My new job is editing blog posts for the dean's blog. Here is an example of extreme frustration:
"As a student, Carolyn first became interested in Oncology because she found connectedness with patients who were at serious risk of dying and would often stay for hours past her regular rotation time talking in a personal way to these patients."
My edit:
"Carolyn first became interested in oncology, when she connected with high risk patients. She would often stay for hours past her regular rotation to talk personally with these patients."
THIS GUY IS THE DEAN OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
Just more proof that writers are not only lovely people, but also NEEDED. This sentence killed me and I am honored in editing the shit out of it. Everyone needs to learn how to write, especially someone in such a high position, or maybe he just needs more cronies like me. Either way GUH!
You make the Dean sound so smart, Cylon! You should almost be like "This is no longer the Dean's blog--his writing skills are atrocious!"
ReplyDeleteBut that wouldn't do, would it?
Oh well. Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you. YOU CAN DO IT!
I think this also proves that writing is not an intuitive skill. Smart people do no equal good writers. It's a separate skill set.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that you can help though. :)