Is it 'Ethical' to use more than one?

[JackLuis]

Due to a misunderstanding/e-mail glitch, I sent a chapter to three VE's for an edit/beta read.

Two of them liked the story and one didn't. In fact one said he couldn't finish editing because he thought it was too far fetched.

Despite that his editing and comments were the most constructive and, of course, the most damaging to my ego, I am getting over it. But it caused me to rethink the bits and pieces to make the story more creditable.

I'm letting it lay for a while, before I rewrite, to let my brain develop the fixes.

My question is; Should I feel bad about inflicting my work on three of them? Editing is a lot of work and there has to be an element of trust between Author and Editor.

 

[PennLady]

I think that unless you make some sort of exclusive arrangement with an editor and then break it, there's nothing "unethical" going on. I have various people read my stories from time to time, and I will tell them that someone else is reading, that sort of thing. To me it's not ethics, it's common courtesy. And don't forget, even if you ask someone to edit and they agree, you aren't bound to accept their changes. You could ignore all of them, and again, there's nothing wrong there.

 

[Khasy]

I wouldn't be mad about any people I'm helping have other people helping them, I would like to know it, but it isn't anything that would make me throw a hissy fit.

 

[sr71plt]

Nothing unethical from taking any help you can get and using what makes sense to you. The author never loses responsibility for his/her work, no matter how much it's been massaged by others. (This is represented in the mainstream press by mistakes found in copy coming back from an author's review of edited copy being marked up as author's mistakes.)

If the help is volunteered, there's no contract on use of those suggestions or of ones made by anyone else; if you have paid the editor, you have paid to do whatever you wish with his/her suggestions.

 

[JackLuis]

I felt a little bad but it wasn't intentional and once I have the changes made that seem right to me, I'll send it out to them so they can see what I changed/added.

It was interesting to see the variations that I got. Mostly they are the same places in the story, and I concur with most all of them.

I had some interesting conversations with them and I did a Beta read for one of them, that got me thinking as I tried to help get his story sorted out. I can't call myself an editor, I don't catch a lot of punctuation and or technical problems, but I do have 50 years of SF reading to fall back on so that helps, I hope.

 

[sr71plt]

No, 50 years reading SF doesn't, in itself, qualify you for being an editor. Apples and bananas.

 

[Anstice]

I don't mind if the authors are using other editors, or decide to go with someone else, but it drives me absolutely batty when authors ask for my services, or send me something, and then drop off the face of the earth. I think the key is communication. Obviously no one is contractually bound, but consideration is really important in light of the fact that all of the editors on this site are volunteering their time.

 

[sr71plt]

it drives me absolutely batty when authors ask for my services, or send me something, and then drop off the face of the earth.

Statistically, it appears that the reversal is about 100 to 1 the case on Literotica: the "editor" abandoning the author.

 

[JackLuis]

No, 50 years reading SF doesn't, in itself, qualify you for being an editor. Apples and bananas.

But it does prepare you for evaluating stories. Or is that not enough, must you have a degree in pissy pomposity as well?

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Item 2 of the DO list in the sticky The Final List of “do”s and “don’t”s of using a Volunteer Editor above applies.

 

[_Lynn_]

Item 2 of the DO list in the sticky The Final List of “do”s and “don’t”s of using a Volunteer Editor above applies.

I don't think item 2 goes with the OP's issue at all. He didn't intentionally contact more than one person to look at the chapter.

 

[sethp]

I don't think that matters at all. I have one primary editor because she is so amazing I would DIE literally without her. OMG! I have a secondary but she's usually too busy to edit anything, but she was my first. You never forget your first! I've used a couple of other editors as well and a proofreader. Not a single one has ever followed up to make sure I gave them "published" credit in my story or read the story afterwards to make sure it was their edit that I used. Or...maybe they have and that would account for some of my anonymous negative comments about my editors? LOL That's not why they edit. They don't do it for the fame? I don't, however, play them against each other or bring things up to them like: "Well my other editor didn't think your edit was grammatically correct and gave me better feedback on the first part of my story."

 

[sr71plt]

But it does prepare you for evaluating stories.

No it doesn't. Reading stories for fun isn't much at all like reading stories to evaluate them editorially. I swear that most here don't have a remote idea what real editors really do.

If you can be insulting and ignorant, I get to be pompous.

 

[Chiara23]

sr71 when I want a pile of bullshit I'll squeeze your head. Until then shut up.

Back on the OP's topic, I would have no problem if a writer I was editing for asked for a second opinion or even a third. Do you take the first Dr's diagnosis of terminal brain cancer at face value or do you get a second opinion? It would be courteous of the writer to let me know that he was seeking other help of course.

I know I'm not a perfect writer OR editor. I do my best and hopefully don't screw up my own stories or someone else's.

