If finding an editor is so easy, why don't you have one?

[BlackSnake]

I did a search for editors. I have had people to help out, but I don't want to bother them too much, because I find that they are quiet busy.

Now for the hard part
Freakin' geniuses!

We will have to redefine the role of an editor when it comes to my work.

Correct spelling and wrong words.
Catch missing word.
Grammatics concerning past/present tense

Doing more than what I ask will mess up the rhythm in which I intend the story to be read. I mix things up. Short chopping sentences, long run-on sentences. Even repetitive phrases. It’s what I intend and then, and then, and then return it.

“Well, if you’re going to be like that, who will be willing to help you?” This is the question I am asking.

There aren’t as many editors available as it might seem.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Oh, sorry, I was looking at your AV. What were you saying?

 

[doormouse]

Umm...

You didn't like my edit?

 

[Weird Harold]

We will have to redefine the role of an editor when it comes to my work.

Correct spelling and wrong words.
Catch missing word.
Grammatics concerning past/present tense

Doing more than what I ask will mess up the rhythm in which I intend the story to be read. I mix things up. Short chopping sentences, long run-on sentences. Even repetitive phrases. It’s what I intend and then, and then, and then return it.

If you're using MS Word, thn let the editors do their worst. When you get the file back from the editor, run File Compare against the original file.

When you run file compare, it turns on Change Tracking and shows the changes with the option to accept or reject each one. (It's also possible to accept only part of a change and reject the rest.)

If you editor doesn't use the reviewing tools and track the changes they make, Word's File Compare function will show you every little thing they did to your story and allow YOU to decide which is the way you want it to be.

 

[cantdog]

You needn't accept any part of the editor's suggestions/changes. Why on earth are you complaining? You want your money back or something?

 

[snooper]

I'm with doormouse and cantdog on this one.

 

[Liar]

I did a search for editors. I have had people to help out, but I don't want to bother them too much, because I find that they are quiet busy.

Now for the hard part
Freakin' geniuses!

We will have to redefine the role of an editor when it comes to my work.

Correct spelling and wrong words.
Catch missing word.
Grammatics concerning past/present tense

Doing more than what I ask will mess up the rhythm in which I intend the story to be read. I mix things up. Short chopping sentences, long run-on sentences. Even repetitive phrases. It’s what I intend and then, and then, and then return it.

“Well, if you’re going to be like that, who will be willing to help you?” This is the question I am asking.

There aren’t as many editors available as it might seem.

"Hi, miss/mr/mrs Editor, can you help me with this text?

This is what I would like help with:
Correct spelling and wrong words.
Catch missing word.
Grammatics concerning past/present tense

Please don't try to correct anything else. Even if it looks wrong to you, it is exactly how I intended it to be.

Thank you for your time,
- The Author"

Did you clearly and in detail say something like this, or did you just assume that the editor would edit the way you wanted him/her to edit? As a pro web developer, you should know the value of a good work specification.

And also, unless you pay someone to follow it, don't expect them to. Those people are volunteers, we should be glad they help out at all. Beggars can't be choosers, or however the saying goes.

#L

 

[doormouse]

BlackSnake, could you please PM me?

Right now, I'm confused and cut by your post here. I edited your last two stories. Did I do something wrong?

 

[sincerely_helene]

Bump.

(For the love of Pete, what do you writers expect when you don't specify? We are editors, not mind readers.)

editor

\Ed"i*tor\, n. [L., that which produces, from edere to publish: cf. F. ['e]diteur.] One who edits; esp., a person who prepares, superintends, revises, and corrects a book, magazine, or newspaper, etc., for publication.


[Free Trial - Merriam-Webster Unabridged.]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


editor

n 1: a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine) [syn: editor in chief] 2: (computer science) a program designed to perform such editorial functions as rearrangement or modification or deletion of data [syn: editor program

 

[BlackSnake]

Umm...

You didn't like my edit?

Your editing is great. That's not what I'm asking.

 

[minsue]

We will have to redefine the role of an editor when it comes to my work.

<snip>

Catch missing word.

