Is editorial review a requirement?

[DoodlyDo]

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[A_Little_Show]

[deleted]

 

[oggbashan]

As well as the delay because a themed contest is running, authors submitting for the first time should expect a longer delay than established ones - because your first submission will need more than a Bot to check it.

Just DON'T click on that pending tag. Everytime you do, your submission goes to the back of the queue.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Forget about the voluntary editor portion of the website. It's hopelessly broken. If you should decided in the future that you need or want to use an editor, go to the Editors' Forum and check the Available Editors sticky at the top of the page. You can also post a request and you may get responses that way. If you do, mention the category, length (word count), and type of editing you are looking for.

As for posting times, I'm finding that they are currently running between six and nine days. First time authors can usually expect an additional day or two as their pieces tend to get closer scrutiny.

Good luck, welcome to the board, and have fun.

 

[Weird Harold]

The only thing I skipped in that process was asking for an editor to take a look before submitting. Mostly because I found that it was difficult to figure out which editors specialized in my subject matter, short of clicking and reading thousands of bios, one-by-one.

Also, I'm not exactly a novice writer, though this is the first time I have written porn. And, with 3 diplomas gather dust somewhere, I have a fair grasp on grammar. I hoped I could slide by without having an editor take a look first.

Obviously I wouldn't do that with a piece I was hoping to get paid for, but that's not the case here.

An editor/proofreader is NOT a requirement, but it is a good idea. Even the most accomplished self-editors tend to miss things because they "know" what they typed and see what they "know" is there; a second set of eyes will see things the author will miss.

It is possible to self-edit effectively, but it is generally more time consuming than most people are willing to invest.

 

[sr71plt]

No, you don't have to have an editorial review done before submitting here--or have to have an editor from the volunteer editor ranks from here edit it if you want to use an outside editor (I do). The story might be rejected if you can't put it into good enough shape yourself, though.

And the responses you've gotten on time lag to posting is good. My most recent stories, submitted when there wasn't a contest going, took six days to post. There's a contest on now, so the delay is going to be longer.

 

[Bramblethorn]

And, with 3 diplomas gather dust somewhere, I have a fair grasp on grammar.

It's really hard to edit your own work

(This is me nitpicking; if your story is at the same level of grammar at your post, it's not likely to get rejected on those grounds. Just the queue time.)

 

[Cruel2BKind]

If you have a good grasp on grammar it shouldn't be necessary.


I don't have three degrees, but I recently took the HESI exam to get into the nursing program, and I got 100% in the grammar segment. The only grammar quibbles I've ever gotten is that I tended to mix up then and than earlier in my writing career.

It does take longer to get your stories edited. So write away, and if you get some negative comments about grammar, then you can go get a volunteer editor.

 

[DoodlyDo]

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[CeasarBoobage]

Haha! Got me. The irony of my statement is hilarious. Worse thing is, considering the subject of the post, I made an extra effort not to make a mistake like that. I reread it twice, hit post, then reread again... making an edit right away. Still I missed that!

I've done the exact same thing with the exact same results many times. It always happens.

Its a very good thing to have a thick skin! Based on the quoted post, I think you're good to go. This will come in handy here in the forums as well as the story comments from that annoying 'Anonymous' person.

Welcome to the author side of Lit!

 

[horrorotica]

If it's just the grammar/spelling you want corrected then I use a program called Ginger which is OK. None of these are perfect I know, before the know-it-all's jump down my throat. But it can be a good guide, and pick up some basic errors you can't see.

If you want an editor to examine story structure and content then you'll need a human for that.

But you don't have to have an editor check out your story before posting if you don't want to. Literotica wont have your story edited before they publish it either and asking them to edit it on the submission will get you nowhere. Probably give Laurel a few laughs at your cheek.

If they reject your story they may suggest you get one of the volunteer editors to look it over before resubmitting it.

Good luck

 

[jennyb2492]

One of the best ways I have found to self-edit is to read it out loud. That forces your brain to "see" every word - you can't slide over them as easily as you can when you read silently.

I started off with no editor, and as I posted and got comments I started corresponding with a couple of folks who had very constructive things to say. Eventually I asked one (and then a second one) to "take a look" at the story, and that developed into an "official" editorial relationship.

 

[jennyb2492]

Ugh - I just realized what you guys were saying. 6 to 9 days right now? I'm gonna need a bigger bottle of antacid....

 

[Bramblethorn]

Haha! Got me. The irony of my statement is hilarious. Worse thing is, considering the subject of the post, I made an extra effort not to make a mistake like that. I reread it twice, hit post, then reread again... making an edit right away. Still I missed that!

Happens to everybody. I think it's known as "Muphry's Law" (sic).

 

[DoodlyDo]

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[Hypoxia]

One of the best ways I have found to self-edit is to read it out loud. That forces your brain to "see" every word - you can't slide over them as easily as you can when you read silently.

Reading aloud indeed helps. Reading aloud from a double-spaced PRINTED copy, rather than from a display screen, helps even more. Eyes skim over on-screen words (and mistakes) too easily.

Ugh - I just realized what you guys were saying. 6 to 9 days right now? I'm gonna need a bigger bottle of antacid....

I became a first-time author here just a few months ago, with a multi-part series. My first posts drove me nutz. I submitted, then clicked PENDING to make a couple changes, and so had to wait even longer -- and then they were rejected! I submitted a couple other items; while waiting for their acceptance, I did a major rewrite of the first series, which was then accepted -- a month after I first submitted!

My point is, I drove myself nutz by wanting to see IMMEDIATE results. I am learning patience. It is much better to go slow, let the piece sit cold for a few days, re-read and re-write the piece, all while NOT getting too excited, and then submit it. Then sit back and wait while the LIT gutz slowly digest the submission. Think of LIT as having the digestive tract of a brontosaurus.

 

[Weird Harold]

Reading aloud indeed helps. Reading aloud from a double-spaced PRINTED copy, rather than from a display screen, helps even more. Eyes skim over on-screen words (and mistakes) too easily.

I have found that changing Font, Font-size, and/or Font-color serves the same purpose as printing hard-copy, without needing to kill any more trees. Anything that changes the appearance will force the mind to see what is there instead of what was intended.

FWIW, Not all techniques work for everyone; every author needs to find what works best for them.

 

[sr71plt]

There's only so much you can do reviewing your own copy because your mind sees what you intended to be there rather than what's there. All of the "change the look" suggestions are good ones. An even better one is to find someone you can share story review with so you both get the benefit of a fresh pair of eyes on the copy. You should be able to find a reading partner by posting to the Editorial Forum.

 

[jehoram]

I think Mark Twain said something to the effect that the editor performs the same function in the preparation of a manuscript that a horse does in the production of manure. He is a necessary part of the process of turning something with potential into something of value.

When I told my editor that, she laughed and said, "Busted!"

 

[DoodlyDo]

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