so annoying … idiosyncratic writing edits

[Anonymous]

Why do bosses do that thing where they don’t like something in a document and make a huge dramatic deal about it? Like, you don’t want that info in there or have edits to make. Fine, OK, I am a professional - I can take your edits and it’s totally normal you want it written in a different way or needed it tweaked. I don’t get it. I’m not a bad writer and you’re the boss.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know. I had a boss that would just edit and finish documents themselves, and ask if I had any concerns. I appreciated that instead of the back and forth about tiny things that were ultimately their call.

[Anonymous]

This is why I no longer work as a writer. People sometimes don’t know how to work with editors. Instead of learning how to work with an editor, they often assume editors are stupid for not knowing which of the one million ways to word a sentence they prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I no longer work as a writer. People sometimes don’t know how to work with editors. Instead of learning how to work with an editor, they often assume editors are stupid for not knowing which of the one million ways to word a sentence they prefer.

OP here. Am I the editor or writer in this scenario? But your observation of not understanding the editor role resonates with me. I know my writing is fine and have gotten good feedback. I have no issue taking editing suggestions. I greatly dislike feeling like the fact that the doc needs editing means that I need to be informed of errrrrrything. All writing needs to be edited, particularly since I cannot read my boss’s (ever changing) mind about things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. I had a boss that would just edit and finish documents themselves, and ask if I had any concerns. I appreciated that instead of the back and forth about tiny things that were ultimately their call.

I would love that.

Not to bring gender in too much, but I have found that some female bosses seem to need to go through what is effectively a co-writing process instead of just editing the dang thing.

Let’s not even get started on when they actively mess up the document with stream of consciousness insertions addresssing issues that are covered in the next section that they haven’t read …

[Anonymous]

I just edit it myself. And then in the email where I send it back I will say "next time don't explain X so much. Less is better." Or whatever I needed to edit.

If it's grammar or formatting editing, I will edit it myself if it's a rare occurrence. But if you're an employee that's constantly giving me things with formatting errors or font errors- I'm making you fix them yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. I had a boss that would just edit and finish documents themselves, and ask if I had any concerns. I appreciated that instead of the back and forth about tiny things that were ultimately their call.

I would love that.

Not to bring gender in too much, but I have found that some female bosses seem to need to go through what is effectively a co-writing process instead of just editing the dang thing.

Let’s not even get started on when they actively mess up the document with stream of consciousness insertions addresssing issues that are covered in the next section that they haven’t read …

Weird. I’m the person you responded to and I’m female. I never bother passing back my edits. I do them, and keep the damn thing moving to the final decision maker.

I don’t even like the have people below me see my edits, I save my own copy and move it along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. I had a boss that would just edit and finish documents themselves, and ask if I had any concerns. I appreciated that instead of the back and forth about tiny things that were ultimately their call.

I would love that.

Not to bring gender in too much, but I have found that some female bosses seem to need to go through what is effectively a co-writing process instead of just editing the dang thing.

Let’s not even get started on when they actively mess up the document with stream of consciousness insertions addresssing issues that are covered in the next section that they haven’t read …

Weird. I’m the person you responded to and I’m female. I never bother passing back my edits. I do them, and keep the damn thing moving to the final decision maker.

I don’t even like the have people below me see my edits, I save my own copy and move it along.

Actually you’re right - the worst offender I had at this was a man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. I had a boss that would just edit and finish documents themselves, and ask if I had any concerns. I appreciated that instead of the back and forth about tiny things that were ultimately their call.

I would love that.

Not to bring gender in too much, but I have found that some female bosses seem to need to go through what is effectively a co-writing process instead of just editing the dang thing.
If the writer doesn’t see your edits, how do they know what was changed?
Let’s not even get started on when they actively mess up the document with stream of consciousness insertions addresssing issues that are covered in the next section that they haven’t read …

Weird. I’m the person you responded to and I’m female. I never bother passing back my edits. I do them, and keep the damn thing moving to the final decision maker.

I don’t even like the have people below me see my edits, I save my own copy and move it along.