An editor really does make a difference

[knitedreams]

In the past, I've had editors, but they were always crappy. I could have done a better job editing my stories myself. Years later -- with a lot of yelling from passing readers -- I tried again to find an editor. I was lucky enough to hit the jackpot! My edited story was posted last night and the votes and comments are amazing!

So I've learned my lesson: having a great editor makes a whole world of difference. Now I think I'll celebrate my small, but meaningful, victory!

 

[BlackShanglan]

In the past, I've had editors, but they were always crappy. I could have done a better job editing my stories myself. Years later -- with a lot of yelling from passing readers -- I tried again to find an editor. I was lucky enough to hit the jackpot! My edited story was posted last night and the votes and comments are amazing!

So I've learned my lesson: having a great editor makes a whole world of difference. Now I think I'll celebrate my small, but meaningful, victory!

Possibly by crediting your charming editor by name? Some people like that sort of thing. If not, there's always flowers ...

 

[slyc_willie]

Funky little smilies work, too

 

[knitedreams]

Possibly by crediting your charming editor by name? Some people like that sort of thing. If not, there's always flowers ...

I offered to credit him by name, but he declined saying that he would much rather stay behind the scenes. I would send him flowers in gratitude, but I have no clue where to send them. So I settled for sending him many thanks in an e-mail while he was editing and helping me out. When the story was posted and I started getting such startling results, I sent him even more thanks.

 

[cantdog]

I'm glad for you, knited.

My experience with editors here has been less wonderful.

One of them spent hours on my story, or at least, so I assume. But it was all in some kind of redline thing within Microsoft Word. Useless. We had sent six emails back and forth over a period of many days before I sent her the file, because I had to make absolutely certain that she understood I don't own Word and can't read Word files, and that she could read rich text files all right.

Her edited copy of my story file was a Word file. I managed to bring it up in a text-only editing program. It was sprayed with higher-order characters which no doubt indicated editing functions in MSWord. It also had a massive amount of gobbledegook at the end, with her name, her computer's name, the names of the fonts on the computer, the sort of printer she had, all kinds of happy shit, twice or three times as lengthy as the original file. I understand Word appends this sort of thing to every file it makes. Great.

I wrote her back but she never replied. I had to figure it was because, as the cover letter she sent with the file explained, she wasn't doing editing any more. But it looked as if she really had been blue-penciling the text, which is a big plus.

Every other editor I managed to actually contact offered nothing to me but general comments, some of which were helpful, I admit, but none specifically referencing any particular paragraph or sentence. A sort of book review. Most of the vol. editors, dozens of them, that I contacted didn't reply at all, or had addresses which didn't exist any more. I gave up.

I probably need an editor too, but it's like a needle in a haystack. You've been exceedingly fortunate.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Well done, knited.

 

[damppanties]

Most of the vol. editors, dozens of them, that I contacted didn't reply at all, or had addresses which didn't exist any more. I gave up.

I probably need an editor too, but it's like a needle in a haystack. You've been exceedingly fortunate.

I suggest asking someone from the AH board to edit. They're good people and fantastic editors and work with you tirelessly.

 

[cantdog]

Thanks, dampy. I have done editing ad hoc, for AH people and others, myself. But I've really given completely up on the idea of having anyone edit my stuff. Lost interest in it.

 

[damppanties]

Thanks, dampy. I have done editing ad hoc, for AH people and others, myself. But I've really given completely up on the idea of having anyone edit my stuff. Lost interest in it.

That's sad.

 

[sr71plt]

But it was all in some kind of redline thing within Microsoft Word. Useless.

Well, um, not used and quite possibly not covered with sufficient communication up front (sounds like you don't have Word)--but not "useless." Word is the standard for manuscript work in the world of publishing, and the Word tracking change program (that "kind of redline thing") is standard in publishing as well. Sounds like you just didn't clear up between you that you apparently don't use standard publishing systems/functions in creating your manuscripts. And, um, if you plan on doing a lot of writing for publicaton, you might best get Word and learn what the tracking change system is and how to use it.

