Great Book, But Poorly Edited July 27
Dudes, I know people can say that about a number of books. But, now it’s about a book I translated. It’s a great book, very important to understand part of the history of this country, but it was so poorly edited, it’s just sad. Starting from the cover, which displaces the meaning from actual people (an emotional portrait of conversion) to an old building (boring and out of date), to the tiny letter size, not to mention the horrible stylistic hacks. So, what can I say, I am just surprised once again by editor’s incompetence, ignorance and rushed penny pinching decisions. There, now I feel better. LOL
j_aroche Jul 28
Badly edited books hurts
Guillermo B. Jul 28
Rónald, eso es tan común en ciertas editoriales (grandes trabajos de excelentes escritores, con labores de incompetencia de mercenarios editores), que resulta preocupante; lo bueno es que se diferencian fácilmente de aquellas que trabajan bien, lo cual evantualmente hará que alguna de las dos (¿hay que decir cúal?) desaparezca.
Lamento que se trate de un libro en el que trabajaste, pero bueno, queda esperar a verlo algún día decentemente editado. Una pregunta: ¿no debería haber una comunicación abierta y franca entre escritor y editor, para que el trabajo se beneficie y no pasen estas cosas, o no pasen tan feo?
Saludos
Ronald Jul 28
I own you big, j_aroche!!! Thanks for the comment!
@ Guillermo, debería, pero no sucede. Lástima. Gracias por tu comentario! Saludos!
Gustavo Solórzano Alfaro Jul 28
Los problemas editoriales son cosa de todos los días. Y Guillermo sabe bien de qué hablo, en el caso de Costa Rica. Claro, que estos problemas sean comunes no significa que sean aceptables.
Ver un libro mal editado realmente duele, y si es de uno duele más, jeje.
Entre el autor y el editor debe mediar un contrato, y el segundo debe dejar espacio para que el primero pueda revisar, sugerir y en última instancia aprobar.
Saludos.
Alexánder Obando Jul 28
Things like these are commonplace in our countries, moreso when a number of publishers claim that a lack of resources drives them into such abhorrent results. But we musn’t buy this and other lame alibis based on the asumption that poor countris will, by default, yield cheap products. Contrarily, we should focus on their mentality of mediocrity where everything, including their self-justifications, reek of unabashed stupidity and boldness.
Guillermo B. Jul 29
Álex: there’s no such thing as “lack of resources”, since many (when I say many, I mean one or two, the worst…)publishers work based on a budget coming from European countries (Spain, France, etc); they receive more than they need in order to render a more than acceptable product… if that were the case; the thing is they don’t love books, they don’t love literature, they just love these sums given, no matter what. About stupidity, abhorrent results and so forth, well, those are landmarks for their extinction (sinvergüenzada, como tan bien suena en español tico)…
Ronald Jul 29
Gustavo, I agree, but there is always room for mistakes.
Alexánder, They should not be commonplace, as you say. Mediocrity is cheap!
Guillermo, there is lack of will or imagination.
Thanks for the comments, you’all! I do feel better, thanks to you!