Finding an editor

[BSBosworth]

I did a search on this within the forum but couldn't find anything. I suspect that someone will direct me to half a dozen threads I missed but here goes.
So far I've got one story online and one pending. In writing these I looked for an editor but sending out maybe 10 or so requests. I received three responses total. The first story was edited by a technician. Period there, tense change there, replace quotes here, etc. Not a word on content, form or whether the story sucked or was Pulitzer material. OK. It was still very useful.

Second story was edited by someone who had some great comments about consistency, point of view, form. All the things I really wanted. But the accompanying email was about how much she didn't like story, didn't like the form, didn't like the point of view. She understood why some people like such a simple story. Sigh.

Took that in stride and put the second one out there anyway.

The third editor volunteer didn't really want to edit but really did like the first story.

I'm getting my money's worth for what I'm paying the editors but was hoping for a bit more.

Is this a common experience?

Any ideas?

I'm interested in a few more stories anyway and might get to where I like it with a combination of help and encouragement.

 

[sr71plt]

You get what you pay for.

As you surmised, there was a better place to post this--if you are looking for a good editor fit. The "Editors" forum below this one. Be sure and mention genre and length. Best wishes in finding a good fit.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Gee... You're seriously bitching about people who FREELY volunteer their own time, effort and knowledge to read and fix your shit??? REALLY????

Hmmm... If you don't like what you're getting, maybe you should get off your big, fat wallet and offer to pay them for the services you want!

 

[Stella_Omega]

yes-- those are common experiences. I've experienced the same, and also been guilty myself-- I've edited people once and then never been able to find the time to do so again, for instance. Unfortunately, I have to pay rent and stuff and... write my own stories and ... sit on the internet and ... twiddle my thumbs-- So much to do!

 

[BSBosworth]

What an interesting world here

What is it about this forum that results in such vitriol? I'm not an internet newbee but I have never seen such blazing responses so frequently in every thread. No matter. Fortunately I have the choice to not see them again.

My apologies for not seeing the editor forum.

And Safe_Bet, I will treasure our brief, somewhat terse, relationship to my grave. I'm sure you are a lovely person but, then, so was Jeff Dahmer.

Adieu.

 

[Safe_Bet]

What is it about this forum that results in such vitriol? I'm not an internet newbee but I have never seen such blazing responses so frequently in every thread. No matter. Fortunately I have the choice to not see them again.

My apologies for not seeing the editor forum.

And Safe_Bet, I will treasure our brief, somewhat terse, relationship to my grave. I'm sure you are a lovely person but, then, so was Jeff Dahmer.

Adieu.

I hope you aren't writing in the Loving Wives cat, dude. If so, buy some band aids cuz with that thin skin you're gonna bleed a lot.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Lit is a free speech site. As the term has been interpreted by the site's owners, "free Speech" need not be civil speech. Many people come here because they can be as uncivil as they wish, without fear of discipline.

 

[sr71plt]

Apparently so.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Gee whizz... It must be poetry time!



The Saga of Stella and SRFaker:


Two wannabe Bi's
Two wannabe men

Both giving deep sighs
Together again


(and yes, I now DO think you're the same person!)

 

[lovecraft68]

Gee whizz... It must be poetry time!



The Saga of Stella and SRFaker:


Two wannabe Bi's
Two wannabe men

Both giving deep sighs
Together again


(and yes, I now DO think you're the same person!)

You're wrong. Stella posts in other forums specifically GLBT and fetish and is far to knowledgeable to be a faker. As for the other one, well that is pretty much a given that he's a fake. I mean really, what man would want him?

 

[TxRad]

You're wrong. Stella posts in other forums specifically GLBT and fetish and is far to knowledgeable to be a faker. As for the other one, well that is pretty much a given that he's a fake. I mean really, what man would want him?

You're right on the first and so far off base on the second that it is hilarious.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You're right on the first and so far off base on the second that it is hilarious.

I am flattered by Lovecraft's first point, and I am pretty sure he is completely wrong on the second. Not to mention incredibly tiresome with the stalking and such.

I don't especially adore Pilot. But actually-- his faults, as I perceive them, are quite consistent with the kind of man he claims to be who has done the things he claims, at the age I (think) he is. I've met people like him, and I know such folk exist.

And when I agree with him I say so. Why the fuck not?

But it's a very funny poem, Amy It reminds me of a comment about an old guy I once knew, that he "wasn't quite a lady."

 

[Dragonlipz]

In response to the original post:

Whew, such a diva!!! I've got a new rope for ya.....

 

[sr71plt]

Sort of funny how this thread became about me. A poster asked a question, and I gave him a civil answer. From there destructive posters to this forum zipped off into personal attacks.

I guess they have no wish for this to be a healthy forum where posters can ask questions about writing and a civil discussion can ensue. Any questions, really, on which posters are trying to ruin this forum?

 

[Stella_Omega]

*laughing*

Perfect self portrait, Pilot.

 

[KZRoth]

Yea I'm kind of with the original poster here. I've read and enjoyed Literotica for years. Once I started writing my own stuff and saw the volunteer editor thing I thought wow, how great. But being on this forum feels a hell of a lot like Mad Max entering Barter Town. "Two me enter, one man leaves." Jesus you people can be mean. Sorry to say it, but you've gotta admit this is hardly a welcoming place anymore.

 

[sr71plt]

I think the "anymore" might be a little overoptimistic on nostalgia about this forum--but, yes, when someone opens up a stalking hate campaign against another poster on a forum like this, it's going to pretty much cripple the functioning of the forum.

 

[Spacefender]

I think the "anymore" might be a little overoptimistic on nostalgia about this forum--but, yes, when someone opens up a stalking hate campaign against another poster on a forum like this, it's going to pretty much cripple the functioning of the forum.