 

[cantdog]

Well, um, not used and quite possibly not covered with sufficient communication up front (sounds like you don't have Word)--but not "useless." Word is the standard for manuscript work in the world of publishing, and the Word tracking change program (that "kind of redline thing") is standard in publishing as well. Sounds like you just didn't clear up between you that you apparently don't use standard publishing systems/functions in creating your manuscripts. And, um, if you plan on doing a lot of writing for publicaton, you might best get Word and learn what the tracking change system is and how to use it.

As an editing job, for me, it was entirely in vain. I found Word on my computer in the office, but it was an earlier version and could not read hers. A friend had a copy of an office-suite from Microsoft, but "Works" is not "Word" and could not read it. An illegible file is not a useful file. I don't understand how much more specific I could have become than to say, as i did, that I don't own Word and cannot read any Word files.

Dozens and dozens of the editors on the vol. editors lists specify Word. Those people I did not even bother to contact, because I knew damn well this would happen if I was sent a Word file. We sent a lot of mail back and forth, this editor and I, and the file format issue was the burden of the communication.

Perhaps, as you seem to imply, she was sending me the industry standard to teach me a lesson, to wit, that I should not write unless I had a few hundred dollars to give to Microsoft corporation. If so, then it was not in vain, but merely malicious. It loses the note of tragedy and gains the taint rather of arrogance. I have always preferred to imagine that it was an honest error, though.

 

[Guest]

Arrogance, thy name is sr71plt.

 

[sr71plt]

Perhaps, as you seem to imply, she was sending me the industry standard to teach me a lesson, to wit, that I should not write unless I had a few hundred dollars to give to Microsoft corporation. If so, then it was not in vain, but merely malicious. It loses the note of tragedy and gains the taint rather of arrogance. I have always preferred to imagine that it was an honest error, though.

No, I didn't mean to imply that at all. I don't for a minute think that was the case. What I think is that the two of you didn't get clear about programs up front. (I have no idea where the fault was for this--but the result seems pretty clear).

When I have a disconnect on programs such as this for something of short story length, I suggest that we just send the material back and forth in the body of an e-mail and I embed any change suggestions in the e-mail without any of the tracking change bells and whistles.

The bottom line, though, is that I don't think that the value of having a second set of eyes looking at a manuscript should be thrown out because of computer platform incapatibilities. If there are going to be incompatibilities, these can be straightened out up front by good communications.

 

[sr71plt]

Arrogance, thy name is sr71plt.

Ah, back to the stalking and trolling are we? (I continue to marvel how my stalkers track me down when they claim they have me on ignore.)

Could you maybe point out what was arrogant about anything I posted?

 

[cantdog]

Arrogance, thy name is sr71plt.

Nah. the Señor is doubtless only giving me the facts. In another context, it would be sound advice. I bear no grudge.

 

[Guest]

Ah, back to the stalking and trolling are we? (I continue to marvel how my stalkers track me down when they claim they have me on ignore.)

Could you maybe point out what was arrogant about anything I posted?

Actually, cant quoted you. That's why I replied.

I did check to see your response to my post, however.

I'm a troll? I'm a stalker? Hmmm. Cantdog has been out of town for weeks, he's a dear friend, I saw he had posted and was curious about his opinion on this issue.

You give yourself way too much credit for the actions of others around here. I haven't given you a second thought. Did you actually think I followed you to this thread?

As to your arrogance? You don't find anything arrogant about this post? Because quite frankly, most everyone else would.

Originally Posted by sr71plt
Well, um, not used and quite possibly not covered with sufficient communication up front (sounds like you don't have Word)--but not "useless." Word is the standard for manuscript work in the world of publishing, and the Word tracking change program (that "kind of redline thing") is standard in publishing as well. Sounds like you just didn't clear up between you that you apparently don't use standard publishing systems/functions in creating your manuscripts. And, um, if you plan on doing a lot of writing for publicaton, you might best get Word and learn what the tracking change system is and how to use it.

 

[slyc_willie]

Nah. the Señor is doubtless only giving me the facts. In another context, it would be sound advice. I bear no grudge.

I'd have to agree. Love ya, Sarah, but sr71 was just being his typical direct self. No harm intended.

It was sound advice and reasoning, too.

 

[Guest]

Nah. the Señor is doubtless only giving me the facts. In another context, it would be sound advice. I bear no grudge.

Perhaps. And you're a good guy.

Many already have him on ignore for supreme dick-ishness, however.

