Editor Pet Peeves

[SexySoBeChick]

Since I've recently become annoyed with some of the writers requesting my help in editing their stories, I thought it might be a good idea to start this thread, so editors like myself can voice writer practices we do not find endearing.

I'll start things off with one of my favorites . . . rudeness.

I know, given the stories that are published on Literotica, some of you might think rudeness is a prerequisite. But when it comes to interactions between a writer and an editor, rudeness is . . . irritating. Rudeness takes so many forms, so I'll enumerate a couple of examples.

1) Not responding to an editor who has kindly agreed to edit your masterpiece.

Now, I suspect some writers out there are submitting requests to multiple editors at a time. That's fine. But if an editor takes the time to respond to your request and agrees to edit your story, the least you could do is respond in kind. It's only common courtesy to let the editor know if you've changed your mind or found another editor, so they can cross you off their list and make room for someone else.

I would even go so far as to say it would be a good idea to let the editor know that you're requesting help from other editors in your initial query. That way, the editor won't feel guilty about politely denying your request if they are overburdened.

2) Failing to acknowledge an editor's time and effort.

I don't care if you abhor everything an editor did to your story—email them to let them know you received your edited story back. I'm not even saying you have to thank them—although, that would be nice. Even if you write: How dare you do that to my story! Your suggestions suck! Thanks for nothin'!

But send the editor something.

That's all I have for now,
SexySoBeChick

 

[hiddenself]

I concur

I'm actually in favor of an open list of such offenders so that all editors are aware (and can decline to take stuff from said writers in the future if they wish). After all, rudeness or irresponsibility on the part of an editor gets him/her booted off the VE list. IMO, it's only fair to apply the same standard to writers requesting help. It's one of the reasons I'm not on the VE list.

 

[SexySoBeChick]

My purpose wasn't to name names, but to create a forum to let writers know what some editors consider unacceptable behavior. If you're guilty, you know who you are.

However, I do agree. There is a void with respect to standards to which writers should be held in order to participate in the program. Perhaps, as the program develops, there will be a way for editors to voice grievances and take action against certain writers.

Hmm, I'm starting to sound like I'm organizing a Literotica Editors Union . . . LOL!

--SSBC

 

[bridgeburner]

I'm not sure if I've just experienced #2 on your list of peeves or if perhaps I had a memory lapse and never sent the edited story back to the author.

If you'd asked me anytime in the last 10 days up until 15 minutes ago I would've sworn that I'd sent the file. Now, however I'm having doubts since I didn't save it to my "sent" folder in email. I haven't had any further contact from the author telling me the file was received or not received much less whether it was helpful or not.

The story has recently been posted, however, and not a single suggestion that I made was implemented -- not about spelling, typos or grammar, much less anything more sophisticated like plot, character and general flow.

So I've emailed the author to ask whether or not the file was even received. I'm undecided whether to hope that it was or that it wasn't. I'd hate to have dropped the ball and let an author down, but at the same time I can only imagine that I deeply offended this person if the file was received.

I'll let you know what I find out and be back to either rant or grovel. ;-)

-B

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I had the same problem with one of the writers with whom I've recently dealt. The writer sent me their story and I emailed them back to give an expected date of completion and to ask a couple questions about how they preferred I handle certain things. When I didn't get a response, I simply edited the story as I saw fit and sent it back. Once again, no response. I've looked to see if the story was posted, but it hasn't been.

I wasn't sure how to handle it either. Whether or not I should send a follow-up email. But I figured, if they didn't receive their story and they still wanted my help, they would've emailed me to ask, "Hey, where's my story?" However, being the conscientious person I am, it's still bothering me, so I think a will send that follow-up email after all.

 

[yaspis]

I hate it when it happens. Especially if you have the story ready and sent for them and you don't even here a beep from them.

It's frustrating.

Editing a story is a time-consuming, often mind-numbing hunt for typoes. Very rarely an author asks me to actually make suggestions about the plot and characters - usually you're just a typereader because they can't possibly resort to the built-in spell check on their computer.

It makes my blood boil when after few days of careful work you don't even get a "thanks for your time"-message.

Sheesh.

It's even more frustrating when the writer just asks you to edit his/her story and never responds. They do not seem to realise that it takes a real person with personal needs and obligations (work, school, eating, paying the rent, social life...) to edit their work, who already might have some works on the line that they'll have to rush to have ready.

Though the VE program, as I recall, specifies that an author does NOT have to give the editors any credit in their story's notes, they could at least inform us if they got our part of the work.

And I'll be the first one join the Lit Editors Union! Can I have a nifty title and position from the Union? Like "The Official Whip-lasher"?

 

[snooper]

I must be lucky!

The authors with whom I am currently working are extremely polite and do not take offence when I offer suggestions, or even criticism.

And, NO, I'm not naming them, lest one or more of you steals them.

 

[SexySoBeChick]

For the record, I'd like to state that I'm working with several writers who are an absolute pleasure. My "pet peeves" are addressed to the boatload of other writers who contacted me and committed the above-mentioned offences.

And I'll be the first one join the Lit Editors Union! Can I have a nifty title and position from the Union? Like "The Official Whip-lasher"?

Absolutely, and I'll be Mistress of the Thumbsrews. What fun! We'll have those wrters whipped into shape in no time.

--SSBC

 

[yaspis]

Absolutely, and I'll be Mistress of the Thumbsrews. What fun! We'll have those wrters whipped into shape in no time.

Ha! And all they can say is "Mistress, may I have another one, please?"...

 

[bridgeburner]

I've only had the one problem -- and I still don't know if it's really a problem since I haven't heard back from the author in response to my email. Perhaps that IS the response.

I'm working with another author now who is delightful -- as most of them have been so I'll just forget about the minority. I'm irritated about wasting my time, however.

-B

 

[snooper]

... I'm irritated about wasting my time, however.

No such animal as wasted time, only annoying experiences. Add the annoying behaviour to a nasty character in your stories.

 

[bridgeburner]

hahaha, that sounds much like something a friend of mine in college used to say:

A learning experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.


--B

 

[MaxSebastian]

Now, I suspect some writers out there are submitting requests to multiple editors at a time. That's fine.

Hmm... so you get a message like this: "I'd like you to edit part 28 of my story Vic and Rachel Catch Crabs - you might like to look at the other parts on my member page..."

And so you dutifully go and look at aforementioned 27 or whatever parts of an atrocious and apparently unedited epic and decide, because your plate's currently empty, it being the summer, why not, I'll help this poor tyke out this time, even if they have requested help only on spelling and grammar, thereby wasting the rather incredible opportunity of getting tips from another writer on more complicated aspects of the piece (does anyone have spell checkers on their computers? What happened to those?)...

And they write back to inform you they've got another editor, because you were one of eight editors they sent requests to.

And you sit there, having forced your eyes through 27 tepid chapters of Vic and Rachel and those blasted Crabs, and you think. Hmm. I was kind of hammering on the sharp end of that particular nail, wasn't I?

AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Makes you learn for next time, I suppose...

 

[SexySoBeChick]

Max,

I hear your frustration and the LEU is sending out yaspis right now to hunt down the offending writer with her whip.

You're a much better person than I, because I wouldn't have waded through 27 chapters of drivel before I'd actually received the story. And maybe not even then.

However, at least the writer let you know they found another editor. I've just been blown off without even a thank you, ma'am. But it would have been considerate of the writer to let you know he/she was approaching other editors, so maybe you wouldn't have wasted so much time.

Sympathetically,
SSBC

 

[Weird Harold]

But it would have been considerate of the writer to let you know he/she was approaching other editors, so maybe you wouldn't have wasted so much time.

That all depends on why they're approaching more than one editor.

I always try to get at least five edits on every story that's ready for editing, but I want all five of those opinions, not just the first one to finish. (that has, in the past, meant approaching at least ten editors, BTW; I have sent anything to an editor for along time, so I don't know how the changes to the VE program is working.)

My pet peeve as an editor is when people send be a first draft and expect me to fix every little error instead of identifying trends that they should hve fixed before sending it to an editor. I'm an Editor, not a co-author!

