Comments on: Avoid Passive Voice http://writerseditingworkshop.com/2008/04/avoid-passive-voice/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:57:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: admin http://writerseditingworkshop.com/2008/04/avoid-passive-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-4021 admin Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:19:43 +0000 http://writerseditingworkshop.com/?p=15#comment-4021 Hi, Wendy, Sorry I'm so late getting back to you. I've been moving (for three months?!) and missed your comment. My quick answer is that if your editor makes you feel like crap, you should have a different one. See this post for more on that: http://writerseditingworkshop.com/2009/04/on-the-tolerance-of-writers/ For the record, nobody but an editor would be able to stand reading much of the Chicago Manual. I find the stuff fascinating, but even I haven't read all 900 pages. It's a reference book! If you'd like to email me some examples, I'd be happy to look at your passive voice and give you some feedback. Meanwhile, don't lose heart, and keep writing! :) Hi, Wendy,

Sorry I’m so late getting back to you. I’ve been moving (for three months?!) and missed your comment.

My quick answer is that if your editor makes you feel like crap, you should have a different one. See this post for more on that: http://writerseditingworkshop.com/2009/04/on-the-tolerance-of-writers/

For the record, nobody but an editor would be able to stand reading much of the Chicago Manual. I find the stuff fascinating, but even I haven’t read all 900 pages. It’s a reference book!

If you’d like to email me some examples, I’d be happy to look at your passive voice and give you some feedback.

Meanwhile, don’t lose heart, and keep writing! :)

]]> By: Wendy http://writerseditingworkshop.com/2008/04/avoid-passive-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-3354 Wendy Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:41:00 +0000 http://writerseditingworkshop.com/?p=15#comment-3354 I am recovering from an editorial critique that's left me feeling like I'm a moron with no writing ability. I've written an article on various historic accounts and wrote it in the passive voice. I knew that when I wrote it. My editor has very bluntly pointed out that fact in a very harsh tone asking if I'd ever read the Chicago Style Manual. His comments left me feeling that I'm a total illiterate. You've given me new hope that maybe, just maybe, I can be forgiven for my use of the passive voice. Is using the active voice when discussing historic events a hard fast rule? I find that using the passive voice is better in some cases and actually adds more life and interest to the article. My editor added so many "criticisms" in the margins of my work that I am quite in despair of even correcting my work. Do you think it is time to look for another editor or should I suck it up, rewrite the entire article in active voice and make my editor happy (and kill my creative voice)? I am recovering from an editorial critique that’s left me feeling like I’m a moron with no writing ability. I’ve written an article on various historic accounts and wrote it in the passive voice. I knew that when I wrote it. My editor has very bluntly pointed out that fact in a very harsh tone asking if I’d ever read the Chicago Style Manual. His comments left me feeling that I’m a total illiterate. You’ve given me new hope that maybe, just maybe, I can be forgiven for my use of the passive voice. Is using the active voice when discussing historic events a hard fast rule? I find that using the passive voice is better in some cases and actually adds more life and interest to the article. My editor added so many “criticisms” in the margins of my work that I am quite in despair of even correcting my work. Do you think it is time to look for another editor or should I suck it up, rewrite the entire article in active voice and make my editor happy (and kill my creative voice)?

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