Google Docs

[Defluer]

I've got an Incest story that I'm writing, seems like it will be seven or eight chapters, a good portion of which are written. Reluctant younger brother being "teased/mocked" into it by an older sister. I am looking for somebody who has a G-Mail account thus access to Google Docs. It seems like a much better way of editing things, you can leave notes on the side, fix things, even both be in the document at the same time. Mostly there is no loosing information by switching formats and or copy pasting.

I had a wonderful editor go over the first chapter, then I was mean and switched it from first person to third, she got busy and couldn't help anymore. I'd like the normal, spelling grammar fixes, plus any comments about what I should and shouldn't do with the story, characters, and whatever else. I haven't published any of the chapters yet, want to finish it before I do, seeing as once it's out there you can't change anything. So I won't "publish" it till it's all done.

 

[sr71plt]

you can leave notes on the side, fix things, even both be in the document at the same time. Mostly there is no loosing information by switching formats and or copy pasting.

You can do all of that with Word tracking change--plus you'll have a platform that most already use. Word is industry standard; as an editor I wouldn't go off and try to learn/use anything else for a writer.

 

[Defluer]

Google Docs is free. Word costs money. At least it didn't come installed on my PC. The 60 Day trail did. Google docs is simple, not very fancy, so it wouldn't be learning really.

 

[Defluer]

Plus is it a LIVE update? As in the second you hit save it changes the document for BOTH parties? Or is there still emailing the document around?

 

[sr71plt]

I was reacting to your "much better way of editing" statement. Much cheaper is something else altogether. Good luck in finding an editor, though. It should work if you can make a match--it's just not a much better way of editing--it's more a way of getting it done more cheaply.

 

[Defluer]

I can understand where you're coming from. Better as if fancier, more options, probably smarter spelling and grammar help. It's been years since I played with Word, ever since the greedy bastards stopped putting it on systems for free. I still stand behind "Better" simply because I don't know if Word allows instant update. I wouldn't think it would. There would still be transferring AND is my Word the same version as your Word, problems. Back in the day I ran into that at work, different bastards there didn't want to pay for the update, so everyone was sending us new versions that we could do nothing with.

A BMW is the better car but in the case of the common man is it his/her "Better" car?

Google Docs you could essentially have multiple authors, multiple editors, and in whatever combination. All working on the same story together. No passing along files and making sure you have the latest one. If Word has that then it truly is the better program, but how much is it used since it would mean opening up your PCs to others.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

...It's been years since I played with Word, ever since the greedy bastards stopped putting it on systems for free. ...

It's been decades since I used M$ Word for anything other than opening documents that misguided people have sent me.

What I really can't understand is this: Why would otherwise intelligent people store documents they've spent many hours and much work crafting in a proprietary format that can be changed at the whim of the proprietor?

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... What I really can't understand is this: Why would otherwise intelligent people store documents they've spent many hours and much work crafting in a proprietary format that can be changed at the whim of the proprietor?

What I really can't understand is this: Why would otherwise intelligent people store copyright documents they've spent many hours and much work crafting on a site which is owned by someone else, over which they have no control, and which offers open access to just about anybody?

 

[Defluer]

I just see Google Docs as THE format for a site such as this. I never bothered with Editors on previous works, which all will attest is obvious, even myself. Because it seems like so much hassle, first you have to find somebody interested in doing it, then you send it to them copy pasted, they copy it into Word, then do their thing, copy paste it back for you or just send you a Word Doc that you've got to figure out how to open. I'm sure a lot of the editing process gets lost in there, I know some of mine did, double spaces before sentences.

Docs is FREE, it's secure, and it's easy to use.

I have about a hundred scrapped beginnings for different stories on mine and I'm sure if Google was looking into it they'd have thrown a Ban Hammer at me for having Incest stories. I imagine there is SO much stuff out there they don't care whats in each persons, plus what does it matter? In a few weeks your going to post it, if it gets finished, to a public site. Mostly there has been no Google Text Ads popping up for Psychiatric help, which I'm sure would be their take on what I'd need, from my stories. Sure was my EX girlfriends when she found them on my hard drive, pre-Google Docs days.

