Looking for an editor. What kind of editor do I need?

[McBacon]

I have been resisting asking for an editor. Have been on the brink several times. It seems a little audacious to jump in and ask someone from the volunteer list tool, and who knows whether it will be a decent fit.

I just recently realized that this Editors sub forum allows you to match up like this. This is more my speed.

But I realize, maybe I need some advice on what kind of editor would be the best fit for me. What is available, and what should I be looking for? So a little more about me.

I haven't written much creatively, so I humbly acknowledge I have a lot to learn about making my stories more readable and enjoyable. I am a novice of the craft. I am treating Literotica as sort of a perverted writer's workshop. I don't have designs to do this professionally, but I want to keep improving my skills.

Going back and reading my earlier chapters, which I thought were pretty decent when I submitted, are weakened because of typos, missing words, and crap like that. But also, I realize I have a lot to learn about writing style.

One simple comment I received about using contractions ("People don't talk like that!"), has been really useful. The writer's forum articles about dialog, readability, "show don't tell", shorter paragraphs, and the like, have been really useful as well.

I started the series using 3rd person omniscient based on recommendations for beginning writers in the writers' resources. But I am dealing with the trap of he said, he felt, she said, she felt, he did, she did, not to mention the three paragraphs of back ground when introducing a new character. Maybe that's the way these things work, but I compare it to what youbadboy did in "The Big Bag", and it seems like a very clunky mechanism in comparison. But maybe I should just take that question to the writer's forum, and not expect that much input from an editor.

So in short, should I be looking for a proof reader, or should I be looking for something more?

In case you want some reference, I am writing a series in Mind Control that involves an innocent boy and a magic necklace. It involves incest. (I know, it has all been done.)

The work is mostly character driven. I am hesitant to open an action narrative because I see that vein often weakens the story. But I do recognize how it adds when done right. For example, the stuff that "bashfullyshameless" has done is inspirational.

I have finished with the six small "chapters" encompassing the first day.

If someone still has interest in working with me after reading this rambling introduction, or after sampling the tragedy that is my work, I would be very interested in opening a dialogue.

Or if you have some advice as to what kind of editor might be the best fit for me, I am quite open to that advice as well.

For convenience, the first chapter, and my vote for the worst written chapter, can be found here.

http://www.literotica.com/s/caleb-woke-up-ch-01

thanks,
McBacon

 

[PennLady]

McBacon,

I skimmed some of your story, and here are my gut reactions.

Yes, you do need an editor, both for copy editing (spelling, typos, etc.) and for story structure and such. I get the feeling you're probably following the formal rules of writing that we learn, but you need to let go of them (some, not necessarily all) for fiction writing. One example, as you said, is the use of contractions in speaking.

I'm sorry I don't have time to do a full beta read/edit on the chapter you linked to. What I would recommend is finding some good stories, stories you enjoy, either in print or online, and read them. Read read read. See what those authors do, both with their plot and characters and their grammar and punctuation. Find some sites or books to brush up on basic grammar and punctuation, and there are even books to help with fiction writing. I wouldn't take all of their rules to heart -- and there are too many conflicting ones, anyway -- but they would be a place to start.

 

[McBacon]

Thanks PennLady. Your insights are very much appreciated, and I believe spot on. I will take it to heart.

I have already noticed that since I have started writing, the works I read become a lot more interesting for the technical aspects as much as the story.

 

[lazyhobo]

Thanks PennLady. Your insights are very much appreciated, and I believe spot on. I will take it to heart.

I have already noticed that since I have started writing, the works I read become a lot more interesting for the technical aspects as much as the story.

Practice makes perfect. Write a story, and then read it, I know alot of people say Proofread it, But I mean Read it as the audience was, not looking for spelling mistakes, but for how you enjoyed it. If you find anything weak or something dissatisfied you, fix it.

As far as editors go,

An editor is for Spelling and Grammar generally, they help with the flow of your story.

You generally find two kinds of editors, One who fixes spelling and grammatical errors,

or the other kind, which while doing the same as the others, give advice on your story, comments, suggestions and ideas. Not all authors appreciate this, and finding ones like this, that are good, are sometimes hard.

Trial and error.

 

[McBacon]

Thanks lazyhobo. That also helps.

 

[McBacon]

I just enabled my PM option. I looked at the options settings twice previously, but apparently I misunderstood. I just looked again only because it seems to be a common mistake for noobs posting a thread looking for an editor.

Sorry if anyone attempted to contact me, and was unable to.

Pessimistically, I assume that wasn't the case.

- Ulysses Eeyore McBacon

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

There is a difference between the editors provided by a publisher and the volunteers you will find on here.

The publisher's editor is paid to do the work and will repeatedly correct the same errors (e.g. spelling, homophones) because that pays the salary.

The volunteer actually expects the author to learn by their mistakes, and to have to do less work as the relationship progresses. If you read the Sticky thread The Final List of “do”s and “don’t”s of using a Volunteer Editor near the top of this forum you will see what I mean.

BTW I liked your story very much, and it doesn't need much editing.