Editor selection advice

[sleepy_moose]

I submitted my first story and it has been rejected 3 times. The first time was plot problems, the second was punctuation inside my quotations and the third says it's still for punctuation.

I've looked it over again and I'm not sure what punctuation I am missing. I'm really frustrated because this is the first time I've been able to share anything about my interests. I'd really like to get this story posted but I'm afraid of choosing the wrong editor.

Do any of you have any tips about what I should look for in my first editor. I know I need to find someone who has a strong background in sentence structure but other than that I'm lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Bert_Fegg]

I submitted my first story and it has been rejected 3 times. The first time was plot problems, the second was punctuation inside my quotations and the third says it's still for punctuation.

I've looked it over again and I'm not sure what punctuation I am missing. I'm really frustrated because this is the first time I've been able to share anything about my interests. I'd really like to get this story posted but I'm afraid of choosing the wrong editor.

Do any of you have any tips about what I should look for in my first editor. I know I need to find someone who has a strong background in sentence structure but other than that I'm lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I think it's probably more about how the two of you interact than any particular set of attributes on the part of the editor.

If you want to send it to me for a look, I've got time on my hands. if you search the editors list, using "fegg" as the language accepted, it should bring up my profile. check the blurb before you post anything. Paste in the reasons for rejection and send it to me and I'll reply with an email address you can send your story to, if you want.

 

[Privates1stClass]

Do any of you have any tips about what I should look for in my first editor. I know I need to find someone who has a strong background in sentence structure but other than that I'm lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated

When I look for an editor, I'd like to know if they can spell and use proper grammar. If they've posted stories here, I read one or two of them, and if I'm satisfied they can write well, I assume they can also edit. I'd also shy away from editors who've posted stories which don't have scores above 3.5. If they can't write stories which appeal to readers, chances are, they can't help you improve your story.

I know that choosing an editor who hasn't posted stories eliminates a number of volunteer editors, but many volunteer editors don't have the qualifications, even though they may be enthusiastic.

If you read a good story here and the author attributes an acknowledgment to their editor, make a note of their editor's ID and check their stories. Many excellent editors here are also excellent writers.

Before sending your story to an editor, let them know what you'll be sending--category, story length, title, etc. A one paragraph synopsis of your story will help your editor understand what your story is about.

Agree beforehand about the format of your story. They may not be able to accept your Microsoft Word story if they use a Mac and don't use Word. Some editors won't edit some categories, so insure they will accept your story's category and length.

When you've found a good editor, you've found a gold mine.

Other tips:

Before you send an editor a story, spell and grammar check it. Look for overused words and phrases, then replace them. Don't send an unedited, unfinished first draft to your editor and expect them to correct it, unless you've agreed to do so beforehand. Don't expect your editor to finish your story for you.

If an editor suggests a change, and you don't agree with it, politely ask why--it may be a personal reason on the editor's part, or it could be a glaring error. Nothing pisses off an editor more than pointing out a spelling or grammar error which the author posts anyway.

Lastly, don't impose on your editor--they have lives and jobs, too. Don't expect a one-day turnaround on a poorly written story that's five Lit pages long (one Lit page is 20,000 characters, plus or minus 500 characters).

 

[sleepy_moose]

Thank you so much for your responses. I've been in contact with some awesome members who have helped me figure out what the problem was. I've been posting from my phone and it has been messing the format up. I'm hoping that posting from my home computer will solve the problem. I still need to send my final draft to an editor before I try and resubmit.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

Just to add - as important as it is to get an editor who knows what they're doing, it's also important to find one that you get along with, and who "gets" what you're trying to do with your story. You need to work well together, otherwise there's not much point.

 

[EndOfStory]

If they can't write stories which appeal to readers, chances are, they can't help you improve your story.

For me it is the opposite, if a writer wants/thinks that I can improve their story so it will get a better score. I will turn them down. Not without having a dialogue with the writer about it offcourse

Imho the job of an editor is to bring out the vision the writer has. If I start "improving" a writers work, its not the writers work anymore.

Ofc there are cases where this isn't the case. But I believe fellow editors understand the logic behind my reasoning.

 

[LadyVer]

For me it is the opposite, if a writer wants/thinks that I can improve their story so it will get a better score. I will turn them down. Not without having a dialogue with the writer about it offcourse

Imho the job of an editor is to bring out the vision the writer has. If I start "improving" a writers work, its not the writers work anymore.

Ofc there are cases where this isn't the case. But I believe fellow editors understand the logic behind my reasoning.

I think this is probably a matter of opinion. I'm usually flattered that an author thinks I might improve their story, even if it's to get a better score. I don't accept every project. It depends on the author, the story, and the category, but I always vote the stories I edited a 5 because I believe in the story and the author, and I see it as something positive I can do.

 

[sexnovella]

Editor.

