Does anyone feel like proofing a non-BDSM story/book?

[MissShelly]

Are volunteer editors here only interested in reading/proofing BDSM stories?

I need an extra pair of eyes to look over my book, but it's not sexually explicit at all. I'm fairly new to lit and just stumbled upon this part of the forum tonight.

 

[Everyday_Man]

I'm not an editor, but what is the story about then? Non BDSM leaves a lot of room and even not sexually explicit doesn't mean it can't be erotic. What kind of story is it?

 

[MissShelly]

I'm not an editor, but what is the story about then? Non BDSM leaves a lot of room and even not sexually explicit doesn't mean it can't be erotic. What kind of story is it?

It's a vampire novel. There is a lot of sexual tension between some of the characters. And there are exotic elements in a few scenes. I would rate it P.G. 16.

 

[LadyVer]

I'm interested.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'm interested.

I knew you would be!

And I can vouch for your skill, professionalism and in my case....patience.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, no, actually, you couldn't vouch for anyone's editorial skills. You have to have writing style skills of your own to know that someone editing your work is competent in editorial skills. This isn't directed specifically at you or LadyVer, but it's the point of letting someone who self-identifies themselves as an editor without actually having any--or much--editorial training edit for you. You assume they know what they are doing because you yourself don't know enough about proper style to question anything they did. It's the blind leading the blind and one blind person can't really know the skills level of another one in this situation. He can only hope he isn't being led down wrong paths or being trained to have bad writing habits--and chances are very good that that will happen with the VE program here as it's set up and is malfunctioning.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well, no, actually, you couldn't vouch for anyone's editorial skills. You have to have writing style skills of your own to know that someone editing your work is competent in editorial skills. This isn't directed specifically at you or LadyVer, but it's the point of letting someone who self-identifies themselves as an editor without actually having any--or much--editorial training edit for you. You assume they know what they are doing because you yourself don't know enough about proper style to question anything they did. It's the blind leading the blind and one blind person can't really know the skills level of another one in this situation. He can only hope he isn't being led down wrong paths or being trained to have bad writing habits--and chances are very good that that will happen with the VE program here as it's set up and is malfunctioning.

I know she made my story much better.

Perfect? I'm sure no. But I save my originals and then compare them side by side with the one where I made the suggested changes and its a far better read and that's what an editor is for, no? Improving the story?

 

[sr71plt]

As I posted, you're not in a position to extoll her editorial skills (which is what you praised), because you know zilch about editorial style.

You two, of course, could identify a posted story she's edited for you, and I could give a second opinion on it. It would be great to be assured that she was at least minimally competent in editing. Not long ago another author extolled her--an author who thanked her on a story--and I didn't make it very far into that story before finding editorial problems left and right. Like you, the author most likely extolled her work because he had no idea what proper editing would be. But then, again, maybe the author didn't take her edits. That's the main problem with editing on Literotica--the editor has no control over what is submitted.

 

[LadyVer]

I knew you would be!

And I can vouch for your skill, professionalism and in my case....patience.

Thanks, LC. I enjoy editing for you. And you know how much I love vamp stories.

PS: Pilot, your insecurity is showing, again. Along with your lack of diplomacy and tact. As well as your making assumptions about subjects you know nothing about. I guess it's time to find another song to dedicate to you.

LC, hope you're doing well! xo

For Pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7K4jH7NqUw&list=RDk7K4jH7NqUw

 

[sr71plt]

I'll stick with what I posted and dealing with you has nothing to do diplomacy. Not even subtilty has had any effect. Of the two of us, I'll bet that not only am I the only editor, but I'm also the only one who has traveled and functioned as a diplomat.

 

[LadyVer]

I'll stick with what I posted and dealing with you has nothing to do diplomacy. Not even subtilty has had any effect. Of the two of us, I'll bet that not only am I the only editor, but I'm also the only one who has traveled and functioned as a diplomat.

You've traveled and functioned as a diplomat, yet you're on a free porn site criticizing editors and writers who don't live up to your ideals. ROFLMAO

 

[sr71plt]

Something you can look forward to retiring to--assuming you've actually done anything to retire from. And, sorry, I have zero interest in playing your silly games with you. Bye.

 

[Tigersman]

Professional Editors

Even if a writer, be they an amateur or an experienced writer, they put trust in the assigned editor to thoroughly check their work. These writers have no idea whether or not the editor has always done an excellent job. Case in point, I once read a story where the editor passed to publication a story that had several paragraphs that the reader had to reread several times in order to comprehend what the author was trying to convey. This editor clearly bombed with their performance. Would you want to risk your story to this editor? Not me.

 

[_Lynn_]

Even if a writer, be they an amateur or an experienced writer, they put trust in the assigned editor to thoroughly check their work. These writers have no idea whether or not the editor has always done an excellent job. Case in point, I once read a story where the editor passed to publication a story that had several paragraphs that the reader had to reread several times in order to comprehend what the author was trying to convey. This editor clearly bombed with their performance. Would you want to risk your story to this editor? Not me.

First, Lit doesn't have assigned editors.

Second, the author has the final say in what to post since they own . . . and submit for publication to Lit . . . their story. They don't have to accept/reject any suggestions from any editor. The version posted might not even look anything like what the editor saw.

 

[LateNightStories]

You assume they know what they are doing because you yourself don't know enough about proper style to question anything they did.

You should never do this even if the editor is more experienced and talented than you are. There is no proper way to write fiction. Different people have different sensibilities and if you are an author you need to trust yours.

That is not to say that you can't learn from someone with more experience or with a different perspective on style.

 

[sr71plt]

You should never do this even if the editor is more experienced and talented than you are. There is no proper way to write fiction. Different people have different sensibilities and if you are an author you need to trust yours.

