Thank heavens this Frump has been idle in her postings of oddities in the workplace. It has been a wonderful, pleasant existence yours truly has had. Until now, of course.
Sweet client who has decided to pass the edited (by me) version on to a counterpart. Of course, said counterpart has found “numerous” errors. I detect the stench of someone wanting desperately to justify his own worth as Frumpie has been editing for “numerous” years and was extremely careful on said project. It’s upsetting to this Frump to hear an outsider introduce himself via the “you screwed up royally” note. I daresay the contract did not specify third-party review, so it’s time to remind the client ever-so-gently of the danger in allowing others to look over our shoulders. Having been sucked into one too many multiple-edit vortexes, this Frump is eager to halt this treacherous slide down that slippery slope instantly.
I wonder; if the client had handed it to the critic after its publication, would the red pen have sat idle? Too often sideline editors are itching to prove themselves mighty in yet another area in which they aren’t blessed with talents.
To all third parties who feel the burning desire to advise from the sidelines, I say Frump Off.
