>I think that's brutally unfair to editors. They're not miracle workers, >you know and turning a 900-page doorstop into a tightly plotted story a >third that size in the time frame that most editors have isn't bloody >likely. I take a middle stance. A lot of books that do reach the public sufer for a lack of rigorous editing. However, you are correct, editors do suffer limitations. A bigger limitation is that authors who are successful can become 600 lb. gorillas. What editor is going to stand his ground when confronting a defiant Steven King, for instance? I think this is one reason why many authors have earlier works that seem tighter and better focused than their latter works. >Not to mention the fact that people LIKE doorstop fantasy. Just because >your taste doesn't match the market doesn't mean that editors aren't doing >their jobs. There is a market but it is possible to write a big book that is, never the less, well plotted and not stuffed with filler. An *ideal* editor is capable of helping an author achieve that... but we don't live in an ideal world. _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail