Can an Editor Grow a Pair (aka be brave?)

[AsylumSeeker]

There are stories out there that no editors want to touch due to length. I recently agreed to one that was 40 or so Word pages long and no editors wanted to be a part of, the writer kept asking and asking until I agreed.

And I am now editing a story 82+ Word pages long nobody had THE BALLS to edit.

Are you editors, or editors of "convenience?" You know, quick edits so you can pat yourself on the back and be done with it?

So ask yourself, what kind of editor are you?

 

[OnlyByMoonlight]

I would...

I would edit a longer piece, but its a question of time. If I've got a 40 page piece to read for a class I can't pile much more onto that, but I think its good that you are tackling something that big.

 

[_Lynn_]

There are stories out there that no editors want to touch due to length. I recently agreed to one that was 40 or so Word pages long and no editors wanted to be a part of, the writer kept asking and asking until I agreed.

And I am now editing a story 82+ Word pages long nobody had THE BALLS to edit.

Are you editors, or editors of "convenience?" You know, quick edits so you can pat yourself on the back and be done with it?

So ask yourself, what kind of editor are you?

I have one opened in front of me right now that is 71 Word pages. It's the second half of a novel. I did the first half already.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I don't have huge chunks of time, maybe an hour a day, and I feed it back a chapter at a time, and the writer knows my limitations and is content with the limitations.

Don't see the project in its entirety but in smaller chapters, as I do.

Look, life happens, and writers are open to delays as long as editors keep them appraised. Just don't take on stories and disappear for weeks at a time, that's all writers are asking. Keep them apprised, let them know.

Feedback, feedback, feedback!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I have one opened in front of me right now that is 71 Word pages. It's the second half of a novel. I did the first half already.

Good on you, ML. We're all thankful!

 

[_Lynn_]

I don't have huge chunks of time, maybe an hour a day, and I feed it back a chapter at a time, and the writer knows my limitations and is content with the limitations.

Don't see the project in its entirety but in smaller chapters, as I do.

Look, life happens, and writers are open to delays as long as editors keep them appraised. Just don't take on stories and disappear for weeks at a time, that's all writers are asking. Keep them apprised, let them know.

Feedback, feedback, feedback!

Good on you, ML. We're all thankful!

I've done stories of 50+ pages, stories with multiple chapters adding to over 60 pages, and others over 100 pages. At the same time I've had my share of the ten-pagers as well.

My regulars send all sorts of goodies my way.

 

[sr71plt]

Don't quite see what length has to do with having a set.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Don't quite see what length has to do with having a set.

Fair enough. I've seen longer stories going unheeded, ignored, due to length. All I am trying to do is to bring attention to these otherwise "ignored" stories. In many cases the writing is quite good.

 

[_Lynn_]

Fair enough. I've seen longer stories going unheeded, ignored, due to length. All I am trying to do is to bring attention to these otherwise "ignored" stories. In many cases the writing is quite good.

But it isn't the length of the story per se. The amount of time I have free for doing this isn't always a lot. Not all authors want to wait weeks for their story to get back.

For example, I won't commit to a 75 page story when I have several 30 pagers already waiting for me.

 

[driphoney]

Don't quite see what length has to do with having a set.

Yes ... you do have a point. Often if you do have a set ... you usally have some amount of length.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes ... you do have a point. Often if you do have a set ... you usally have some amount of length.

And something to point with too.

 

[CWatson]

So ask yourself, what kind of editor are you?

A picky and idiosyncratic one.

There are a lot of categories I just don't play in. Erotic Horror, Reluc/NC, Incest, Group Sex... I'm a very vanilla sort of person when it comes to sex. So anything that belongs in any of those categories, I just don't offer to edit.

Additionally, when someone plonks a novel-length work down on my lap, I get a little bit nervous, because I've committed to editing this thing regardless of quality. A good novel gets better as it goes on. A bad one gets worse. And let's face it: are stories here more likely to be good or bad?

Finally, there's the fact that I'm deeply passionate about fiction--and, as a result, deeply perfectionist. I've never had a repeat editing client because my standards are very high--like, treeware-level high--and 90% of writers on this site don't want to hold themselves to that level. No fault there; each writer has the right to choose what level of quality s/he shoots for. If they don't want treeware standards, I'm not the right editor for them.

