What's appropriate?

[Soldieringon]

Dear Lit:

To keep gender pronouns simple (I dont know if my editor is a male or female) I'm just going to refer to my editor as a him.

I just got my second story back from my editor, and submitted it for the site. My first has decent ratings, and I think it's in large part due to my editor.

I thanked him in the opening of part 2, but I'm worried that in doing so I may cause others to bombard 'my' editor with requests. I don't want to cause a dearth of requests to his inbox, but I also feel that others should know how wonderful he is to work with.

What's appropriate? Is there a thread where I can give him praise (or did I just start one)? Is there a way to rate editors the way stories are rated?

Help.

Signed,

Lost in etiquette

 

[LadyVer]

Talk to your editor?

 

[sr71plt]

I wouldn't credit the editor unless the editor agrees to it. The author has the file last and could do whatever with it contrary to what the editor did. The editor being bombarded with requests for editing is one thing that can happen. The editor's edit being criticized and badmouthed (often justifiably, as most "editors" here aren't editors any more than the one they are "editing" is) by commenters is equally possible. I tell authors I've edited for not to mention me--and if they do anyway, I don't edit for them again. As I have no control what is actually submitted, I don't take any responsibility for it.

 

[Soldieringon]

I wouldn't credit the editor unless the editor agrees to it. The author has the file last and could do whatever with it contrary to what the editor did. The editor being bombarded with requests for editing is one thing that can happen. The editor's edit being criticized and badmouthed (often justifiably, as most "editors" here aren't editors any more than the one they are "editing" is) by commenters is equally possible. I tell authors I've edited for not to mention me--and if they do anyway, I don't edit for them again. As I have no control what is actually submitted, I don't take any responsibility for it.

I took what you said to heart and changed my submission to simply thank my editor without giving a name. I haven't received word back from him yet (I told him I was going to thank him), but was afraid that any criticism would be directed his way for it.

The last thing I want to do is damage my relationship with him. Not only would that be a great loss, as I am quite sure he is a nice person who probably doesn't want the attention (pseudonyms abound here, after all), but I also would not want to burn my relationships with future editors.

Basically, I just want to become a well respected member of this community who does no one harm, but still manages to thank the right people.

 

[Athalia]

I wouldn't credit the editor unless the editor agrees to it. The author has the file last and could do whatever with it contrary to what the editor did.

I agree. It's the author's baby, not the editor's.

I edit for one person, and have allowed him to credit me, but I don't know if he has ever done so, with the exception of one article that was about the editing process itself. Similarly, he edits my stuff and has allowed me to credit him if I wished to, although I don't believe I have ever done so within the story itself. There is certainly no obligation to credit an editor by name, particularly if that person wishes no credit.

 

[Soldieringon]

I agree. It's the author's baby, not the editor's.

I edit for one person, and have allowed him to credit me, but I don't know if he has ever done so, with the exception of one article that was about the editing process itself. Similarly, he edits my stuff and has allowed me to credit him if I wished to, although I don't believe I have ever done so within the story itself. There is certainly no obligation to credit an editor by name, particularly if that person wishes no credit.

Thank you for this. I go through the forums and I see everyone bickering and fighting and calling each other members of the "tinfoil hat brigade," and discussing voting blocks, and I just want to be the nice guy on here, you know?

I want to thank my editor, but not cause any undue stress. I want to interact with people and have a generally nice discussion....

On second thought, if I am looking for a nice discussion, maybe an internet forum isn't the place...

 

[LadyVer]

Thank you for this. I go through the forums and I see everyone bickering and fighting and calling each other members of the "tinfoil hat brigade," and discussing voting blocks, and I just want to be the nice guy on here, you know?

I want to thank my editor, but not cause any undue stress. I want to interact with people and have a generally nice discussion....

On second thought, if I am looking for a nice discussion, maybe an internet forum isn't the place...

It's generous of you to want to do something positive for your editor. That being said, keep in mind that relationships between author and editor are generally private, so it's probably better that you talk to your editor before you do anything.

This is an online erotica/porn site with a wide range of people who are here for different reasons. Internet forums aren't the best place for those looking for civil, considerate discourse, even between, or with, authors and editors. The ignore button is a good feature, and if you're on moderated forums, a report can always be sent to the moderator for trolling or jackassery.

Lastly, posting history will prove how nice anyone is.

 

[Soldieringon]

...keep in mind that relationships between author and editor are generally private, so it's probably better that you talk to your editor before you do anything...

And this is the approach that I've taken. I suppose that it was only because authors and editors of mainstream fiction have a much more public relationship that I expected it to be the same way here, but I can clearly see that I was in error. And, in retrospect, I see that it is necessarily so, as the subjects we write about can be so much more private than in mainstream fiction.

 

[sr71plt]

And this is the approach that I've taken. I suppose that it was only because authors and editors of mainstream fiction have a much more public relationship that I expected it to be the same way here, but I can clearly see that I was in error. And, in retrospect, I see that it is necessarily so, as the subjects we write about can be so much more private than in mainstream fiction.

That's not my experience--not with the copyeditor (and I've been a mainstream publisher copyeditor). I think what you are seeing in the mainstream is mention of the acquisition editor, not the copyeditor. They are two different functions.

 

[Soldieringon]

I think what you are seeing in the mainstream is mention of the acquisition editor, not the copyeditor. They are two different functions.

What is the difference between a copyeditor and an acquisition editor?

 

[sr71plt]

What is the difference between a copyeditor and an acquisition editor?

In a publishing house, the proposal/manuscript goes first to the acquisition editor, who decides whether to propose to the publishing house to publish the piece. This may be following considerable toing and froing with the author on polishing it up/rewriting it. Only after the publishing house has decided to publish does it go to a copyeditor for technical editing. At Lit., Laurel is functioning essentially as an acquisition editor. You don't have to have another editor at all here, but if you do have one, you essentially are working with a copyeditor (who may also do more content work with you than a publishing house copyeditor normally would do).

The kicker to keep in mind, though, is that most "editors" at Lit. are just another pair of eyes (which is very useful, of course). Most of them have no more experience in editing anyone else's work than you do.

 

[SexyGeek]

Crediting an editor

You know, I have had a lot of authors post their stories and give me a short credit for editing. It has never caused a problem. Once or twice a mean comment was directed toward the editor, but mean anonymous comments do not bother me. I have never been "flooded" with requests to edit either. I really don't think it is any problem if the editor asks you to do it.

 

[Soldieringon]

SR71, thank you for the explanation.

The kicker to keep in mind, though, is that most "editors" at Lit. are just another pair of eyes (which is very useful, of course). Most of them have no more experience in editing anyone else's work than you do.

I don't mind that distinction. I feel that my own writing is at least competent. I'm not a novelist, I'm writing about things and subjects that get me mentally and physically hard. A second set of eyes is all I really need, I go through my own work at least three times looking for continuity errors, changing dialogue, etc...

But a second set of eyes, especially with regards to punctuation (em-dashes, semicolons and the like) is especially welcome. If I trust the editor (and I trust mine) I generally glance over the edits (which in my case includes removal of random carriage returns in word) and then accept all changes. I make no other changes except for the conversion to HTML.

You know, I have had a lot of authors post their stories and give me a short credit for editing. It has never caused a problem. Once or twice a mean comment was directed toward the editor, but mean anonymous comments do not bother me. I have never been "flooded" with requests to edit either. I really don't think it is any problem if the editor asks you to do it.

And it may be that my editor would have your experience where my stories are concerned. I think anonymity is the safest course, however, and am going to stick with it.