<snip>

I mix things up. Short chopping sentences, long run-on sentences. Even repetitive phrases. It’s what I intend and then, and then, and then return it.

Has it crossed your mind that it is damned near impossible for an editor to insert the missing words you may have while NOT correcting the types of sentences you listed? How would one know that the word(s) in question weren't intentionally left out?

 

[BlackSnake]

BlackSnake, could you please PM me?

Right now, I'm confused and cut by your post here. I edited your last two stories. Did I do something wrong?

You did a great job, as I'm hoping to continue this series with you.

It's not the question that I'm asking.

When you do a search for an editor, the list is long, but will you get what you're looking for.

 

[minsue]

You did a great job, as I'm hoping to continue this series with you.

It's not the question that I'm asking.

When you do a search for an editor, the list is long, but will you get what you're looking for.

That's a whole other question. I've always assumed that it takes people a number of tries before finding an editor that fits well with their writing style and personality.

 

[BlackSnake]

Re: Re: If finding an editor is so easy, why don't you have one?

Has it crossed your mind that it is damned near impossible for an editor to insert the missing words you may have while NOT correcting the types of sentences you listed? How would one know that the word(s) in question weren't intentionally left out?

Ah, snooper edited a story for me and pointed those things out, making sugguestions and giving me something to think about. That's not changing things.

Doormouse, when through the stories handed to her and easily picked up on the "the" that clearly intended to be "they" and items like "eht" for "the"....get my meaning.

They didn't strong arm my stories.

There is a long list of editors, but how many are actually active.

 

[BlackSnake]

That's a whole other question. I've always assumed that it takes people a number of tries before finding an editor that fits well with their writing style and personality.

Yes.

 

[minsue]

Re: Re: Re: If finding an editor is so easy, why don't you have one?

Ah, snooper edited a story for me and pointed those things out, making sugguestions and giving me something to think about. That's not changing things.

Doormouse, when through the stories handed to her and easily picked up on the "the" that clearly intended to be "they" and items like "eht" for "the"....get my meaning.

They didn't strong arm my stories.

That's great!

There is a long list of editors, but how many are actually active.

That is a common lament. It would be nice if people would remove their names from the editor list when they are unable to edit at the time or if they no longer care to, but it seems that there are many inactive editors on the list. It has been suggested that there should be an automated e-mail every so often that would require editors to affirm their status. It could be that people simply forgot that they are even on the list. I forgot for a time and removed myself when I remembered that I still had a profile out there so that people wouldn't waste their time contacting me.

 

[BlackSnake]

You needn't accept any part of the editor's suggestions/changes. Why on earth are you complaining? You want your money back or something?

Does it sound like I'm complaining about work done?

I appologize if that's how it sounds. Stirring up trouble again, I see.

I'm having to rely on the kindness of other authors, because the "find an editor" section is showing a long list of editors that don't seem to exist.

 

[BlackSnake]

Re: Re: Re: Re: If finding an editor is so easy, why don't you have one?

...
That is a common lament. It would be nice if people would remove their names from the editor list when they are unable to edit at the time or if they no longer care to, but it seems that there are many inactive editors on the list. It has been suggested that there should be an automated e-mail every so often that would require editors to affirm their status. It could be that people simply forgot that they are even on the list. I forgot for a time and removed myself when I remembered that I still had a profile out there so that people wouldn't waste their time contacting me.

Is there anything that we can do? Like the personals, "seeking editor for **** category"

 

[BlackSnake]

*bump*

 

[cantdog]

The dude is right, now that I finally get what he was driving at.

Sorry, BlackSnake; I mistook your question for another. The list you get when you do an editor search is very long, and you imagine you have all their little quirks taken into account. Then you get in touch (or not) with them and frequently find they have evolved other quirks. "Just MS Word format," they'll say, when the search function was only accepting editors who would deign to handle *.rtf-- "No more than 3000 words," they say, out of the blue.

After that and the "can't take on a job until after Hogmanay" kind of thing, you find yourself looking at a list of people whose profiles looked dubious the first time through. I remember the experience, now.