 

[Guest]

I'd have to agree. Love ya, Sarah, but sr71 was just being his typical direct self. No harm intended.

It was sound advice and reasoning, too.

He intends harm in every post to me because I dared disagree with him before.

I even tried to be pleasant a week ago and he shoved it back in my face.

He's an ass.

BUT - I adore your new AV.

 

[cantdog]

No, I didn't mean to imply that at all. I don't for a minute think that was the case. What I think is that the two of you didn't get clear about programs up front. (I have no idea where the fault was for this--but the result seems pretty clear).

When I have a disconnect on programs such as this for something of short story length, I suggest that we just send the material back and forth in the body of an e-mail and I embed any change suggestions in the e-mail without any of the tracking change bells and whistles.

The bottom line, though, is that I don't think that the value of having a second set of eyes looking at a manuscript should be thrown out because of computer platform incapatibilities. If there are going to be incompatibilities, these can be straightened out up front by good communications.

Or so one would have imagined.

I know what you mean. When I edit for people, I have to do amazing workarounds to indicate changes while preserving the original text for reference. It's very tedious. I have no doubt that Word has some sort of color-coded system, or something equally elegant, which would do that. Still, the fact remains. I said in so many words, in the initial post I made to this thread, that I didn't have it and couldn't read it, and you replied to say, hmmf, sounds like you don't have Word. Well, yeah. That's what "I don't have Word" means, ordinarily, isn't it? Communication is slippery stuff, but a simple declaration like the one I made shouldn't be ambiguous.

The woman held, if I remember, an assistant professorship at a university, which is why I haven't discussed her name here. She knew her stuff, I have no doubt. It was damn close, it was within a whisker of being useful, and it frustrated me to distraction at the time. What I have done about it is, in the end, to put the idea of an editor out of my mind.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Now, now, Sarahh. This is a perfectly harmless post.

Well, um, not used and quite possibly not covered with sufficient communication up front (sounds like you don't have Word)--but not "useless." Word is the standard for manuscript work in the world of publishing, and the Word tracking change program (that "kind of redline thing") is standard in publishing as well. Sounds like you just didn't clear up between you that you apparently don't use standard publishing systems/functions in creating your manuscripts. And, um, if you plan on doing a lot of writing for publicaton, you might best get Word and learn what the tracking change system is and how to use it.[/I]

I mean, unless he'd somehow known more about Cant's attempts at "sufficient communication" and "clearing up" the issue of him not using Word. But barring something like that, it's a perfectly reasonable post.

We had sent six emails back and forth over a period of many days before I sent her the file, because I had to make absolutely certain that she understood I don't own Word and can't read Word files, and that she could read rich text files all right.

Something like that, for instance.

 

[Guest]

Now, now, Sarahh. This is a perfectly harmless post.

I mean, unless he'd somehow known more about Cant's attempts at "sufficient communication" and "clearing up" the issue of him not using Word. But barring something like that, it's a perfectly reasonable post.

Something like that, for instance.

I the horsey.



(wanna play with my new crop?)

 

[cantdog]

Well, thanks, Shang. It's water over the dam, now, of course. It sure had me tearing my hair at the time, though.

 

[slyc_willie]

He intends harm in every post to me because I dared disagree with him before.

I even tried to be pleasant a week ago and he shoved it back in my face.

He's an ass.

BUT - I adore your new AV.

First off, thanks.

Secondly, let me be the Devil's advocate for a moment.

Sure, he's blunt, even acidic and obstruse in some of his posts. But I have to admit, I see a form of integrity there. And, yes, I have been watching 'that' thread in the SF in which sr71 has appeared to be on a certain egotist's side. But then he turns about with a challenge, that has thus far been ignored (for obvious reasons).

Okay, so you've had your differences. Don't let them bother you. The guy actually has some sound advice now and then.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Well, thanks, Shang. It's water over the dam, now, of course. It sure had me tearing my hair at the time, though.

*nods* Total lack of feedback would be much easier to bear than the knowledge that actual detailed feedback was there but forever walled away from sight! Sympathies on that.

to Sarahh. Always delighted to help break in a new crop. It's one of those night when ... OK, that's headed straight toward the paddock of TMI. Let's settle for, "It's one of those nights."