That is not to say that you can't learn from someone with more experience or with a different perspective on style.

There is proper style to follow whether the work is nonfiction or fiction. There's more leeway giving to fiction. That doesn't mean there are is no proper usage to follow. If the reader can't follow what you've written, you might as well have just stuck it in your drawer.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You should never do this even if the editor is more experienced and talented than you are. There is no proper way to write fiction. Different people have different sensibilities and if you are an author you need to trust yours.

That is not to say that you can't learn from someone with more experience or with a different perspective on style.

Youre fulla shit, of course, otherwise no one would acquire language.

 

[lowphat]

As I posted, you're not in a position to extoll her editorial skills (which is what you praised), because you know zilch about editorial style.

You two, of course, could identify a posted story she's edited for you, and I could give a second opinion on it. It would be great to be assured that she was at least minimally competent in editing. Not long ago another author extolled her--an author who thanked her on a story--and I didn't make it very far into that story before finding editorial problems left and right. Like you, the author most likely extolled her work because he had no idea what proper editing would be. But then, again, maybe the author didn't take her edits. That's the main problem with editing on Literotica--the editor has no control over what is submitted.

So what do you suggest amateur writers do Pilot? Don't go giving me a bunch of crap, just explain yourself for once. Do they just post it loaded with errors, or are you actually suggesting the pay a pro to edit for them, so they ccan post it for free?

You bad mouth the VE program, but you have no ideas for fixing it. You run around screaming and yelling about how you're the only real editor here, so what makes you vetted? How does one become vetted as an editor, is there a degree or something?

Those are serious questions, so how some serious answers?

 

[_Lynn_]

So what do you suggest amateur writers do Pilot? Don't go giving me a bunch of crap, just explain yourself for once. Do they just post it loaded with errors, or are you actually suggesting the pay a pro to edit for them, so they ccan post it for free?

You bad mouth the VE program, but you have no ideas for fixing it. You run around screaming and yelling about how you're the only real editor here, so what makes you vetted? How does one become vetted as an editor, is there a degree or something?

Those are serious questions, so how some serious answers?

I'm not pilot, but you could use this thread. A second set of eyes can help a great deal.

 

[sr71plt]

So what do you suggest amateur writers do Pilot? Don't go giving me a bunch of crap, just explain yourself for once.

For once? My, you haven't been paying attention, have you? I have constantly, for years, advised two approaches: either to volunteer to exchange reads with someone else looking for a second pair of eyes (which will usually make it quite good enough to post on Literotica, which isn't the New Yorker--a suggestion that has become a sticky at the top of this forum) or to pick out stories that are like what you'd like to be writing and are presented, you think, well, and ask the author if she/he would be willing to second-pair-of-eyes a work for you (and then pay attention to what they did that you thought improved the work--with again, probably ending up with something good enough for Literotica because this isn't the New Yorker.)

And now, since you haven't bothered to pay attention to what I've posted for years on this, you can just take your nasty belligerence and stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

[lowphat]

So no editors, just let another amateur writer look it over? So your solution is to actually lower the quality of the work posted here? Great idea cheif, next time I'll ask somebody who actually cares about this place.

I'd insult you right back, but apparently you're the only one allowed to do that. Have a great day

 

[_Lynn_]

So no editors, just let another amateur writer look it over? So your solution is to actually lower the quality of the work posted here? Great idea cheif, next time I'll ask somebody who actually cares about this place.

I'd insult you right back, but apparently you're the only one allowed to do that. Have a great day

Have you ever been that second set of eyes for anyone?

 

[lowphat]

Uh, I'm the one defending volenteers, not suggesting we end it, but yes, I've beta read for people over the years. I can catch spelling errors but not much else.

Not sure why you feel the need to ignore pilot and ride me, but whatever makes your boat float, right? I mean this is the Editors Forum, right? It goes say "Volunteer" in the description, doesn't it?

A place to discuss story editing issues with our volunteer editors.

When it says beta readers pilot can crap on every person claiming to be a volunteer editor, but right now it doesn't, so why don't you defend the people offering help, and delete Pilots nonstop negative, discouraging posts?

 

[sr71plt]

So no editors, just let another amateur writer look it over? So your solution is to actually lower the quality of the work posted here? Great idea cheif, next time I'll ask somebody who actually cares about this place.

I'd insult you right back, but apparently you're the only one allowed to do that. Have a great day

There are pretty close to no editors on here anyway. You have any evidence to the contrary? A second pair of eyes will get most of what needs to be gotten on a site that's not the New Yorker.

And what would you be asking anyone? You have no stories posted to show for 13 years on here. And no evidence you have done any reading here either. You certainly are blowing it out your rear to claim that you've ever helped anyone with anything--or even posted anything to the forum that helped anyone with anything.

There's also no evidence that you are here to do anything but razz me--once again proving out post #3 of the thread that got whoever's alt you are revved up. Who do you think you're fooling?

 

[_Lynn_]

Uh, I'm the one defending volenteers, not suggesting we end it, but yes, I've beta read for people over the years. I can catch spelling errors but not much else.

Not sure why you feel the need to ignore pilot and ride me, but whatever makes your boat float, right? I mean this is the Editors Forum, right? It goes say "Volunteer" in the description, doesn't it?



When it says beta readers pilot can crap on every person claiming to be a volunteer editor, but right now it doesn't, so why don't you defend the people offering help, and delete Pilots nonstop negative, discouraging posts?

I didn't "ride" you. I asked a simple question.

My point was this:

If you catch spelling errors during a read, you're helping that author as much as, if not more than, some of the people who add their name to the VE list. You help them improve their story. That's a good thing.