Kickin' Literary Butt

[Laurel]

Thanks to all who've signed up for the Volunteer Editors program. I'm amazed at the response to this - at last count, we have 33 editors, coming from a wide range of backgrounds with a wide range of interests. We have some editors with years of professional proofreading experience. From Romance to BDSM, there's an editor with experience and/or interest in that subject.

I wanted to ask the writers: who among you have sent a story to an editor? How did it go? What do you think of the program itself? What about it works well? what could be changed or improved? I've received a few positive responses in email, but I wanted to open the subject up to everybody in public so we could maybe bounce off each other's ideas.

Editors: is the workload too heavy, too light, or just right? How's it working from your angle?

 

[Greg Lee Hunt]

OK Laurel, I'll start. I have sent several stories to whispersecret, who volunteered to read them and serve as a critical audience. This was before the "Volunteer Editors" was officially launched. Incidentally, I have volunteered to read and critique her stories too (though not to edit them I don't consider myself a good editor). ws has been pointed out areas where my writing bogs down,or becomes encyclopedic (or textbookish). She has also applied her, blue, red and yellow pencil (MS Word sditing feature) ruthlessly -- but it works and my stories are very much better for it. ws has also been a very good audience and she's given me the feedback that I've wanted, much of it positive. I hope other authors are finding the program to be useful.

With one exception, i.e. a comment that someone posted in a BB thread sometime back, whispersecret's edits and critiques have been the only response that I've received to any of my stories. I wish more people would take the time to e-mail or vote their comments.

[This message has been edited by Greg Lee Hunt (edited 03-11-2000).]

 

[Weird Harold]

Originally posted by Laurel:
Editors: is the workload too heavy, too light, or just right? How's it working from your angle?

I've had no bites from the program. I've drummed up a few editing jobs by commenting on stories here and elsewhere.

I think being at the bottom of a long list works against me.

I do have a question for the other editors:

Are you interested in editing only stories to be posted on Literotica, or are you willing to edit no matter where it gets posted?

I always recommend posting here, but will edit for anyone whether it gets posted here, or even if it doesn't pan out and never gets posted anywhere.

 

[Hullo_nurse]

I've edited about half a dozen short stories from one author. And one from another. It seems to be going ok...

 

[Whispersecret]

I've worked on a few stories so far. So far, people have been appreciative.

One person sent me way too much stuff all at once. I gave him a full critique on the first story and suggested that he go over the rest before sending it to me again, one at a time! Also, HSWriter and Katerina had sent me stuff, which I haven't gotten to yet.

I have discovered, to my horror, that some writers write their stories from the tops of their heads and then send them to the editors. GOOD GOD!

If there are any writers reading this post, please PLEASE don't do this. Writing is a process. That first draft is going to be rough, as a matter of course. No one expects perfection the first time out. HOWEVER, it isn't fair to expect an editor to do the revisions that you should be doing yourself. I would hang myself before I let someone see any of my first drafts. Before you ask me to spend hours of my time (and I don't exaggerate) going over your work, you should go over it AT LEAST once yourself first. I may as well write your story myself if you're going to send me the first rough version that comes out of your head.

So far the writing I've received has been either pretty good, or pretty dry. The main problems I've seen are:

1. Very simple sentence structure. (Subject - verb.) I did this. I did that. Then I did that.

2. Sparse use of descriptive words and phrases. (I squeezed her breast and she moaned. I licked her nipples until they were hard and then I pushed my finger into her pussy.)

3. "Plots" that are almost cliche with nothing really to distinguish them from the other similar stories.

Hopefully, the stories are coming out better, Laurel. I'd hate to think I'm busting my butt on this stuff with no tangible result. Sometimes I almost feel like I'm tutoring. My hope is that my long explanations about using the same verb tense and varying sentence structure are sinking in and that the writers apply that knowledge to their future writing. If it's not, I'm honestly not sure I want to keep working so hard.

 

[Jenne64]

As a writer who has had a story edited by Wierd Harold I have to say I found the whole process really enlightening.
I think I've said before that I USED to just write and submit, very little editing if any but I've learnt you'll be glad to hear.
It's great when a story come back and you can actually see where you're making mistakes. My grammer is not wonderful and my spelling leaves something to be desired still but I'm learning through this process.
To all writers I'd give this programme a try if you really do want to write better stories.
To all Editors keep up the good work. I for one appreciate the effort.
Jenne64
Thanks Wierd Harold, you did a great job as I said before

 

[Whispersecret]

jenne64, I'm glad to hear you're applying what weird harold told you. I hope there are other writers out there like you.

I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining in my last post. I am only worried that I'm doing a lot of work for people who may not appreciate or apply it.

 

[robertreams]

Thanks to all who've signed up for the Volunteer Editors program. I'm amazed at the response to this - at last count, we have 33 editors, coming from a wide range of backgrounds with a wide range of interests. We have some editors with years of professional proofreading experience. From Romance to BDSM, there's an editor with experience and/or interest in that subject.

I wanted to ask the writers: who among you have sent a story to an editor? How did it go? What do you think of the program itself? What about it works well? what could be changed or improved? I've received a few positive responses in email, but I wanted to open the subject up to everybody in public so we could maybe bounce off each other's ideas.

Editors: is the workload too heavy, too light, or just right? How's it working from your angle?

Laurel: I have been contacted by authors who wish me to edit, but do not know what to tell them about how to get the story to me for editing. How do they do that?

 

[sr71plt]

While you're waiting for Laurel to answer on this thirteen-year-old-thread . . . You set up your PM account (upper right on this page) so that the author can ask you for an e-mail address. And then you receiving (and return) the manuscript via e-mail attachment.