And Jack, reading DOES give you an inside track for editing. Especially if you've read many genres and have read good books in them. Anything by Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke et. al. would give you a huge advantage! Those men could WRITE!

If anyone other than sr71 believes that reading close to 1000 books in 20 years doesn't qualify me to be an amateur VOLUNTEER editor then I'll take down my shingle.

Respectfully,

 

[sr71plt]

sr71 when I want a pile of bullshit I'll squeeze your head. Until then shut up.

Back on the OP's topic, I would have no problem if a writer I was editing for asked for a second opinion or even a third. Do you take the first Dr's diagnosis of terminal brain cancer at face value or do you get a second opinion? It would be courteous of the writer to let me know that he was seeking other help of course.

I know I'm not a perfect writer OR editor. I do my best and hopefully don't screw up my own stories or someone else's.

And Jack, reading DOES give you an inside track for editing. Especially if you've read many genres and have read good books in them. Anything by Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke et. al. would give you a huge advantage! Those men could WRITE!

If anyone other than sr71 believes that reading close to 1000 books in 20 years doesn't qualify me to be an amateur VOLUNTEER editor then I'll take down my shingle.

Respectfully,

Speaking of Ethical:

Respectfully?

You'd best find a footstool to reach that shingle to take it down, because you are claiming to be something you're not and you're full of hot air on what you think qualifies someone to properly edit. Of course just being a reader doesn't qualify you to be an editor: readers and editors do quite different things with a written work. But then, buyer beware. I think a second reader is just fine for the needs of someone posting stories to Literotica. If you want to crown yourself with a plastic tiara and pretend you're something you aren't, there probably is little harm done in the context of this story file.

I'll just let your nastiness in posting hang there and define you. (I won't even point out that your response to the OP is the same as mine was. Opps, I guess I just did.)

 

[Chiara23]

I'm glad that we both agree that second opinions are good. Honestly sr, I'm not getting one plug nickle to help other people with their stories. I write and edit because I like to, I don't do it for money, fame or fortune. I write for myself and if other people like what I write that's even better.

LOL and for the record I only CLAIMED to be an AMATEUR, VOLUNTEER editor, nothing more. Not now nor have I ever gotten more than a thank-you for my work, which is the only payment that I ask.

Out of curiosity what's a published writer doing on a little smut site anyway? Slumming or seeing how the 'others' live maybe?

(signed)
Janet Evanovich

P.S. I built a full-sized working model of an SR71 in my back yard out of duck tape, tooth picks and 15 miles of double-hooked barbed-wire last week. NEVER believe everything you read. That's one of the most important things I ever learned.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

... Out of curiosity what's a published writer doing on a little smut site anyway? Slumming or seeing how the 'others' live maybe? ...

I realise that this was not aimed at me, but I can answer that for my own part.

I used Lit in the early days to try out short story versions of ideas which became novels. Those novels are still for sale, but I have also put some of them up for free as, after ten years, sales have dropped to a trickle. (Lit rules won't take some of them - unfortunately - like the girls who are married off by their fathers at 16 years old in the Middle East.)

I edit for some writers here as a sort of paying back the help I received for free ten years ago. I am immensely proud of the fact that one tentative writer I encouraged on here is now holding book signings.

 

[Chiara23]

I realise that this was not aimed at me, but I can answer that for my own part.

I used Lit in the early days to try out short story versions of ideas which became novels. Those novels are still for sale, but I have also put some of them up for free as, after ten years, sales have dropped to a trickle. (Lit rules won't take some of them - unfortunately - like the girls who are married off by their fathers at 16 years old in the Middle East.)

I edit for some writers here as a sort of paying back the help I received for free ten years ago. I am immensely proud of the fact that one tentative writer I encouraged on here is now holding book signings.

Snooper I commend you for your willingness to pay it back/pass it forward. Years ago I had a friend in college who helped me with my writing as well. At that time it was only for my own consumption. (I've lost most of those stories through moving around way too much). I guess I'm passing it forward too. I just don't like it when people who "claim" something only treat other people who don't have the credentials yet try their darnedest to help, with disdain. I believe in Karma and 'reap as you sow'.

I know I'll get my comeuppance some day but I hope it's not as bad as I think it will be.

 

[sr71plt]

I post stories to Literotica because I like to have the humongous reader base that erotica in the market can't achieve--and because, even while publishing to the paying market, I don't need to have a revenue stream from my writing. However, do I really need a reason for wishing to publish my stories to Literotica?

 

[Chiara23]

Ah Ha!

SR71 thank you! That was the answer I wanted to hear. You do it because it's a passion. I apologize for my earlier behaviour and comments. To me it felt like you were discounting our efforts as unworthy and beneath you. But now I see what I knew had to be there. Passion for the art. Now let's play nice and share our passion. C'mere sexy lol

Yeah, yeah. I know. c'mere isn't a word.