euterpe410
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Posts
- 362
Having now spent several days perusing the Volunteer Editor postings here (and at other sites as well), written to several and heard back from none, I have decided to take a more direct approach in a search for an editor.
First, I do have a good basic knowledge of sentence structure, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. I know the differences between its/it’s, you’re/your, to/too/two, and so forth. I write on one day, and self-edit on the second. While I’m confident that I catch most structural errors, a second pair of eyes never hurts.
Second, I have story ideas with developed plots and characters. While I may occasionally hit a road block with a transitional section, I can successfully write my way through it in a day or so.
What I’m looking for in a primary/first draft editor is someone who will give me honest constructive criticism about what works for them and what doesn’t. Is the character/plot reasonably believable? Are the sentences/paragraphs too long? Is there too much/too little transitional material? I don’t want you to rewrite it, but if you want to suggest restructuring a sentence or paragraph or whatever to make it more readable, I’ll certainly listen.
I have other potential editors available to read later drafts for specific factual matters (legal, etc.) and to reinforce plot/character believability before posting.
I write romance, M/F, consensual, slow. I do have a few short stories I’ve pulled from the mothballs I can share if you’d like to see my writing style. I did discover after re-reading them today they fall far short of my current standards and I’d like to put some serious work into them before posting them anywhere. Given a choice, I would prefer to send the first few chapters of my WIP instead. Yes, it will be long. Yes, it may develop into its own universe before it’s finished. So be warned coming into the project that this could be a long-term situation.
Oh, and if it matters…I’m American. I wouldn’t have a problem with a British editor, but just wanted to make it clear that American spellings/idioms are the norm for my work.
Any questions you have that I haven’t covered above, please feel free to ask via PM. Thanks
First, I do have a good basic knowledge of sentence structure, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. I know the differences between its/it’s, you’re/your, to/too/two, and so forth. I write on one day, and self-edit on the second. While I’m confident that I catch most structural errors, a second pair of eyes never hurts.
Second, I have story ideas with developed plots and characters. While I may occasionally hit a road block with a transitional section, I can successfully write my way through it in a day or so.
What I’m looking for in a primary/first draft editor is someone who will give me honest constructive criticism about what works for them and what doesn’t. Is the character/plot reasonably believable? Are the sentences/paragraphs too long? Is there too much/too little transitional material? I don’t want you to rewrite it, but if you want to suggest restructuring a sentence or paragraph or whatever to make it more readable, I’ll certainly listen.
I have other potential editors available to read later drafts for specific factual matters (legal, etc.) and to reinforce plot/character believability before posting.
I write romance, M/F, consensual, slow. I do have a few short stories I’ve pulled from the mothballs I can share if you’d like to see my writing style. I did discover after re-reading them today they fall far short of my current standards and I’d like to put some serious work into them before posting them anywhere. Given a choice, I would prefer to send the first few chapters of my WIP instead. Yes, it will be long. Yes, it may develop into its own universe before it’s finished. So be warned coming into the project that this could be a long-term situation.
Oh, and if it matters…I’m American. I wouldn’t have a problem with a British editor, but just wanted to make it clear that American spellings/idioms are the norm for my work.
Any questions you have that I haven’t covered above, please feel free to ask via PM. Thanks
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