Do you use an editor?

[Alex De Kok]

I've been wondering recently about whether I should try to get myself an editor. Before I make the decision and go looking - or not - I thought I'd seek the collective wisdom of the Hangout stalwarts, and it occurred to me that the best way might be a poll. So, without further ado, Alex's first poll!

Please, if you vote for the last option, tell me what you do!

Alex

 

[Guest]

Don't know if this will make any difference, but ... it depends. I edit my own work, and THEN pass it on to a few trusted friends whose writing I have read and appreciated, and whose opinion makes a difference to me. I've found that just using someone because they volunteer doesn't make for a good experience, and that there needs to be a LOT Of talking back and forth concerning what I want an editor to DO and what the editor wants to/is willing to do. Not ever editing experience is a golden one, and not every editor who is willing is going to do a proper job on your writing. Even an excellent editor may not work well on your work because of some mismatch between you and him/her.

But editors, in general, are an absolute necessity. Once you find one who works well and can kick you in the ass/encourage you/find your nasty habits/appreciate what you do, send 'em flowers.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Alex,
I tried and editor on my latest story (as yet unposted). I recomend it for me. I've read your stories, I don't see much to improve.

 

[Guest]

 

[rgraham666]

It depends.

On my short pieces of smut, I just work on them myself. Once I'm reasonable happy with them, I post them.

On my bigger works, I have a thread that I post to asking for editors and proofreaders. The proofers I just have go through and point out any egregious errors as well as over all thoughts. The editor I have do a heavy duty check of everything.

Seems to work for me.

 

[Antfarmer77]

The past three(one is still pending) I've submitted have been self edited.My first two I used editors and they were a GREAT help ( would it be bad form to mention them? I learned alot from them and am eternally greatful!). I think the most frustrating part is there dosen't seem to be one standard grading criteria for stories. I had one story rejected and I followed the same puncuation format as a story that had been accepted, it just seems that it all depends on who is reading them. But it's still been fun and a learning experience.

 

[Aurora Black]

I have a regular editor (friend, fellow author) who edits my longer pieces (this is how I voted), and I also consult with a second editor/friend/fellow author for specific details of said pieces. I edit my shorter pieces myself, though.

 

[Liar]

I sometimes pester my friends and fellow authors into proofreading my sdtories before I submit then. And sometimes not. And sometimes when I didn't, I wish I had.

Is that what y'all consider an editor here, or someone who actually edits the prose more than correcting the occational typo?

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I only use an editor when the editor REALLY, REALLY wants to be used.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[TheeGoatPig]

No, but I've been told that I should

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Yes, and I love her...

Roguelurker... best editor on Lit... hands down...

I'm not biased or anything, really...

Number 1 & 2 apply to me, though... since she's both a volunteer editor and a friend...

 

[Aurora Black]

Roguelurker... best editor on Lit... hands down...

I'm not biased or anything, really...

Those be fightin' words!

 

[kendo1]

I ask around. It depends who is about at the time.
It's always a good idea to have someone else check over your work, wood and trees and all that.
Ken

 

[Weird Harold]

I do not use AN Editor, I use multiple editors -- never less than three and preferably eight to ten.

I've found that every editor finds different things to correct or comment on and what they find seldom over-laps what the others find.

 

[FallingToFly]

Those be fightin' words!

I agree....

Rora and I use the same editor (OMFG, I LOVE KEV!) and in addition there's a small group of people I send things to for a first reaction/look-see.

gravyrug, AchtungNight, deathlynx and Rora are on that short list.

 

[AchtungNight]

With me, it depends on the story and how I feel about it. In the beginning I didn't use editors but more recently I have begun doing so as I get more and more into my work. It's always a positive experience as others have said. I continue to self-edit my work, though, and have my Ideal Reader assist me in that.

 

[Aurora Black]

OMFG, I LOVE KEV!

Moi aussi.

 

[Munachi]

i write my story, then realize i should have someone edit it, panic, look for someone sometimes with success, sometimes without. i want to find a regular editor though. maybe.

 

[Black Tulip]

I voted for the first option since I do have one editor I always use.

But I often ask one of the other authors or a friend to take a look as well.
And sometimes, when I'm still not happy with a story, I take it to the SDC.

I feel I can't do without another set of eyes, because I keep making mistakes related to Dutch grammar.

 

[deathlynx]

For the short stuff I post here I edit myself...I finish writing and immediately reread the whole thing checking for spelling, bad word choice, inconsitancies, etc...Then, when I go to post it here (usually a while later as most of my stuff has been sitting a while) I go through and reread while submitting...This allows me a second edit of it in addition to looking for all of the Tags to be included...

However for anything I intend to publish I'm certainly going to have people read and edit...At the moment I'm having a couple of people read my current WiP as much for believability (first time writing a major female protagonist) and pacing/interest issues but I intend to have someone go through and do a full edit...

And thanks to Falling for reading my stuff for me

 

[FallingToFly]

And thanks to Falling for reading my stuff for me

Always welcome... I'll get to the one you sent me today some time tonight... right now I'm miserable. My damn husband gave me his flu.

So I'm drinking green tea and considering plots for my Halloween Contest entry.

 

[arienette]

I mostly edit my own stuff, if I edit...but Liar has helped me edit a poem and he's by far the best poetry editor on Lit.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I've never used a volunteer editor or any sort of professional editor. Usually I edit my own stuff and then field test it out on my Live Journal friends list. I have a few special, dedicated readers who wank test the sex scenes for me. You've got to run a story up the flagpole and see if anybody salutes, yannow?

 

[MagicaPractica]

I tried out several different volunteer editors on various peices and found one who I like working with. He makes me see things that I have completely overlooked without changing the character of what I have written. I was having trouble finding someone by looking at the list of volunteer editors so I posted a request on the appropriate board. I think there tend to be things in our own writing that need tightening which we simply can't see unless we can put it aside for a year and who wants to do that?

 

[Alex De Kok]

I left this poll to run for a week, but having had to dig through to page 5 to find it again, maybe a couple of days would have been enough!

Thank you to those who responded. Food for thought. Mostly I edit my own. I'm confident of my grammar, spelling and punctuation, and I can usually manage to remember to run the US spell checker if I think I've gone too English. I read and re-read before submission. A tip I came across was to change font and/or text colo(u)r before re-reading, so that it appears different. What I find also helps is switching word processors. I usually draft in Rough Draft, which isn't WYSIWYG, so that if I load my opus into Word or OpenOffice Writer the line breaks occur in different places, which can help me to spot flaws. I still sometimes change character names in sequels . . .

I'm still undecided. I do ask for occasional help from online friends, and perhaps what I need is an occasional proofreader, possibly on a reciprocal basis. My output's low - 51 pieces, including 6 poems, in six years (okay, and another 21 as Frederick Carol).

Thank you to all who responded. Happy writing.

Alex