I don't even have a book contract yet, but my prose is already being torn apart by editors.
Here's what happened.
A few months ago, AARP Magazine featured a small article about revenge, its general import was that thoughts of getting even can become a harmful obsession. I decided that, since revenge is basically the idea behind complaint sites, I might be able to write a letter to the editor to draw some attention to my website – and, hopefully, to my book proposal.
I studied the style of the letters they printed, figured out what length and tone they were looking for, and I set out to write something that they might print. One problem: I didn't think I could mention "TaubmanSucks" by name, that seemed a little strong for their format. But I figured that if I at least mentioned the fact that my complaint site had triggered a lawsuit, people might Google it to see what it was all about.
Anyway, here's what I wrote:
In "This Is Gonna Hurt," Denis Boyles suggests that "getting over" an injustice is often a more rational (and more realistic) approach than "getting even." The Internet age offers another attractive alternative: You can post your complaint on the Web, where it can be read by millions of people. When I felt that I had been abused by a Faceless Corporation, I created a "complaint" website, and promptly got sued for my trouble – but the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that I had a First Amendment right to voice my electronic opinion. I can testify from personal experience that eRevenge can be a powerfully cathartic experience!
And here's what they printed:
Denis Boyles [Life Etc.] suggests "getting over" an injustice is better than "getting even." I beg to differ. When I had a bad experience with a company, I made a complaint website to vent my anger. E-revenge is very cathartic.
So let's see: I sent them a letter of a little more than 100 words. They cut it down to 40. But of those 40 words, only 20 of them were mine! I don't mind so much that they eviscerated my letter, but I don't understand why they had to make up half of the words that they attributed to me.
Oh well, I guess it's good practice for when I get a real editor...
