How many people actually use it?

[mithragoddess]

I was just wondering, I am an editor myself not just on this site, but how many people actually use the Literotica editors? I mean, if we edit a piece how is it listed that we get credit for the editing?

 

[LadyCibelle]

I was just wondering, I am an editor myself not just on this site, but how many people actually use the Literotica editors? I mean, if we edit a piece how is it listed that we get credit for the editing?

Aww that's a question that I can easily answer I'd say that maybe a third to half the writers use an editor. Most have the decency to note the name of their editors and acknowledge their work but some don't. If you really want to be acknowleged on the story you've edited I'd suggest you let the writers know that mentionning your name is mandatory.

That's the only way you get credit as it's not listed anywhere else. Unless you'd want to write on your editor's profile all the writers' names you've worked with, but that's not something I recommend as IMNSOH it might sound a bit "pretentious".

 

[Brinnie]

i don't :=\

 

[mithragoddess]

So im guessing theres a good chance i wont get credit for an edit... That really kinda sucks

 

[LadyCibelle]

So im guessing theres a good chance i wont get credit for an edit... That really kinda sucks

Yeah there's a good chance you won't get the credit.....BUT...as I said, most writers are honest and nice enough to acknowledge your work.

 

[snooper]

So im guessing theres a good chance i wont get credit for an edit... That really kinda sucks

I specifically ask people NOT to credit me as an editor. When someone did credit me, I had three unsolicited manuscripts through the email from authors demanding that I edit them. Twenty-four hours later came the "Where's my story?" emails demanding to know why they hadn't been returned.

I don't mind helping other writers, as other writers have helped me, but publicity is not one of my prerequisites.

 

[bridgeburner]

I also prefer not to be credited on the actual story. It's always nice to be thanked for taking the time and putting in the work, but email's fine for that.

I don't like to be credited not only for the reason that snooper has pointed out, but also, because I have no ultimate control over what the author submits and ultimately, if my name is mentioned, that story reflects on my abilities in the eyes of readers. No one has any idea what actual work I did or didn't do or whether the author took some or most or none of my advice. Some writers face bigger challenges than others. Some writers are simply better than others. There's no getting around that, but the skill of an editor shouldn't be measured by the root talent of the authors he aids. I've had some authors who were far and away superior to any of my paltry skills and I wouldn't want to mislead someone into believing that I'm able to turn someone into a brilliant writer. Conversely, I don't want people to think I lack basic spelling and grammar skills or can't plot a story simply because an author that I've worked with chooses not to use my suggestions.


-B

 

[mithragoddess]

On that note...

How many people develop relationships .. friendships... with the people they edit for? I mean, I find it easy to edit someones work when I know more about them... I've made two new friends doing that and it's been great.
BTW thanks for that tip on the naming the editor... I didn't even think that I'd be looked badly at if they changed a lot of stuff from when I saw it as an edit.

 

[LadyCibelle]

How many people develop relationships .. friendships... with the people they edit for? I mean, I find it easy to edit someones work when I know more about them... I've made two new friends doing that and it's been great.
BTW thanks for that tip on the naming the editor... I didn't even think that I'd be looked badly at if they changed a lot of stuff from when I saw it as an edit.

I can only answer for myself on this one but I'd say that at least half of my writers became 'friends' and it's much easier to edit their work as I know where they're coming from and why one of their characters would act in such and such a way or say something in such and such a way.

 

[mithragoddess]

Yay so im not doing something wrong! lol

 

[Tarakan]

What More Is There?

Dear All,

As one of those being 'edited', two aspects are very important to me as a 'newbie' writer;

i) Acknowledging the editor for their time and effort, and if a story I wrote ever got to the publishing stage, a margin of the profits (if any!).

ii) A professional, friendly relationship.

What more is there?

Tarakan

 

[spyro1123]

I have noticed that most of the stories i realy enjoy have a little thanks to the editor's note at the bottom or top.

 

[jakebarnes48]

Acknowledgment seems appropriate

I've posted two stories to lit and acknowledged the valuable assistance of the same "volunteer editor" at the beginning of each story. I don't recall our ever discussing her preference to be recognized or not although I did read in the lit materials that such recognition is appropriate. I do recall that neither of us hurried through any phase of the editing. In fact, in her first response to my request for assistance, she described an estimated time frame for her work. I didn't think her times were especially lengthy and over the course of three or four editings of each of my stories, she always returned her comments well before her time estimates. I can't imagine a writer's working with an editor and then showing complete disregard for the editor's assistance by both recognizing the editor publically and making significant changes to the story after the final edit. Perhaps that writer is a troll in disguise.

 

[snooper]

... I can't imagine a writer's working with an editor and then showing complete disregard for the editor's assistance by ... making significant changes to the story after the final edit.

I don't think I am a troll in disguise, but I do, occasionally, have strong disagreements with my editor over major points in my writing. For example, she said that a woman would not react in a particular way in a situation, when I was writing from personal experience. Maybe the lady I was describing was "putting a brave face on it" but it certainly looked like a genuine reaction to those around her. I insisted that it stayed the way I had written it.

 

[Dinsmore]

Why I haven't used a volunteer editor, even though I could use one.

The list of volunteer editors is daunting---there are so many!

There really isn't enough information listed by most editors for me to determine that there would be a good fit.

I'm getting much better at editing basic errors in my text than I was at first. I used to hurry a story to submission. Now I sit on it for a week and go back over it a number of times.

Character development, story build and setting the scene---that's what I do; I'm not sure I want a stranger messing with it too much, unless it just doesn't seem to work.

I believe I need a basic editor to deal with simple typos and such.

While my wife has been helpful, as in, 'Maggie Climbs the Corporate Ladder', in helping me, 'think like a woman' when I choose to write from the woman's perspective, she can only provide, 'her' woman's perspective.

So, I guess I'm looking for two editors:

One with a, 'proof reading' mentality.

A second one who can evaluate my, 'woman's perspective' themes. My female characters tend to be strong, confident and comfortable with their own sexuality. They range in age from late 20's to late 40's.