New to writing, opinions please.

[Foxee Browne]

Hello

I am a new writer and have not used a editor. I know there are areas where I can improve my work, such as adding more dialogue, perhaps taking a bit more time to develop a scene and maybe writing a bit longer story and I am currently working on that.

What I would really like to know is, am I doing ok without an editor? Be honest, I can take it. If anyone would care to read over my submissions and e-mail their opinion (e-mail is in my profile, take that you bots!) I would appreciate it.

I admit to poor spelling (yay for F7 aka spell check in M$ word) you will no doubt find spelling errors on the forums when I post, but I try my best not to have them in my stories.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to give an opinion.

GC

 

[Toa_lin]

okay, I'm an editor, I've read your stories, and the first thing that comes to mind is redundancy issues. "Why use five senteces just to say what you already did in two?" ~My Mentor Aun-Shi~

Next, some slight issues with pace, character development and plot. I know during a "stroke story" the above aren't really that big ever, but you could improve it a little bit.

Over-all, are you doing okay without an Editor? Yes, but "okay" is the word to use. I personally would suggest you find one, but I might just be biased

Either way, good luck in the future.

 

[CopyCarver]

Hello

I am a new writer and have not used a editor. I know there are areas where I can improve my work, such as adding more dialogue, perhaps taking a bit more time to develop a scene and maybe writing a bit longer story and I am currently working on that.

What I would really like to know is, am I doing ok without an editor? Be honest, I can take it. If anyone would care to read over my submissions and e-mail their opinion (e-mail is in my profile, take that you bots!) I would appreciate it.

I admit to poor spelling (yay for F7 aka spell check in M$ word) you will no doubt find spelling errors on the forums when I post, but I try my best not to have them in my stories.




Thank you to anyone who takes the time to give an opinion.

GC

As much as I love to argue, I have to agree with Toa lin.

You are, indeed, doing OK, but the mere fact that you bothered to ask makes me think you're striving to become better than OK. Redundancy is the biggest issue but characterization and flow could also be improved with a little effort and practice.

Remember also that spell checkers are the cybernetic equivalent of autistic-savants. They do a superhuman job of finding some errors but totally miss other types. Homophone detection is the most obvious of many weaknesses: if your protagonist is wearing a "3-carrot diamond" from Tiffany's, F7 won't know why readers are laughing.

 

[Gus Aspar]

hot!

Just read two of your stories - the one about Ryan fucking his friend Ryan's mum, and the one about Beth the babysitter - and they were both delicious. Two boys both called Ryan is perhaps a confusing detail, but it's not important. Knowing that you're a woman writer taking a male viewpoint gives the stories some extra spice, for me. Keep up the good work!

 

[Foxee Browne]

It's as I thought!

slight issues with pace, character development and plot

Just the confirmation I needed. It's OK, but needs work. Yes I am aware of it and I want to be better than OK. I want it to be good. I am going to continue writing and it looks as if an editor is what I need to check things over.

3-carrot diamond" from Tiffany's, F7 won't know why readers are laughing.

this is sooooo true! F7 is only as good as the person behind the button.

So the next question is when I finish the next story I am workin on, which will be awhile because of it's length, how do I find the "write" editor?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

There's a list of volunteer editors on the main page, or at least a link to the list.

Here's a link.

 

[Toa_lin]

or you could further talk to people here in this forum if you liked the oppinions presented by any of us who gave your stories a once-over.

I've been known to do so with little sequestering

 

[Foxee Browne]

Thanks to both of you. I don't have anything new to offer just yet, busy with work, school & holidays, whatta combo! You both had some gr8 ideas.

 

[lafemmeoranje]

I'll echo what others have to say - a short punchy story is better than a story with lots of rambling. But, your ideas are good, and you're not getting stuck in a single niche, which is very good. Like everyone else said, talk to a good editor, and your stories will go from "ok" to "hot!".

 

[Foxee Browne]

lafemme

I found a volunteer to give me a hand. We shall see if it makes a difference. I have tried to write different things in different places. Just basically to see if I could do it. Thanks 4 the input.

GC