Love Thy Editor...

[Tom Collins]

While I'm certain that many of us authors are as good to our editors as they are to us, it has recently come to my attention that not all of us are. In fact, some of us are down right mean to them. These are people who work very hard for nothing but the satisfaction of the job. The least that we, as the recipients of their selfless labor, can do is let them know that we value what they do for us.

There are about a hundred threads here in the AH dedicated to the lot of us stroking each other’s egos, and that’s a good thing. I’ve participated in a number of these threads, and have found them quite enjoyable. It gives me a warm feeling to let people know how much I care about them, or appreciate the things they’ve done for me.

I thought it would be a good idea to start such a thread dedicated to our editor population, and fill it with ego stroking love and let them know that we realize exactly how very much they do for us, who get nearly all the credit for a well-written story. Where as they seem to catch flack for the errors. Have you ever seen a PC, or received a feedback email lauding the skill of your editor? I doubt it, but I have seen ones screaming diatribes at them.

It’s not necessary to name your editor(s) if you know that they would prefer you not to, but they’ll know who they are when you heap them with some hard earned, and much deserved, praise. And if you want to tell us why you love your editor then we'd be happy to hear it. As would they, I'm certain.

I try to tell my editors on a regular basis that I would be lost without them, and I truly mean it, so I’m just going to start this thread off with a love splashed in their direction.

Miss
Sir

Thank you both very much. *hugs*

P.S. The only editing this post got was from Word 2003.

 

[Guest]

Although I have never used her.... I think that Lady C is just wonderful.

Rumpy and Rob have helped me...
Crimson has as well

 

[AchtungNight]

The editors here seem very nice. I hope to soon experience their skill firsthand.

 

[3113]

Well, TC, you were an editor for one of my stories, an award winning one at that....what did you have in mind? However can I express my gratitude for all your help?

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I have the best editor in the world

The editor/author relationship works like any other partnership... you really have to click. I knew from the first time we connected that it was right, and I feel very blessed to have found her. She is considerate, careful, fastidious and most of all, thoughtful. She spends hours on one of my stories and responds with real feedback... it isn' t just a pat on the back and "great job." I can't say how much I appreciate her willingness to put in the effort and time, to say what she really thinks and feels, and to push me to my edge and beyond when it comes to my writing.

All that and she never lets me thank her on a story! (Well, one... )

She's a goddess... an extraordinary woman with truly amazing editing skills as well, even if she doesn't believe it.

so Ms. RogueLurker... x 12... you're the bestest.

p.s. now don't all you go hogging her now, damnit! <grin>

 

[capecodmercury]

Although I have never used her.... I think that Lady C is just wonderful.

I have used her as an editor and I have enjoyed large numbers of the stories that she has edited. Let me second this opinion. LadyC, you are the best!

CCM

 

[gauchecritic]

Thanks for all the commas Selena.

Someone who I haven't spoken to for a while and who doesn't visit the boards any more: WildSweetOne. Always unafraid to point out where I'd gone wrong.

And if you've got enough brass neck you may find help in unexpected places.

How can I thank anyone without mentioning Perdita. Thankyou. Very much.

(I'm going to ask Min to edit my next one, but I may have to resort to blackmail for that)

 

[LadyCibelle]

I have used her as an editor and I have enjoyed large numbers of the stories that she has edited. Let me second this opinion. LadyC, you are the best!

CCM

Aww thanks Liz and you CCM but now I'm blushing. I don't know about being the best,, I surely DO my best though.

 

[Tom Collins]

Well, TC, you were an editor for one of my stories, an award winning one at that....what did you have in mind? However can I express my gratitude for all your help?

I had no idea that story won anything in the winter holiday contest. I'm ever so pleased that I was helpful to you.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I have the best editor in the world

The editor/author relationship works like any other partnership... you really have to click. I knew from the first time we connected that it was right, and I feel very blessed to have found her. She is considerate, careful, fastidious and most of all, thoughtful. She spends hours on one of my stories and responds with real feedback... it isn' t just a pat on the back and "great job." I can't say how much I appreciate her willingness to put in the effort and time, to say what she really thinks and feels, and to push me to my edge and beyond when it comes to my writing.

All that and she never lets me thank her on a story! (Well, one... )

She's a goddess... an extraordinary woman with truly amazing editing skills as well, even if she doesn't believe it.

so Ms. RogueLurker... x 12... you're the bestest.

p.s. now don't all you go hogging her now, damnit! <grin>

Here Here! We're both lucky, SK. *looks smug*

 

[3113]

I had no idea that story won anything in the winter holiday contest. I'm ever so pleased that I was helpful to you.

Dudette! Valentine Prayers won 2nd place in the Valentine's day contest! So here's your belated valentine thanks for all editoral help!

 

[jushorny]

I have to agree with Tom Collins, editors rarely get the praise they deserve. They do their work without expecting anything in return. They do their best to make our writing look better. They must juggle their comments, forming them in a way that their writer will not become offended.

