Green Room - Week 30 - Day 11

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

To quote Rachel from Big Brother/Amazing Race:

"I'm back, bitches!"

Which is different from quoting Sir Reginald Dwight.

Because I had a good time on vacation, I only added one soft ball of a topic to your list. I had a couple other options, but when you have spent the week in a pop-up camper (yay for A/C!) near one of the best beaches in the country (per Dr Beach. I trust him, he's a doctor!), you tend to walk away with a good attitude. Except toward bugs. Those muthas can die.

Those mothras can also die!

The topic thread (with the #6 topic) is located: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/574285.html

and the work room: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/574652.html is right along with it.

Don't forgot the Home Game (or the Motor City) http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/575725.html and all you'd need is music, sweet music, there is music everywhere...

Comments

[belgatherial.livejournal.com]

Hi most excellent idollers!

I've asked Gary if I can steal a corner of his Green Room to plug my thing. This is my thing. (http://solarwyrm.com/2012/03/09/call-for-submissions-anthology-of-fantasy-noir/)

It is an anthology of fantasy noir stories, for which I am hunting submissions. Submissions close TODAY. (Which is to say, I'll be taking things until tomorrow morning my time.)

I know you guys are perfectly capable of coming up with brilliant things in very short amounts of time, so if you'd like to try and get yourselves into this, NOW IS THE TIME!

Have an excellent, and writing filled day. ;)

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

Crap. I wish I had time to do something for this.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I suspected he might do something like this....

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

But I thought you crossed it out? Is there actually a sixth topic or are you just playing with us?

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I noticed it was crossed out too and now I'm wondering the same thing...

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

html fail. There IS a sixth topic.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

To quote Tyrion Lannister, "Hello Bahstahd!" (sorry, I'm about seventy hours into Game of Thrones audio books in the past week)

I has a discussion question for the group. I find that sometimes what I think a word means isn't quite the same as what other people think a word means, so I'm asking.

The words are "beta reading" and "editing."

How does one compare to the other?

To me, "beta reading" is taking a first look, pointing out a typo or two, saying whether the concept works, pointing out the best parts, maybe suggesting the beginning would be stronger without this or that sentence.

To me, editing goes deeper. Editing is all of the above plus sentence structure, rearranging to develop the concept, changes in wording to draw in the reader or strengthen an image.

I'm asking, because I've seen people comment on contestants still competing, and issues of spelling or grammar or punctuation. Meanwhile other contestants are sending their entries to one or more beta readers, and some of those beta readers are using the word "editing."

I did some really heavy editing for my friend on her Master's thesis. She's very good in her field, but she's not a strong writer. Part of me felt guilty, because it is a requirement of her degree, but it is not a writing competition.

This is a writing competition. It's largely community-judged, though, so in most things the community decides what is or isn't acceptable. Individuals within the community aren't always (ever?) going to agree. I'm just curious to know what people are thinking.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's why some beta readers respond with "yep! It's good!" while others tear my piece to shreds for every little issue (I prefer that method honestly. I learn a lot).

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

That's how I define the two. Beta reading is relatively superficial. It's just a second pair of eyes to make sure there aren't glaring errors or typos and maybe make a couple of constructive observations, but if someone asked me to beta, I'd pretty much just tell them whether I liked it or not or if something doesn't work for me, whereas if I'm asked to edit, I'll rip it to shreds if that's what it needed.

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

Reference your first paragraph: I'm really enjoying the Song of Ice and Fire audiobooks. Finished Game of Thrones just as I finished watching the first season on TV, now working thru Clash of Kings (which corresponds with the second season on HBO, which I've already watched, but the book has lots of different scenes)

[creativepain.livejournal.com]

I think what you call "beta reading" is what I know as proof-reading. As a proof reader I would check for glaring factual errors (such as saying the sun revolves around the earth); check spelling, punctuation and grammar; check for layout issues (too many/few spaces, only one line between paragraphs when you normally leave two, is there uniformity in whether text is left aligned or justified etc); and ensure style is the same (eg. if you have written numbers as 1, 4, 7 and then put six or ten). Also, I may point these out, you may ignore them or not.

Copy editing is much more involved and includes rewriting text, making changes etc. These are things the writer would not be expected to ignore.

