Anyone else find it difficult to find editors using the Volunteer Program?

[sarah_shriner]

I am not really sure what I am doing wrong.

I rarely hear back from any editors to see if they are interested in editing my work.

And from the ones the do reply, they are either busy or not interested in the story line.

I've published two parts of my story and the feedback seems fairly positive.

I was just wondering if there are any tips to get an editor interested.

 

[AlphaLyon]

I am not really sure what I am doing wrong.
I rarely hear back from any editors to see if they are interested in editing my work.
And from the ones the do reply, they are either busy or not interested in the story line.
I've published two parts of my story and the feedback seems fairly positive.
I was just wondering if there are any tips to get an editor interested.

Look at it this way - it's better to have no editor, than to have one do a rush job on it. haha.
How long is your story? What's its content? You can PM me and I can let you know if I have the time to go through it, so long as there's no incest in it and it's not a 400+ page book.

 

[LAHomedog]

I am not really sure what I am doing wrong.

I rarely hear back from any editors to see if they are interested in editing my work.

And from the ones the do reply, they are either busy or not interested in the story line.

I've published two parts of my story and the feedback seems fairly positive.

I was just wondering if there are any tips to get an editor interested.

I help as an editor and I'm currently working with three other authors.

Please look at my editors profile, or PM me, A message through the Lit Editor Program arrives straight into my Email.

LAH

 

[sarah_shriner]

thank you! I have sent a message

 

[thatsbogus]

When I put my profile up I got probably a dozen emails in the first four days it was up. Most editors don’t have the time to edit that many stories, and for me, I can tell you that if someone hasn’t read my editor profile and wants me to edit in a category I don’t work in, etc then I’ll just ignore them. Everyone who’s actually taken the time to read my profile and respond to specific things in it gets a reply, but I can afford to be picky about who I work with because I’m not hurting for authors.

If you want to PM me with details of your story, go ahead.

 

[KeithD]

When I put my profile up I got probably a dozen emails in the first four days it was up. Most editors don’t have the time to edit that many stories, and for me, I can tell you that if someone hasn’t read my editor profile and wants me to edit in a category I don’t work in, etc then I’ll just ignore them. Everyone who’s actually taken the time to read my profile and respond to specific things in it gets a reply, but I can afford to be picky about who I work with because I’m not hurting for authors.

If you want to PM me with details of your story, go ahead.

Good editors will respond to any and all queries to clearly get the transaction closed out--both for the requesting author and for the editor. A simple, "No, I don't deal with that topic," will do. If you don't want to do that, don't put out a shingle; you are degrading the system.

 

[Comshaw]

When I put my profile up I got probably a dozen emails in the first four days it was up. Most editors don’t have the time to edit that many stories, and for me, I can tell you that if someone hasn’t read my editor profile and wants me to edit in a category I don’t work in, etc then I’ll just ignore them. Everyone who’s actually taken the time to read my profile and respond to specific things in it gets a reply, but I can afford to be picky about who I work with because I’m not hurting for authors.

If you want to PM me with details of your story, go ahead.

You do realize that by hanging out a shingle as an editor (even a voluntary one) you are entering into the realm of customer service don't you? Would it be so out of your way, would a minute or two to be polite and send a canned response be so detrimental to your time?

I went to take a look at your editor's profile. Impressive credentials I must say. This is part of it that caught my attention, "I would consider editing stories not in the listed categories (feel free to ask), but I feel I’d be most useful in those listed. I am not interested in incest/taboo stories or those involving anal sex."

You need to understand that those with less education than you have, those who are nervous about their work, that have a hard time asking for help because they are afraid of being made fun of may not read through the whole thing and catch the last sentence. Even if they did the first sentence of that passage negates the second part to some extent. Also the term "not interested" doesn't completely exclude the fact that you might still edit the story. I would suggest if you don't want more inquires about stories you positively will not edit, you make that passage a lot stronger.

A quote I saw comes to mind on this subject, "The character of a person is told by how they treat those who can do nothing for them."

Being a hardass while shielded by the anonymity of the internet is easy, being civil and kind to those who are vulnerable, who misinterpret or misread what you have said, who can do nothing for you takes much more character.


Comshaw

 

[_Lynn_]

Good editors will respond to any and all queries to clearly get the transaction closed out--both for the requesting author and for the editor. A simple, "No, I don't deal with that topic," will do. If you don't want to do that, don't put out a shingle; you are degrading the system.

