An editor really does make a difference

[AsylumSeeker]

Should've Avoided The Forums!

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.

I read this, and it pains me as both a writer and as a mentor/editor. I value myself as a kind and caring person, and I truly hate to see a writer not being fostered. I'm selfish in a way, as I love to write my own stories and do a decent job of it and reserve time for doing it.

But then I feel guilty because I have also been blessed as a good editor. Better yet I can mentor, as the writer in me can also influence stories in a positive way (not fixing just spelling/grammar but suggesting creative ideas).

PM me if interested. My graceful apologies for your bad experience, we do try as a community to help.

 

[cantdog]

Indeed.

Bless his little heart. If it helps his self-esteem and his ego to think that I"m "stalking" him, then he can.

Poor sod.

I love it when a southern girl blesses someone's heart! A clearer expression of pity for the poor twit could not be had.

How ya doin', beautiful? Have you heard about my trip to Labrador in August? It was very interesting, but the damn mammals stayed out of sight to a frustrating degree. Made me feel my age, too. I've written it up, as I usually do. Want a copy?

 

[cantdog]

I read this, and it pains me as both a writer and as a mentor/editor. I value myself as a kind and caring person, and I truly hate to see a writer not being fostered. I'm selfish in a way, as I love to write my own stories and do a decent job of it and reserve time for doing it.

But then I feel guilty because I have also been blessed as a good editor. Better yet I can mentor, as the writer in me can also influence stories in a positive way (not fixing just spelling/grammar but suggesting creative ideas).

PM me if interested. My graceful apologies for your bad experience, we do try as a community to help.

I appreciate the sentiment, AsylumS. Thanks. In the event, though, I do not feel ill-served by fate, or anything. I do all right. I'd like a bit more honest feedback, of course; on the other hand, my readers are generally not too shy to speak out!

 

[Guest]

I appreciate the sentiment, AsylumS. Thanks. In the event, though, I do not feel ill-served by fate, or anything. I do all right. I'd like a bit more honest feedback, of course; on the other hand, my readers are generally not too shy to speak out!

Yo.