 

[Guest]

I like the idea behind this thread because it addresses something, I think, some story submitters don't understand or take seriously.

Whether you are a volunteer editor, or somebody who occasionally likes to help a writer that appreciates the process (like me), there has to be a protocol to this—a clear understanding, up front, of what the steps are and when it's appropriate to use a volunteer's time to assist a writer.

Editing is an activity that is reserved for one of the final processes in writing just prior to a story submittal. The story should have been developed well before this point by the writer because she/he has done her/his very best to:
1) have an idea for the story thought out,
2) write the story using generally accepted fiction styles (in you neck of the woods, region or country) complete with a plot and a climax, complete with characters and sentences and paragraphs and punctuation (specific to your region or country),
3) check the story—read it several times!—and change the transitions and sense and logic and flow,
4) proofread and grammar-check and spell-check the work, again, several times, if necessary, and finally,
5) submit the story.

My strong belief is that if you read your story, after progressing through the first 4 steps above, and it still doesn’t seem right to you, then in all likelihood it won’t seem right to other readers, and you should continue working on it to improve it until it does seem "right." Therein lies the trick, of course, for many a wayward writer venturing onto this site and recognizing when her/his story needs some general editing versus a major overhaul.

I believe, however, it is patently unfair for a writer to dump on an unsuspecting editor the middle steps 2), 3), and, 4) above (or, sometimes, even parts of 1) without even making an attempt at performing these important writing activities. Sure, look, if an writer has problems with 2), 3), and 4), an editor can help—but that’s what it should be, a reasonable effort to assist. It becomes unreasonable when an editor is obligated to re-write major portions of a poorly developed work. An appropriate reaction by an editor, at this point, in my view, would be to politely decline to continue and to explain why.

If writers are stuck coming up with ideas for stories, or they cannot write the story (because they don’t know how), it is unreasonable to expect an editor to fill in these gaping holes. That’s why I think a volunteer editor should (must) expect heavy involvement from the writers, push back on them to fully develop the story as well as to guide them with a good faith effort to apply the tools of the trade.

It’s really a matter of fairness.

 

[MaxSebastian]

You're a much better person than I, because I wouldn't have waded through 27 chapters of drivel before I'd actually received the story. And maybe not even then.

I didn't really wade through 27 chapters, SSBC. That bit was artistic licence.



Actually, I only read three chapters, but good Lord, did it seem like 27 chapters. I don't think it's good to start editing someone's epic from anywhere other than the first chapter, anyway. I mean, the three chapters I read, already posted on Lit, were absolutely atrociously spelled and so on. So it's going to look a bit strange to those hardened readers out there that suddenly, they get to part four, and it's perfectly spelled, with nice clean grammar!

And, I agree with ProofreadManx, an editor should only be brought on board once the writer has got as far with it as they possibly can. If someone hasn't put any effort in - and you can tell the ones who haven't - I'm just going to send it back with some valuable pointers, I'm not going to write the whole thing for them. I really don't mind correcting a fair amount of spelling and grammar, but really, there has to be a limit in terms of effort. If the editor is putting in more effort than the writer, there is something extremely wrong with the picture.

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I didn't really wade through 27 chapters, SSBC. That bit was artistic licence.

Yeah, I figured that and was playing along. And yaspis really isn't going after the writer with a whip—at least, I don't think so.

I know where you're coming from though. I've recently edited a couple of stories that were as entertaining as a frontal lobotomy. (If any of my Literotica writers are reading this—no, it wasn't your story.)

I also agree with ProofreadManx. With the above-mentioned stories, all I could do was fix obvious mistakes and send them back with writing advice and a strong suggestion to rewrite the stories. They needed way too much of an overhaul and I wasn't about to rewrite the stories. I just don't have the time or inclination to write another writer's story for them.

As always,
SSBC

 

[adoniss]

Sexybesochick,

I first learned about Literotica.com and the volunteer editor program in early July. I carefully reviewed the editor profiles and chose you as an editor for a feminine perspective on my stories. I sent a very respectful request and you never responded. I was a little surprised when I read your post and saw that you were upset with writers that did not respond. Are you aware that you have done the same to writers who have requested your services?