But hey, you know: different strokes for different folks. There are certain things I'm good at, and certain things I'm not. I'm okay with that, because the things I'm not good at? Somebody else here in Editing Country probably is. We help each other. And there's no point in worrying about what you are not. (You've probably enough to concern yourself by worrying about what you are. )

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

As I said before, I am now semi-retired from editing and rarely accept new authors. However length has nothing to do with this decision. I have, in recent weeks, edited works of 45k words, 83k words and by way of contrast 3k words.

What is your problem, AS, with what other editors choose to do, or not to do, for free?

 

[euterpe410]

As a new writer to this board who posted a request for an editor I debated responding to this thread but finally decided to put in my two cents.

Yes, my work is going to be long. No, it's not finished, or anywhere close to being finished, even though I'm adding about 2000 words a day. When it is finished, it will probably fall between 70-100 pages.

Would I expect a volunteer editor to read and edit the entire thing at one time? Of course not. Am I content waiting for the editor(s) of my choice in a queue as long as I'm in a queue and know that the editor will get to my work in his/her time and offer the type of critique I want? Of course. Will I send said editor(s) small portions to read/critique at one time? Certainly. I'm not going to wait until I've written an entire story of this length then send it to the editor. I want constructive input as the story develops so that if the editor feels things aren't working they can be changed as I go along, certainly not all at once.

Am I the exception to the rule? Do other writers really expect volunteer editors to give them immediate feedback on 70-100 page stories? From what some of you are saying, maybe I am in the minority. Then IMO that's both (1) sad and (2) extremely inconsiderate.

And I agree with others--I'm not sure it has to do with "growing a pair". It has to do with the relationship between the writer and editor. I knew from the beginning that "clicking" with a potential editor was the most important thing about the relationship. And if I couldn't even "click" on simple matters like consideration for each other and dealing with realistic time frames, then I (personally) would question whether that editor was the right choice for me.

Would I like to work as an editor at some point? Probably. Will I be realistic regarding my time limitations and turnaround with a writer? Absolutely. And if they don't like it, then I'll wish them the best and move on. I've learned that you can't please everyone, and it's impossible to even try with some.

My ramblings after my first cup of coffee...

eut

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... When it is finished, it will probably fall between 70-100 pages. Would I expect a volunteer editor to read and edit the entire thing at one time? Of course not. ...

Actually I prefer to get lcomplete pieces of work, rather than little bits. It's a matter of time - If I get a story in three chunks, when I get the first portion, I have to edit it. When I get the second portion, I have to read the first and second and edit the second. When I get the third portion, I have to read the first, second and third and edit the third. Otherwise I won't notice that Marie in the first part has suddenly become Mary in the third part.

... Will I send said editor(s) small portions to read/critique at one time? Certainly. I'm not going to wait until I've written an entire story of this length then send it to the editor. I want constructive input as the story develops so that if the editor feels things aren't working they can be changed as I go along, certainly not all at once. ...

 

[sr71plt]

Agree with Snooper here. Everything is so integral and following an arc in fiction that it needs to be reviewed as one piece. I only do partial edits of fiction as a preliminary example of what the author could be looking for and correcting in their own review after they've finished it all and before sending it to a formal edit.

 

[driphoney]

Actually I prefer to get lcomplete pieces of work, rather than little bits. It's a matter of time - If I get a story in three chunks, when I get the first portion, I have to edit it. When I get the second portion, I have to read the first and second and edit the second. When I get the third portion, I have to read the first, second and third and edit the third. Otherwise I won't notice that Marie in the first part has suddenly become Mary in the third part.

Agree with Snooper here. Everything is so integral and following an arc in fiction that it needs to be reviewed as one piece. I only do partial edits of fiction as a preliminary example of what the author could be looking for and correcting in their own review after they've finished it all and before sending it to a formal edit.

Can I put both on you on my Christmas list?

The one thing I yearned for with my story, was someone to read the overall thing and help me understand what might be missing in the big picture.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

As I said before, I am now semi-retired from editing and rarely accept new authors. However length has nothing to do with this decision. I have, in recent weeks, edited works of 45k words, 83k words and by way of contrast 3k words.