 

[sr71plt]

I just see Google Docs as THE format for a site such as this. I never bothered with Editors on previous works, which all will attest is obvious, even myself. Because it seems like so much hassle, first you have to find somebody interested in doing it, then you send it to them copy pasted, they copy it into Word, then do their thing, copy paste it back for you or just send you a Word Doc that you've got to figure out how to open. I'm sure a lot of the editing process gets lost in there, I know some of mine did, double spaces before sentences.

Docs is FREE, it's secure, and it's easy to use.

I have about a hundred scrapped beginnings for different stories on mine and I'm sure if Google was looking into it they'd have thrown a Ban Hammer at me for having Incest stories. I imagine there is SO much stuff out there they don't care whats in each persons, plus what does it matter? In a few weeks your going to post it, if it gets finished, to a public site. Mostly there has been no Google Text Ads popping up for Psychiatric help, which I'm sure would be their take on what I'd need, from my stories. Sure was my EX girlfriends when she found them on my hard drive, pre-Google Docs days.

If you don't have/use Word, how can you be making these comparisons? The publishing industry almost universally uses Word. It doesn't use a free program. And the publishing industry is parsimonious. Think about that a moment.

But use whatever you like. Just don't pretend it's better than something else just because it's cheaper--especially when the industry standard is something else.

 

[Defluer]

Does it allow "open" access to a document? As in you can assign another person to jump in whenever they want?

I am not claiming that Google Docs is good if you are going to publish your file and try to make a book out of it. I am claiming that Google Docs SEEMS better for Literotica, in which I am not bound by a thousand particulars, all I need it to try and make it as best as possible. I haven't used Word in a couple years, besides a dabble here and there on a friend's PC. I'm sure you are right. For PROFESSIONAL results use a Professional product. Makes sense. I am not a professional. All I write are free stories.


If we went by what publishers ONLY use about 80% of the stories on Literotica would get deleted and 99% would get rejected.

 

[PennLady]

Does it allow "open" access to a document? As in you can assign another person to jump in whenever they want?

I am not claiming that Google Docs is good if you are going to publish your file and try to make a book out of it. I am claiming that Google Docs SEEMS better for Literotica, in which I am not bound by a thousand particulars, all I need it to try and make it as best as possible. I haven't used Word in a couple years, besides a dabble here and there on a friend's PC. I'm sure you are right. For PROFESSIONAL results use a Professional product. Makes sense. I am not a professional. All I write are free stories.

If we went by what publishers ONLY use about 80% of the stories on Literotica would get deleted and 99% would get rejected.

I think what you're getting at is that Google Docs can be more convenient for multiple authors as it can reduce the need to send files back and forth. However, sending files back and forth is how it used to be done (just check out Neil Gaiman's note about this in Good Omens), so it's not impossible.

You're also talking apples and oranges when you talk formatting vs. cooperation vs. content. I doubt a publisher cares what you worked on, provided the file they get is in the format they require. If Word is the industry standard, and you want to attempt to get published, you'll have to find a way to use it.

As far as what a publisher would accept vs what Lit accepts -- that's just not even worth discussing.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

What I really can't understand is this: Why would otherwise intelligent people store copyright documents they've spent many hours and much work crafting on a site which is owned by someone else, over which they have no control, and which offers open access to just about anybody?

In my case, it's because

• I don't give a flying fuck about the copyright.
• I want access both wide and open.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

You're also talking apples and oranges when you talk formatting vs. cooperation vs. content. I doubt a publisher cares what you worked on, provided the file they get is in the format they require. If Word is the industry standard, and you want to attempt to get published, you'll have to find a way to use it.

Another route is to find a publisher that accepts camera-ready documents and use something better than M$ Word to typeset your work. (N.B.: typeset, not word-process) TeX does a very good job of producing typeset, camera-ready copy.

 

[sr71plt]

OK, real world here. How could you possibly control the content of a document by letting multiple folks work in it at the same time? This sounds fine for a building technical work document that's being put together by committee to be reviewed and massaged later by at team leader followed by a single editor. If a single file is sent around in Word--which can still remain the master--multiple folks can work in it with Word tracking change and their comments/changes all show up in separate colors and identified by initials on who did it.

But several people having equal power to muck with a manuscript file all at the same time? No, that's chaos.

What does this have to do with fiction writing? Or anything else when it's near the completion stage?