 

[SexySoBeChick]

Adoniss,

After Literotica revamped the program, there were some problems and I didn't receive several requests until several days after they were submitted through the system. I promptly responded to whatever requests I received, once I did receive them. When I found out there was a problem, I did post an explanation on the Editor's Forum, apologized for any inconvenience, and invited those writers effected to email me directly.

Recently, I've taken my name off the Volunteer Editor list, because I have a couple of writers I've developed a good working relationship with and don't really have time to work with anyone else. I'm sorry if email was misdirected, but if you really wanted my help, you should have emailed me again. I really wasn't purposely snubbing you. Freaky computer things happen and it's beyond my control.

Again, I'm sorry you didn't get a response,
SSBC

 

[hiddenself]

... but if you really wanted my help, you should have emailed me again.

Yes, I heard from multiple people that the system was very buggy in the beginning.

But, I don't agree with your comment above. A little too big of an ego there maybe ("if you really wanted my help")?!


Yes, it was not your fault but it was certainly NOT Adoniss' responsibility to email again. In fact, in this situation (when I don't know you), I'd assume that you had an emergency and are offline or you're not interested or you're irresponsible or you hate my guts or what have you and NOT email EVER again. Unless, of course, I *really, really* felt that you were the only one in the world who could help me...

Just clarifying another point of view -- not trying to be a pain in the butt (or anywhere else).

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I certainly didn’t mean to be egotistical. I wrote “my” help, because it was my help that adoniss was requesting. And I’m not saying the situation was anyone’s fault. But under the circumstances, I think I did everything in my power to respond to writer requests and resolve the situation from my end. As soon as I realized there was a problem, I started a thread (Editor’s Program SNAFU) apologizing for the mishap—even though it wasn’t my fault—and invited those writers involved to email me directly. I’m not sure what else I could have done.

I don’t agree that it wasn’t adoniss’s responsibility to email me again. After all, adoniss was the one seeking an editor. How could I have responded to adoniss, if I didn’t know adoniss wanted help?

Geez, I feel like I’m under attack. I certainly didn’t mean to be hypocritical when I started this thread. I’d thought I’d resolved the matter with the writers who didn’t get a response. I figured they either read my explanation on the Editor’s Forum and found other editors or changed their mind. I definitely didn’t think there was anyone who thought I’d snubbed them or was irresponsible. That’s the last thing I wanted to happen and did everything I could to avoid that.

So truly, from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry adoniss did not receive a response.

SSBC

 

[adoniss]

SBSC,

I do want you to know that there are no hard feelings on my part. There was a happy ending - I did find other editors and things worked out well with them. I do have to agree with what Hiddenself said, though, about what one might think when they do not get response from an editor. I did think just about all of the thoughts he listed.

Also, being a newbie, I did not know of any way to send you email except for just putting in another editor request. When you request an editor, you don't see the editor's email address. I figured it was kept secret on purpose, so I never bothered to try again. Why would I expect you to answer the second time if you didn't the first?

Now that I know it wasn't your fault and there was nothing you could have done about it, I feel much better about the whole thing (i.e., you didn't find my request offensive, or corny, or whatever). I also want to add that I love the editor program and I have received some great advice and encouragement from the editors who read my stories. I'm sure you would have done the same. I certainly appreciate the hard work work that you editors put in (for free, I might add).

Anyway, I have a deal for you to put this whole thing to bed (no pun intended ). I have posted 2 stories. I would appreciate it if you would read them. If you like them, give them a good vote, or whatever vote you think they deserve. Here are the links...

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=101045

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=103405

Thanks,

adoniss

 

[SexySoBeChick]

adoniss,

I’d love to put this to bed, sweetie. And there are definitely no hard feelings on my part.

I can understand not wanting to put in another blind request through the Editor’s system. That’s why I provided my email on the thread I mentioned, but I guess you never saw it. And no, it’s no big secret—not for me anyway.

I’m happy everything worked out and you found editors who helped you. I will take a look at your stories and provide feedback.


SSBC

 

[bridgeburner]

When email fails

Just wanted to point out that we've also got the option of sending Private Messages through Literotica. A workable option when email fails.

-B