I have had a few different editors, but not because I wear them out, mind you. Two have been friends before editors and at first I was concerned they wouldn’t be honest enough. That wasn’t the case; they came through with flying colors for me.

There is one friend who occasionally edits for me, she was the first to encourage my writing through editing, knowing just what to say and how to say it.

Another good friend continues to edit for me. Not only does he edit, but he does his best to teach me more of the English language as well. Seems punctuation and tense are not my stronger points. He strives to teach me, either because he’s a friend or getting damn tired of correcting the same thing on every submittal.

Recently been working with another editor, someone I don’t really know as of yet. She has been nothing short of excellent. The amount of time she is willing to commit to someone’s story is unbelievable.

Yep, we seriously need to stroke the egos of our editors.

 

[Guest]

 

[Tom Collins]

Dudette! Valentine Prayers won 2nd place in the Valentine's day contest! So here's your belated valentine thanks for all editoral help!

You're welcome, 3. I know why I was thinking it was in the winter holidays contest...I remember so much snow in the story. It was very visual the way the guy was running around in the snow, I kept seeing his breath pluming in front of him.

 

[AthenasFury]

In all honesty, I have learned more about writing from my editors than I have amongst writers. I'm not sure just what it is, as most of my editors have admitted their strength for editing vs. writing. It's interesting, though. Almost as interesting as why some authors desire and/or require an editor and then never appreciate them. Is it because they believe readers will attribute any written success to the editor and not the creator? I wonder.

Bless all of you editors. It is a fairly thankless and yet essential thing that you do.

 

[M-Y-Erotica]

I too am very thankful to my editors but have had a difficult time thanking them sufficiently, so I welcome this idea.

The only idea I've had so far to express my thanks - other than sending an email to say thank you - was a little present of Feedback: I collect all the Feedback and comments I get on a story into a big Word document. I do this for myself both because I love feedback and because I collect the email addresses so that I can send a note when a new story comes out. (I've got 130 emails to send whenever my currently submitted story posts.)(I don't think this bothers anyone because I only publish every 3-4 months on average.)

For the editors, I then took out all email addresses and other identifying info from the Feedback so that it was just the very nice things that people said. I then sent this Word doc to the editors as a gift. Other than the simple enjoyment of writing, it is the feedback which pleases me as an author. I love hearing that my story meant something to them or turned them on. These comments are my Lit pay. And so sending the anonymized version of them to my editors was my attempt to let them share. Now the editor gets to see as well that all of their work helped create a story that a reader loved.

 

[RogueLurker]

Here Here! We're both lucky, SK. *looks smug*

Thank you ...

I was going to write something humourous, but ... I'm at a loss for words. Don't worry, though, I willl get them back when I go through the next story.

 

[Tom Collins]

Thank you ...

I was going to write something humourous, but ... I'm at a loss for words. Don't worry, though, I willl get them back when I go through the next story.

Welcome, RL.
That ought to be pretty soon, darlin'. We're closing in on the end of part 3.

 

[Aurora Black]

Perhaps I don't say this enough...

Thanks to all the editors that I've used since joining Lit, and also my deepest gratitude for those who have helped me in my story research. Without you, I am nothing.

 

[AchtungNight]

Thanks to all the editors that I've used since joining Lit, and also my deepest gratitude for those who have helped me in my story research. Without you, I am nothing.

Same from me.

 

[Tom Collins]

I want to thank everyone who's posted so far, keep up the flow of love.

 

[moonlight elf]

I hardly ever write and my English is terrible but Lady C puts up with me. She has even given me great advise on how to catch and correct some of my mistakes.
She is always willing to give her time. Her skill is amazing.
If I ever do write another story I'll go to her for editing.

 

[wildsweetone]

Thanks for all the commas Selena.

Someone who I haven't spoken to for a while and who doesn't visit the boards any more: WildSweetOne. Always unafraid to point out where I'd gone wrong.

And if you've got enough brass neck you may find help in unexpected places.

How can I thank anyone without mentioning Perdita. Thankyou. Very much.

(I'm going to ask Min to edit my next one, but I may have to resort to blackmail for that)

you're welcome, anytime.

i do visit the AH now and again, but i'm primarily learning about poetry so i've been hanging out in the PF for a while.

i may need a close up of your neck one day.

Min, hold out as long as you can, blackmail works both ways if you work it right.

 

[gauchecritic]

you're welcome, anytime.

i do visit the AH now and again, but i'm primarily learning about poetry so i've been hanging out in the PF for a while.

i may need a close up of your neck one day.

Damn, I was hoping you'd say the amateur pic thread.

thankyou again.

(are you sure it's my neck? )

 

[wildsweetone]

Damn, I was hoping you'd say the amateur pic thread.

thankyou again.

(are you sure it's my neck? )

i'll think about it

you're welcome

and no, i think you need to rewrite that.