You should find an editor who also is an author.

 

[Bert_Fegg]

For me it is the opposite, if a writer wants/thinks that I can improve their story so it will get a better score. I will turn them down. Not without having a dialogue with the writer about it offcourse

Imho the job of an editor is to bring out the vision the writer has. If I start "improving" a writers work, its not the writers work anymore.

Ofc there are cases where this isn't the case. But I believe fellow editors understand the logic behind my reasoning.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive - you can have a wonderful story that's told in an awkward way. If that's the case then you can expect people to either not rate it or rate it worse than they might otherwise have done. So yeah of course you're going to improve the score if you do your job right, that's not the same as pandering to popular appeal. I wouldn't rewrite any part of a story, but if I thought a particular part of it didn't work I'd definitely suggest alternatives and I'd explain why.

 

[EndOfStory]

I think this is probably a matter of opinion. I'm usually flattered that an author thinks I might improve their story, even if it's to get a better score. I don't accept every project. It depends on the author, the story, and the category, but I always vote the stories I edited a 5 because I believe in the story and the author, and I see it as something positive I can do.

I agree to a certain extent. Personally I dont vote on stories if I have been editing them.
And yes, its very much (as has been mentioned in this thread too) a question of the chemistry between author/editor/story/goal. If there is no chemistry, then it might very well turn out to be "waste" of time for all parties.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive - you can have a wonderful story that's told in an awkward way. If that's the case then you can expect people to either not rate it or rate it worse than they might otherwise have done. So yeah of course you're going to improve the score if you do your job right, that's not the same as pandering to popular appeal. I wouldn't rewrite any part of a story, but if I thought a particular part of it didn't work I'd definitely suggest alternatives and I'd explain why.

I agree, I would like to stress the point that it comes down to what the author "wants". If a story is told awkwardly (and it is not done on purpose), then I would question the chemistry between the author and editor. But at the end of the day, that is the beauty of stories. There is no right/wrong way of telling them, although if the author feels the need to excuse his/her story, then it was obviously the wrong way for that author (chemistry, chemistry).

And yes, of course any rejection/negative/postive thing you suggest/change while editing needs to be backed by logic and a willingness to explain the "why".

 

[sr71plt]

I certainly wouldn't vote a five for any story I edit. Guess it comes from being a professional editor and editing whatever comes your way, especially when you are on the freelance roles of publishing houses. I don't have to believe in an author and their story to copyedit it. In fact, it often is a better copyedit if I'm detached from it.

 

[LadyVer]

Well, I think it's proven that editors have their own way of doing things. I don't edit stories I don't like, much less can't read through, or for authors who are a PITA. And I don't believe my voting for an author I edited for indicates anything other than respect and encouragement. I guess one could see it as an indication of professionalism, but given that this is Lit and all editors are volunteer editors on the same level, I think it's a tad pompous to talk about professionalism over an editor voting for a story she edited. But, we all have our own opinions.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, my lord. Saying that just because the editors on Literotica all are volunteering that they are all on the same level is like saying that just because all posters have equal access to an Internet discussion board that they are all equal in knowledge on a given topic. It's a popular Internet world concept, but it's a bunch of barf.

 

[LadyVer]

Oh, my lord. Saying that just because the editors on Literotica all are volunteering that they are all on the same level is like saying that just because all posters have equal access to an Internet discussion board that they are all equal in knowledge on a given topic. It's a popular Internet world concept, but it's a bunch of barf.

I bow to your expertise on barf.

 

[EndOfStory]

Well, I think it's proven that editors have their own way of doing things. I don't edit stories I don't like, much less can't read through, or for authors who are a PITA. And I don't believe my voting for an author I edited for indicates anything other than respect and encouragement. I guess one could see it as an indication of professionalism, but given that this is Lit and all editors are volunteer editors on the same level, I think it's a tad pompous to talk about professionalism over an editor voting for a story she edited. But, we all have our own opinions.

Very much so. Authors are like magicians to me. I can (in a way) understand "how" they do what they do. But I cant duplicate that process myself, I dont have any desire to do so either

No, you voting for someone you edited for is just that, you voting. Its neither a negative or a positive. As you mentioned yourself, editors have quirks

I would like to point out that it's fairly ironic, that a gathering of editors can't debate about a topic without it all going to heck

 

[LadyVer]

Very much so. Authors are like magicians to me. I can (in a way) understand "how" they do what they do. But I cant duplicate that process myself, I dont have any desire to do so either

No, you voting for someone you edited for is just that, you voting. Its neither a negative or a positive. As you mentioned yourself, editors have quirks

I would like to point out that it's fairly ironic, that a gathering of editors can't debate about a topic without it all going to heck

Well, Lit is what it is, even for editors. That this thread has gotten this far with with good comments by all, with a minimum of barf, really is a good thing.