Help with story.

[DrFrisky]

Hello! I haven't been writing for a while but decided now to write my first ever proper erotic story. I wrote to an editor but have yet to hear from them, I even wrote to the editors' email address provided on the website and haven't heard from them either. I shall still however wait for their respective replies, but at the same time I'd like to find out if there's anyone here who'd like to help me write this story (through critique and editing).

For a sample of my work, please visit my livejournal - drfrisky.livejournal.com

Thanks in advance!

 

[meg1]

Good morning,

If you are using the VE list, I'm sorry, but it's terribly outdated and always seems to be.

Posting in here is the best way to get an editor. In addition editors appreciate it you give them the length of your story (number of words), the category you wish to submit to, and what you are expecting from an editor (flow, continuity, grammar).

This way they know what they are getting into before they reply. In addition, you can feel free to post a small portion of your story as an example of your writing.

Good luck in your search.
meg

 

[Rob_mDear]

If you are using the VE list, I'm sorry, but it's terribly outdated and always seems to be.

I was pretty frustrated when I was first searching for an editor. I basically had to figure out "how to play the game," tricks like sending out 5 requests at once, every few days, knowing that I wasn't likely to get even one response for a while. I also only contacted people that were at the top of the list (as in they just asked to be an editor), or who had very, very recently updated their profile.

With that said... I think it would serve the whole process of finding an editor well if they made just two minor alterations to the site.

First, let editors easily update their profiles to say "available" or "not available." Many editors list themselves, then get a herd of authors, and have no time to take on any more. Weeding through these is impossible unless you do what I did, and contact 50 of them.

Second, for each editor maintain and list a "date of last publication," that is the last date that an author submitted a story identifying them as the editor. I'm not saying to tie an editor to a story, we all know why that's not done. But just keep what amounts to a "last active date." That way, when looking for an editor... if they haven't done anything in four years, you know they've fallen off and just don't do it anymore.

 

[Rob_mDear]

Herds

Many editors list themselves, then get a herd of authors, and have no time to take on any more

I think authors travel in herds. Or is it pods? Certainly not a school.

It could be a pride, with the attitude that most authors cop.

Or is there another term I've never heard of (herd of)?

 

[sr71plt]

The site obviously isn't going to do anything about the editor lists--including vetting them. This situation has been going on for some time. Wheels are just being spun here waiting for a systems change. We recently had someone underage claiming to be a volunteer editor here (as reported by the scammed author who got threatening mail from the mother), and there's no requirement to show any experience or talent for editing to list yourself as an "editor" here. Latching onto a VE just by begging any of them to "edit" your story and wallowing around in the water until you hook one is a high-risk crap shoot--and not just because they are scarce, but also because claim site "editors" who can help rather than harm your work are even more scarce.

For purposes of this Web site, you only really need a second reader with a good grasp of storytelling and grammar, punctuation, word usage, and spelling. This isn't the New York Review of Books.

The best bet rather than waiting a long time for someone claiming credentials to "edit" your stories who might not have any more knowledge than you do, as has been suggested here several times, quite probably would be to identify authors here who you think have great stories that are written well in both contextual and technical terms. Then start asking them if they'd be willing to read a draft or two of yours to make both contexutal and technical suggestions for improving them. And then pay attention to what you can learn from this and keep developing your own skills in future stories.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

I think authors travel in herds. Or is it pods? Certainly not a school.

It could be a pride, with the attitude that most authors cop.

Or is there another term I've never heard of (herd of)?

The collective noun is an anthology of authors, and an anthology of authors living together are said to be living in a pen.

<sorry>

 

[Rob_mDear]

Do Puns Travel in Hwords?

The collective noun is an anthology of authors, and an anthology of authors living together are said to be living in a pen.

<sorry>

Okay, that was very good. Puns suck, but that was good.

What about poets? I suppose they travel in stanzas. And a group of poets living together are said to be living in hell.

[Would you like to live with a group of poets?]