What is your problem, AS, with what other editors choose to do, or not to do, for free?

All I was trying to share, and perhaps did so poorly, is that I, as an editor, have learned that taking on stories of "more words" (avoiding the other phrase), has been a teacher of sorts, and my intention was to share. In other words, don't miss out on an opportunity to learn from others by instantly disregarding stories due to word length.


Sounding like Obama now, maybe we can both sip from the same cup.
Sounding like Obama now, maybe we can both sip from the same cup.

Sounding like Obama now, maybe we can both sip from the same cup.

I am learning that, with timely feedback, some writers will rewrite chapters of longer stories in advance of the editing, simplifying the process and helping them learn.

Okay, whatever. Perhaps the words before were poorly chosen and equally poorly employed, a strategy that has not worked. The thread was started with the best of intentions... but as most everything else in my life, has resulted in tragedy.

Anybody got a glass of poison handy?

 

[CopperSkink]

If you was to visit my spot, I'd do you a shooter of nog warshed in butterschnapps, and hold the rat poison. I know more well than I ever wanted to how difficult it is to make myself understood through written words. I find that what a person has to say is more to do with the audience's patience. After all, it's not like someone can tell sarcasm, anger, kindness, or tragedy from a small handful of words. A whole story about it, maybe.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

If you was to visit my spot, I'd do you a shooter of nog warshed in butterschnapps, and hold the rat poison. I know more well than I ever wanted to how difficult it is to make myself understood through written words. I find that what a person has to say is more to do with the audience's patience. After all, it's not like someone can tell sarcasm, anger, kindness, or tragedy from a small handful of words. A whole story about it, maybe.

I'd belly-up and take a shot.

 

[_Lynn_]

If you was to visit my spot, I'd do you a shooter of nog warshed in butterschnapps, and hold the rat poison. I know more well than I ever wanted to how difficult it is to make myself understood through written words. I find that what a person has to say is more to do with the audience's patience. After all, it's not like someone can tell sarcasm, anger, kindness, or tragedy from a small handful of words. A whole story about it, maybe.

I believe understanding the words has a lot to do with knowing who wrote them. The anger, sarcasm, kindness, etc. is there for me when I've had the opportunity to talk in depth with the person, learning what makes them tick outside of Lit.

 

[CopperSkink]

Isn't it scary at first, though? The first few emails with a new author, not knowing each other? Send something back, saying, "This might be better off if you leave this out, use commas instead of em-dashes, or if you write a plot rather than have people fucking for thirty pages and calling it a story (guilty). Sure, you mean well, and you want to help, but who can help seeing a comment like that from a person s/he doesn't know about his/her precious story without wanting to blow something up? I certainly wanted to blow something up the first time I got edited. Thank goodness for patient people.

 

[Epmd607]

Fair enough. I've seen longer stories going unheeded, ignored, due to length. All I am trying to do is to bring attention to these otherwise "ignored" stories. In many cases the writing is quite good.

How many views does the 17th literotica page get in those epically long stories? I agree to edit shorter stories because I'm an amateur. I can usually figure out the problems with something that's 2-5 lit pages long. Most of the novel and novella length stories aren't things you can read all the way through(edited or not) If you're going to write something that long you might as well pay a pro. Who has that many hours to read and edit someone's sci-fi/sex/vampire novel? Especially when you don't know the person. It seems a bit too altruistic...or martyr-like.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... I can usually figure out the problems with something that's 2-5 lit pages long. ...

Five Lit pages is about 18,000 words, so that is quite long by Lit standards.

... Most of the novel and novella length stories ... If you're going to write something that long you might as well pay a pro. ...

Taking a short novel as 50,000 words and rates of 25 to 50 words per US dollar "paying a pro" something between five hundred and a thousand dollars is a lot of money - even for a publishing house, let alone an amateur author.

... Who has that many hours to read and edit someone's sci-fi/sex/vampire novel? Especially when you don't know the person. It seems a bit too altruistic...or martyr-like.

I am retired from the "day job" and so have more time than most. I only edit for a very few authors, and I offer repeat edits only to writers I think (personal opinion) have real potential as authors. One author I edit regularly is, as I write, on a book signing tour in Canada, having started with a novella length story on Lit.