she has to figure out if the juice is worth the squeeze. Like they said, yeah she got screwed a bit. If Beth wants to call them out, she can sure. Doesn't make it a good idea. It would literally mean she was publicly stating an issue with 100% of the people who've published her so far, and if it turns into some stupid internet flame war thing with them calling her out publically it won't be hard for the next person considering her (agent, editor, publisher, whatever) to google and find that. That isn't the start to a having a good reputation as someone who is easy to work with. Sometimes it is better to let the past go, not work with those people again, and not make waves. I'm not her, I don't know the details, and I'm not saying now is such a time. I am saying she'd would be wise to consider that as an option.
And like Neil Gaiman said at about 14:15, you need 2 out of 3.