You do realize that by hanging out a shingle as an editor (even a voluntary one) you are entering into the realm of customer service don't you? Would it be so out of your way, would a minute or two to be polite and send a canned response be so detrimental to your time?
Comshaw

Yep. I agree.

 

[thatsbogus]

Good editors will respond to any and all queries to clearly get the transaction closed out--both for the requesting author and for the editor. A simple, "No, I don't deal with that topic," will do. If you don't want to do that, don't put out a shingle; you are degrading the system.

I've responded every single person who has taken the time to ask me for help in a personal way, even if it's just to send them a polite refusal. But some authors carpet-bomb the editor's list. If your message makes it obvious you haven't read my profile and have no idea why you'd like me to edit your work, why do I owe you a reply? This isn't customer service. Authors are not customers and I am not a business. I am a volunteer, and I will respond with diligence and care to everyone who writes to me with same.

 

[KeithD]

I've responded every single person who has taken the time to ask me for help in a personal way, even if it's just to send them a polite refusal. But some authors carpet-bomb the editor's list. If your message makes it obvious you haven't read my profile and have no idea why you'd like me to edit your work, why do I owe you a reply? This isn't customer service. Authors are not customers and I am not a business. I am a volunteer, and I will respond with diligence and care to everyone who writes to me with same.

I'm a professional, advance-degreed book editor as a second career, with nearly twenty-four years of mainstream publisher and over 160 mainstream books edited under my belt (and vetted as such to the editing MOD of this discussion board. Are you?). I posted to you as an editor, not as a writer who would seek an editor. My work here is edited by someone who could show me professional editing credentials. My post to you was based both on advanced university training in editing and over two decades of editing for mainstream publishers.

I responded to the post as you posted it. Comshaw made a very good point. If you declare yourself in the editorial business, you have entered the world of customer service. If you aren't responsive to every single request you receive in some way, you aren't being communicative or responsible enough and you are damaging the writer-editor relationship for all of us. If you can't be professional in handling customer service, don't hang out an editorial services shingle.

If you aren't prepared to be responsive to every query you receive, get out of the business--even here, as a volunteer.

 

[Comshaw]

I've responded to every single person who has taken the time to ask me for help in a personal way, even if it's just to send them a polite refusal. But some authors carpet-bomb the editor's list. If your message makes it obvious you haven't read my profile and have no idea why you'd like me to edit your work, why do I owe you a reply? This isn't customer service. Authors are not customers and I am not a business. I am a volunteer, and I will respond with diligence and care to everyone who writes to me with the same.

As to the bolded part of your post, you know this...how? There's no way you could, so I'd hazard it's a WAG on your part. Even if it is true, sometimes it's hard to find an editor that will take a wack at editing a work. After you've been turned down or failed to receive a response from 5 or 6 requests sent, some will quit in dispair, others will turn to mass "carpet-bombing" to find an editor. We either lose an author (who might be damned good with a little help) or irritate a few who think the carpet-bombee is playing a game.

Additionally, your bolded statement above doesn't match up to the one in red. If they request you review a story, even if the request is done politely, but you feel they haven't read your bio, you're not going to respond even though you claim you would? One statement cancels the other. So which is it? It can't be both.

Now if you're talking about a request that is abrasive or just nasty, yeah, I can see not answering it. I would, if for no other reason then to point out why I wouldn't accept their work. But as a sausage-fingered, semi-educated, dyslexic writer I'd never try the editor gig. That kinda' thing ain't one of my strengths.

Comshaw

 

[LAHomedog]

I'm a professional, advance-degreed book editor as a second career, with nearly twenty-four years of mainstream publisher and over 160 mainstream books edited under my belt (and vetted as such to the editing MOD of this discussion board. Are you?). I posted to you as an editor, not as a writer who would seek an editor. My work here is edited by someone who could show me professional editing credentials. My post to you was based both on advanced university training in editing and over two decades of editing for mainstream publishers.

I responded to the post as you posted it. Comshaw made a very good point. If you declare yourself in the editorial business, you have entered the world of customer service. If you aren't responsive to every single request you receive in some way, you aren't being communicative or responsible enough and you are damaging the writer-editor relationship for all of us. If you can't be professional in handling customer service, don't hang out an editorial services shingle

If you aren't prepared to be responsive to every query you receive, get out of the business--even here, as a volunteer.

FYI: I PMed her immediately, and I've been working with Sarah since her post and she is being taken care of. It's a very good multi-part story and she is a very good writer. The dude missed out on a wonderful opportunity to work with a highly talented writer.

LAH