Way back when I used to be a contributor to the South Side Suburban Journal, not an opinion shaper, but a paid correspondent, I wrote a travel article about going on a whale watch in Boston. When the ship's captain apologized because we didn't see any whales, I felt disappointed. When he suddenly shouted, "Starboard!" everyone darted to the rail.
Twenty yards from the fishing boat, a young humpback breached the surface and began to "perform." What a delight to watch Fracture, so named because he had a fracture line across his tale. He dived, slapped the surface of the Atlantic Ocean with his flipper, dived and resurfaced, breached again and again.
It was breathtaking, I was awe-struck. It felt akin to spiritual experience... I wrote all about it. Three other excursion boats came into the area, cut their motors, and passengers observed quietly and filmed for twenty minutes.
Then Fracture disappeared. We waited and waited as our captain detailed whale behavior and shared how they had been tracking this juvenile for some time. Fifteen minutes later, all boats started their engines and we began to idle away, set to sail. Then...
Fracture resurfaced so close to our boat we all laughed, especially when he opened his mouth wide, burped, and permeated the air with a cloud of fish breath. Undersea dining right under our boat.
Wouldn't you know it?! When I saw my article in print, I was disappointed to discover the editor had omitted the two sentences above. My punch line. I think it was due to column length, but maybe he didn't feel it was relevant to the story. Too late.
Lesson learned: don't hesitate to ask an editor if you can examine your work for editorial changes before it is published. Keep in mind, you can negotiate, but the editor does have the final say.
Twenty yards from the fishing boat, a young humpback breached the surface and began to "perform." What a delight to watch Fracture, so named because he had a fracture line across his tale. He dived, slapped the surface of the Atlantic Ocean with his flipper, dived and resurfaced, breached again and again.
It was breathtaking, I was awe-struck. It felt akin to spiritual experience... I wrote all about it. Three other excursion boats came into the area, cut their motors, and passengers observed quietly and filmed for twenty minutes.
Then Fracture disappeared. We waited and waited as our captain detailed whale behavior and shared how they had been tracking this juvenile for some time. Fifteen minutes later, all boats started their engines and we began to idle away, set to sail. Then...
Fracture resurfaced so close to our boat we all laughed, especially when he opened his mouth wide, burped, and permeated the air with a cloud of fish breath. Undersea dining right under our boat.
Wouldn't you know it?! When I saw my article in print, I was disappointed to discover the editor had omitted the two sentences above. My punch line. I think it was due to column length, but maybe he didn't feel it was relevant to the story. Too late.
Lesson learned: don't hesitate to ask an editor if you can examine your work for editorial changes before it is published. Keep in mind, you can negotiate, but the editor does have the final say.
8 comments:
I didn't know they burped! That would have been the highlight of the entire story for me!!
It is frustrating when words we have chosen so carefully are so easily and casually (or so it seems) tossed out by an editor. I guess being at the mercy of the editor's decisions is just part of being published.
GASP!
Whales are just amazing.
Regarding your lost line-- I think editting is crime. Too much of it ruins good work. Too little of it is a good thing! (Is that editting or editing?)
Linda--You make a wonderful point. The worst they can do is disregard your wishes.
I'm jealous. The closest I've been to a whale is watching the Shamu show at Seaworld.
Like Fracture, that editor was full of hot air!
What an exciting adventure, seeing a whale. Too bad the editor took out your final sentence, but at least you got paid for your work.
It was a memorable event I will always cherish.
I've spoken up to editors when I felt it was necessary! Great piece here, and I learned about both whales and gumption!
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