In Safe Bet's case the hate campaign extends to anyone born with a penis. But yeah, seeing her pop up here does kinda give this forum a bit of the GB feel.


EDIT: My 777th post and I wasted it talking about a douchecanoe. What luck.

EDIT 2: Forgot to address the actual point of the thread. I don't have an editor as such. But I do have someone that often reads my work and makes suggestions on what she thinks could use improvement or points out typos or strange word usage or awkward sentence construction. The thing is that this is someone I've known for awhile and someone whose writing ability I respect. I know that she's not going to complain about content very often because we're into the same sort of thing. I mean, if you're writing about vampires and your editor tells you, "Yeah, good story, too bad about all that vampire shit in it," well, that's not very helpful.

I really can't imagine myself trying get an editor here. I'm sure there are many wonderful editors here but choosing a complete stranger who you never had any communication with before and suddenly thrusting yourself and this stranger into the role of writer and editor seems very weird to me.

I would rather have no editor at all than someone I'm not totally comfortable with.

 

[estragon]

When I work with an author, I make sure that we both clearly understand, first, what the author expects and second, what I can, and cannot or will not, be able to deliver. Neither editors nor authors are different lengths cut from the same bolt of cloth.

As I said in my essay "Confessions of a Quibbler", I am a copy editor--the small change of creative writing; spelling, grammar, syntax, sentence structure, in short the minutiae. I only work for authors whose work has merit. I try not to exceed my remit. I leave characterization and character development, plot and continuity to those who can contribute. When I transgress the bounds I have set, I do so with much trepidation, and clear warning to the author.

I use this as an example, not to boost myself or seek employment, but to illustrate how an author might seek out an editor--by specifying as nearly as possible and within the bounds of reality (Harold Ross and Maxwell Perkins are dead, and neither worked for free) what the author needs the editor to do.

And editors need to be explicit--especially about what they cannot, or will not, do.

 

[Darkniciad]

I found my primary editor through the other site I post at Well coded system, and I had five people provide edits as soon as I posted an "ad". I actually had the opportunity to choose the one who best meshed with me.

Beyond that, I have numerous people who have first-read/edited stories for me over the years, all located by building relationships here on the forum.

I've been tempted to code up an example of a functional editors program to whip off to Manu several times, taking the basics of the existing system and moving it into something that can be maintained with a lot of automation + author/editor feedback, thus remaining relevant and easy to use with minimal intervention by the site itself.

Just had too much on my plate

 

[sr71plt]

When I work with an author, I make sure that we both clearly understand, first, what the author expects and second, what I can, and cannot or will not, be able to deliver. Neither editors nor authors are different lengths cut from the same bolt of cloth.

As I said in my essay "Confessions of a Quibbler", I am a copy editor--the small change of creative writing; spelling, grammar, syntax, sentence structure, in short the minutiae. I only work for authors whose work has merit. I try not to exceed my remit. I leave characterization and character development, plot and continuity to those who can contribute. When I transgress the bounds I have set, I do so with much trepidation, and clear warning to the author.

I use this as an example, not to boost myself or seek employment, but to illustrate how an author might seek out an editor--by specifying as nearly as possible and within the bounds of reality (Harold Ross and Maxwell Perkins are dead, and neither worked for free) what the author needs the editor to do.

And editors need to be explicit--especially about what they cannot, or will not, do.

Wow, that's pretty officious for having absolutely no qualifications to be an editor.

You're not an editor; you're a second pair of untrained eyes. (Which can be useful for story writer here).

But . . . wow. You are trying to make it sound like you actually have editor credentials, and you don't. It's a flim flam, even if you are able to provide help to a writer here. You are misrepresenting your preparation to do so.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Wow, that's pretty officious for having absolutely no qualifications to be an editor.

You're not an editor; you're a second pair of untrained eyes. (Which can be useful for story writer here).

But . . . wow. You are trying to make it sound like you actually have editor credentials, and you don't. It's a flim flam, even if you are able to provide help to a writer here. You are misrepresenting your preparation to do so.

Pot:kettle!

What are YOUR qualifications to be a super secret spy jet pilot, diplomat or heir to the DuPont fortune???

Where do you get off deriding anyone else's qualifications or FREELY given volunteerism???

I haven't ever seen your pilots license either, so YOU of all people should go easy on calling someone else "officious".

 

[sr71plt]

Irrelevant. I don't offer to take people on flights here, or private tours of Winterthur, or of the 201 files in Langley. I'm vetted with an Editor subforum moderator and with others here as a professional editor. I doubt estragon is, as he's admitted elsewhere that he has no editorial training. And I don't give a rat's ass whether you believe me.

You, on the other hand, can't even open your own account here. You usurped someone else's persona and are dragging her through the mud of wacko bitchery.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Irrelevant. I don't offer to take people on flights here, or private tours of Winterthur, or of the 201 files in Langley. I'm vetted with an Editor subforum moderator and with others here as a professional editor. I doubt estragon is, as he's admitted elsewhere that he has no editorial training. And I don't give a rat's ass whether you believe me.

You, on the other hand, can't even open your own account here. You usurped someone else's persona and are dragging her through the mud of wacko bitchery.

Is that all you got, you prissy little shit? You always feel the need to bring up my late wife. Why is that? You think you're hurting me more by doing that? Do you think I actually believe that you give a FUCK about her good name? You always hated her and attacked her, asshole. Don't make yourself an even BIGGER hypocrite by parroting Stella's words (BTW, that lack of originality is just another fine example of why you suck as a writer and undoubtedly make a very piss poor editor).


P.S. "Vetted professional editor" on a free porn story site????? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Seriously dude, you REALLY need to get a life!

 

[sr71plt]

Egg's on your face, babe.