I got lucky and have found three excellent editors and one whom I could not after all use repeatedly but who nevertheless helped me focus on a big problem or three; that last one felt she ought to give me a pass because I was American and she Brit. It took persistence, though. And I will share one of my faves with you in a PM, BlackSnake. The dude is a pro in real life, and he's goddam quick as well as accurate and sharp.

cantdog

 

[BlackSnake]

The dude is right, now that I finally get what he was driving at.

Sorry, BlackSnake; I mistook your question for another. The list you get when you do an editor search is very long, and you imagine you have all their little quirks taken into account. Then you get in touch (or not) with them and frequently find they have evolved other quirks. "Just MS Word format," they'll say, when the search function was only accepting editors who would deign to handle *.rtf-- "No more than 3000 words," they say, out of the blue.

After that and the "can't take on a job until after Hogmanay" kind of thing, you find yourself looking at a list of people whose profiles looked dubious the first time through. I remember the experience, now.

I got lucky and have found three excellent editors and one whom I could not after all use repeatedly but who nevertheless helped me focus on a big problem or three; that last one felt she ought to give me a pass because I was American and she Brit. It took persistence, though. ...

cantdog

You hit the nail on the head

 

[Dirty Slut]

The best editor I ever had taught me how to edit my own stuff. It's a matter of degrees of separation really. During the creative cycle you create the first draft. Once the draft is complete you do a word, and grammar check then put it aside for a few days, a week, a month or whatever it takes so that the next time you read it you are in your editor's mode of operating. You know you are in your editor's mode when you start to read your work, and stop to fix something that you know is very wrong. This is what I call our inner critic. The inner critic isn't connected to the creative writer so it can do a perfect critique of the work without crumpling, or hurting anyone's feelings, because after all you are both one and the same person. However the critic in you will listen to other critique more readily than the creator in you, and may even seek another opinion after correcting to the best of their ability. So once again the work is set aside to breath. Now since the work has been edited once already, every time you come back to it you will automatically be in your editor's mode, and since you are reediting you become a tougher editor each time. Eventually the editor in you will feel that the work is publishable, and that's when you submit it, or look for a professional editor if the work is going to hardcopy.

As for finding editors here, or anywhere else I wish you all the best of luck. Editing, like the writing itself is nothing but grueling hard work. And if the work isn't even yours then you don't even get credit for your hard work once it is published. The only thing an editor gets is the pay the writer gives them, and a thank you for making their work readable. And if someone edits for free? Well, you'd better kiss their ass where it tickles if you know what's good for you.

DS

 

[BlackSnake]

...

As for finding editors here, or anywhere else I wish you all the best of luck. Editing, like the writing itself is nothing but grueling hard work. And if the work isn't even yours then you don't even get credit for your hard work once it is published. The only thing an editor gets is the pay the writer gives them, and a thank you for making their work readable. And if someone edits for free? Well, you'd better kiss their ass where it tickles if you know what's good for you.

DS

I don't think that there's a problem with editors, it just a problem finding them in the stack. Active editors are kind enough to lean their time, and should be commented greatly.

What if there was an editor's hangout. A place where you can go and say, "Hey, is anyone interested in editing this story?"

 

[BlackSnake]

...

As for finding editors here, or anywhere else I wish you all the best of luck. Editing, like the writing itself is nothing but grueling hard work. And if the work isn't even yours then you don't even get credit for your hard work once it is published. The only thing an editor gets is the pay the writer gives them, and a thank you for making their work readable. And if someone edits for free? Well, you'd better kiss their ass where it tickles if you know what's good for you.

DS

I don't think that there's a problem with editors, it just a problem finding them in the stack. Active editors are kind enough to lean their time, and should be commended greatly.

What if there was an editor's hangout. A place where you can go and say, "Hey, is anyone interested in editing this story?"

 

[minsue]

What if there was an editor's hangout.

You mean something like the Editor's Forum?

Not sure how much luck you'll have, though there is anecdotal evidence of people receiving offers through PM after posting there.