In real editing, the editor/publisher doesn't even let the author muck around with the text once it's had its final edit. He/she has to negotiate any changes by separate file. The master can then only be changed by the keeper of the master document. Otherwise new, undetected mistakes will filter in.

 

[sr71plt]

Another route is to find a publisher that accepts camera-ready documents and use something better than M$ Word to typeset your work. (N.B.: typeset, not word-process) TeX does a very good job of producing typeset, camera-ready copy.

Good luck in finding a real publisher who will pay to publish and distribute just any camera-ready an author sends them other than in self-publishing, and then, yes, you can send them your laundry list in any form you like and they'll be happy to spend your money in printing it up.

But back to the OP, if Defleur wants an editor who works in Google Docs, that's fine. I hope one steps up. It doesn't matter to Lit. what you wrote/edited it in as long as it will transfer by cut and paste into the submissions box.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

OK, real world here. How could you possibly control the content of a document by letting multiple folks work in it at the same time?.

Look up "revision control" on Wikipedia.

 

[dohbuoy]

Google Docs doesn't have to be 'open to all' - you have to specify who has access to it, and even who can edit it as well.

It also can save as .doc files

I use LibreOffice (Openoffice), and have an extension that sends a copy of my document to Google Docs as part of my backup scheme.

It's just another tool, that's all.

 

[sr71plt]

OK, bottom line. It isn't a "better" editing method if you can't get an editor--or many editors--to use it. We'll see about that, won't we?

 

[sr71plt]

Look up "revision control" on Wikipedia.

A. Why?

B. Are you serious? The man who won't accept changing industry standards cites Wikipedia as an authority?

 

[Defluer]

sr71plt that is part of why I am happy that you're jumping in so much, why I'm arguing my point too. If nobody brings up a "good" idea then nobody is going to switch over or use it then rule if it is good or bad.

To your point about revisions I am pretty certain there is a revision history in Google Docs, to track back what you changed and when. More than one writer and editor was just an example of how far it could go. If people were writing a chain story it might get to more than just 2 people involved, it might help.

But you're right. The true test will be to get an editor who uses/will use it.

I like the idea because I can be writing further chapters, they can jump in and see all that, then tell me if I'm screwing something up. I would simply say that I won't change Chapter 1 if that's what they are working on, except if they read half and point a few things out, I can jump in and change those. Then when they come back to finish it they can just skim what I've changed and MAYBE streamline things.

It's downfalls would be People might not want to give up their E-Mail address, they won't want to try something new, and or it MIGHT be a little more involved than other forms.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

A. Why?

B. Are you serious? The man who won't accept changing industry standards cites Wikipedia as an authority?

You asked a specific question. Wikipedia gives a list of links, each of which leads to an answer to your specific question. You don't have to like them, but they do answer your question.

 

[sr71plt]

You asked a specific question. Wikipedia gives a list of links, each of which leads to an answer to your specific question. You don't have to like them, but they do answer your question.

The question was rhetorical.

 

[sr71plt]

sr71plt that is part of why I am happy that you're jumping in so much, why I'm arguing my point too. If nobody brings up a "good" idea then nobody is going to switch over or use it then rule if it is good or bad.

To your point about revisions I am pretty certain there is a revision history in Google Docs, to track back what you changed and when. More than one writer and editor was just an example of how far it could go. If people were writing a chain story it might get to more than just 2 people involved, it might help.

But you're right. The true test will be to get an editor who uses/will use it.

I like the idea because I can be writing further chapters, they can jump in and see all that, then tell me if I'm screwing something up. I would simply say that I won't change Chapter 1 if that's what they are working on, except if they read half and point a few things out, I can jump in and change those. Then when they come back to finish it they can just skim what I've changed and MAYBE streamline things.

It's downfalls would be People might not want to give up their E-Mail address, they won't want to try something new, and or it MIGHT be a little more involved than other forms.

Good luck (genuinely) in finding an experienced/useful editor who will use Google Docs for you. Whatever is used shouldn't bother posting the story to Lit.

(Once it's in the editing stage, though, the editor doesn't want to have to check back to see if/where there were any revisions since the last time they passed over the document. They want new revisions to come in separately, so they know the master file has no surprises in it they haven't seen first.)

 

[CarlusMagnus]

The question was rhetorical.

It has, nevertheless, answers.