How do you know?
- Thread starter BanditIRA
- Start date
Lauren Hynde
Hitched
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2002
- Posts
- 21,061
Yes.BanditIRA said:
The thing about Lit is that there are so many readers with so many different backgrounds and so many different expectations, that no matter what you write, someone will read it and say, "That is so not complete crap."BanditIRA said:
That should have been, "How do you know if you're ready for an editor?"BanditIRA said:
Ouch.
Yeah sorry was more of a quick thought.
Still thinking that while I really like what I have gotten done so far on my new story, I wonder if it is going off into two different directions. If so that sucks, but I guess I could do two different.
Yeah sorry was more of a quick thought.
Still thinking that while I really like what I have gotten done so far on my new story, I wonder if it is going off into two different directions. If so that sucks, but I guess I could do two different.
Lauren Hynde
Hitched
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2002
- Posts
- 21,061
Get a beta-reader, then, preferably someone who won't be nice. Or go into the Editor's forum and say you need someone to give your story a first read, prior to editing, and offer some thoughts on structure and direction. There are plenty of people more than willing to help.BanditIRA said:
MarshAlien
Marshini, anyone? Hic!
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2007
- Posts
- 1,426
Lauren Hynde said:
Oooh, a blow to the midsection.
I think the answer to a) is, you won't get better until you post it and find out who agrees with you. (In any event, I post crap all the time; what's the big deal?) But feel free to e-mail it to a friend (I'll look at it if you like) for a first read.
The answer to b) is (or at least ought to be) when you've done as much work as you possibly can to make it as good as you're capable of. You can't ask an editor to do what you should have done in the first place.
Hi Bandit!
TheeGoatPig
There is no R in my name
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
- Posts
- 13,163
I know one of my stories is complete crap when I don't enjoy reading it, and the crap ones are never ready for submission.
Knowing when a story is ready for submission of any kind is really up to you. It changes from author to author, story to story. There is no set rule except "when it's ready."
Knowing when a story is ready for submission of any kind is really up to you. It changes from author to author, story to story. There is no set rule except "when it's ready."
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2000
- Posts
- 23,768
BanditIRA said:
Let it sit for a day or two and go back and read it as if you were going to vote on someone else's work. It's imporan to le the work get "cold" because otherwise you'll only see wha you intended to write instead of what is actually there.
Changing the font, font size and/or font color can also help you to see past your intentions to what you've actually written.
Ulimately, though, the only way you'll know for sure is to publish and let others pass judgement, bearing in mind that someone will always think it's crap and someone else will think it's a shoo-in for a Pulitzer.
BanditIRA said:
It depends on what kind of editing you're looking for.
I think most volunteer editors expect to be the last check before publishing; more proofreader or copy editor than a story editor. For the former, you want to get as close to the final draft before sending it to an editor -- spell check and proofread until you're sure that you've done everything you can.
A story editor can be involved anytime after you've come to a decision on the plot and characters, but is probably most useful after you've spell-checked and proofread your first draft.
carsonshepherd
comeback kid
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2004
- Posts
- 14,643
I definitely agree with Lauren. I have friends who serve as beta-readers for my story ideas. I also have a Live Journal in which I post my rough drafts and my group of loyal readers will offer critiques, suggestions or just encouragement. Lit is a good place to meet other writers and readers who are willing to help you - just watch your punctuation and be nice.
carsonshepherd
comeback kid
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2004
- Posts
- 14,643
I don't do that. I have posted two full-length novels on here and I think it's best to wait and post the sections three or four days apart so people don't get tired of waiting and stop reading the thing. Readers tend to get upset and feel cheated with their favorite story doesn't get finished.BanditIRA said:
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2000
- Posts
- 23,768
BanditIRA said:
I'd say mostly bad because stories "without an end in sight" tend to have no direction or point. They often succumb to writer's block, going years between chapters or enduring spates of short, meaningless chapters that contribute nothing to the story.
On the other hand, some "stories" work well as a never-ending soap opera or "comic strip" and aren't ever going to reach a conclusion until the author gets old and decrepit and can' write any more episodes.
The "rules" for episodic adventures versus a "single story" are different. Each Episode has to be able to stand alone as a story to some extent, where the chapters of a "single story" generally can't stand alone.
TheeGoatPig
There is no R in my name
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
- Posts
- 13,163
carsonshepherd said:
Tell me about it. I posted the last Over the Sink over a year ago and I still get requests for part 4 (five planned with a spinoff to follow).
Weird Harold said:
I have read a couple of series I they were episodic and I always felt like I wanted more, more, more to read. I wonder though are they easier to do because at least then it's no longer a tremendous pressure to finish a novel?
jomar
chillin
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2006
- Posts
- 27,553
BanditIRA said:
To me it seems risky to post with no end in sight unless you have it well mapped out. I'm waiting until all seven of my chapters are ready because I've had to go back and change something in an earlier chapter based on something that developed in a later chapter. But I imagine people do it all kinds of ways.
Lauren Hynde
Hitched
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2002
- Posts
- 21,061
I'm of the opinion that whatever you post as a single submission, unless it is in the Novels & Novellas category, should be able to stand alone, without it being strictly necessary to read any previous or subsequent chapters. And that being the case, there shouldn't be a problem with posting chapters without knowing what will happen next, except that WH is right: if you don't know where you're going, odds are you're not going anywhere.
BlackShanglan
Silver-Tongued Papist
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2004
- Posts
- 16,888
I agree on the "no end in sight" model. I've lived to regret it many times, and have found great improvement when I do know where I'm headed.
But on the "how do you know?" question - here's an unpopular response that I shall nonetheless give. Read more. Read many, many examples of really fine work in the genre that most interests you. The more you read, the better an idea you will have of what is good - and more clearly you'll see whether what you're writing looks anything like that.
Shanglan
But on the "how do you know?" question - here's an unpopular response that I shall nonetheless give.
Read more. Read many, many examples of really fine work in the genre that most interests you. The more you read, the better an idea you will have of what is good - and more clearly you'll see whether what you're writing looks anything like that.Shanglan
Stella_Omega
No Gentleman
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Posts
- 39,700
Sounds like two stories to me!BanditIRA said:
It happens, it happens. I had an idea for a long story,and now I've split it up. My idea is to write seven vignettes of 700 words apiece. Some of them will tell the same story in a different way... and the whole thing may very well end up sucking.
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2000
- Posts
- 23,768
BanditIRA said:
I wouldn't say that episodic stories are easier to write than novels or novellas; they're a different genre with different problems and pressures.
Personally, I avoid writing anything that isn't complete enough to preclude sequel requests. (Although one story is framed as a bar story and I might reuse Clancy and his bar to frame another sory some day; I won't be a sequel though.)