Does that make sense? I hope so.
o

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I'd say what I do is something between the two - I do light editing, minor word changes or suggestions for maybe a more descriptive phase or perhaps add a few words here and there. I may make suggestions or commentary such as " I think you should re-word sentences J through L to remove too many uses of XX" but tend not to do any major overhauls - I don't move chunks around or do anything more than that. I doubt any piece I've edited has more than a small amount of "me" in it.

I call it Beta reading but there is indeed some editing involved.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

If there IS a 6th topic, I can't say I'm too pleased with what it is. "Vacation" is not what I would call an easy topic, at least it won't be easy for me. If it actually exists, that is.

[similiesslip.livejournal.com]

Reading comments above, yes, it is a "real" topic (according to Gary.) Good luck!

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

Mothra is awesome! Hes coming hes coming. Hay I love Japanese monster movies, Manga and snake.
Ranna 1/2 and Iniyashu are my favorits
Nerer nener.
Another topic.clearly this is what we get for being on the ball and finishing early.
So sayith the lord of ljidol.
I is waiting on comerentary on my junk. Ya I done got extra serious with some of it.
there be some scarry stuff there.

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

And here I thought I was almost done. Wellllll shit.

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

The beach *sigh*

I can't wait until Annabelle is better so we can go to the dog beach again. And I'm dying to get back to Laguna Beach (ironically I live nearby, though with my life, it might as well be hours away). I want to go camping on the beach with Java sometime. We talk about doing the whole tent thing... But we might just put an air mattress in the back of his SUV and leave all the doors open.

I love the ocean.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

After quite some time of me talking about how it "wasn't real camping" without a tent - I realized that when you are talking JUNE, IN FLORIDA, that it's "OK" to "not be REAL camping". :)

[drjeff.livejournal.com]

All doctors should be trusted!

I'm still figuring out the best way to post puppy pics for y'all. I guess I should just make a public LJ post with a few choice selections. I will get on that post haste.

We're going back to Vegas on Sunday! Honeymoon and Father's Day coincide... should I knock her up while we're there? I mean, the REAL Brady Bunch had SIX kids, not our measly FIVE.

Love you all! <3

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Partridge Family only had five kids!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck.

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Can I add one too F U C K ....

Gary, you magnificent bastard!

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

You just made my weekend.

I've always wanted to write a sestina... and by posting a sixth topic, I can now attempt such a poem based on your six topics.

Granted, I'm "Home Gaming" it, and I have no doubt my all-in-one approach would not satisfy the criteria of the Idol competition... but it's still going to be an interesting challenge.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Why am I not surprised at this turn of events?

Heading off to bed! Good night!

:blows kisses:

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Sleep well!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Ah, your new topic makes me think of the Go-Go's! Speaking of which, hubby and I are going to be in Nashville this weekend - we are currently about 40 miles from our hotel, woo!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Is it all you've ever wanted?

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

I'm interested! But we already did one. :(

[dslartoo.livejournal.com]

Gary -- I disagree with your adding, or changing, a topic with only one day to go before the deadline. If you want us to write six topics, fine, but tell us what those six topics are UP FRONT, instead of adding them at the last damn minute. For almost two weeks now the five topics have been set in stone, and then suddenly the rules are changed. What about the people who've already finished their five topics and are too busy to check the LJ Idol page until after the deadline? They're going to miss the addition of the new topic unless somebody tells them about it.

Very much uncool. I know this is your party, and you can run it any way you please, but I'm not very happy right now.

cheers,
Phil

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

He added it on Friday.

Idol is patterned after a reality show with "twists" and surprises. If it were Project Runway, this would be the extra look you'd be making with the scraps from your other 5 outfits and whatever notions you can get at Mood for twenty bucks. Now that the group is so small, folks who are still competing can expect more of this.

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Not quite sure what happens, yes I missed the deadline for a sixth subject, yes I was hooked to monitors in a place without internet access, and doing it while lying down (16th) with a catheter and drip was a little on the tough side, but look I would have tried I am strong..... but missed out.

Neighbours are bringing me soup, what does Gary bring me? trouble.. Sorry I love you really.


Voting is a fast process now, as I am just sitting and wondering, do I do my best and give it a go? But think I may just back out slowly smiling. Have some time still.... takes a pain killer; a swig of whisky; and puts a pressure bandage on.

Last night in hospital we had an EARTHQUAKE the first I have ever been in, and largest for a 100 years, see when I do it I do it well.