Paying to Post

[sr71plt]

Give the writers some credit here.

NO! Writers have no idea whatever quality help they are given--or they would have editorial experience themselves. You have to have some inkling of what the standards are or know where to check them--and to check them--to have any idea whether you are being helped or sold a bunch of bull.

I'm going from what they post in the editor's forum--and, sometimes, the condition of what they proudly give an "editor" credit for in what they publish (although here I never know if they actually kept the edits they received).

And no, dammit, I am NOT suggesting that Laurel and Manu get a staff to do anything with the process. You haven't read a thing I posted, have you? I've suggest that a broken and misleading program be dropped and let the help go with what already has been put in place to make the process half-way functional.

Again, did you read anything that I posted?

And no, from what is advertising I most definitely do NOT believe a seeking writer is given a realistic impression by the Literotica volunteer editors program of what to expect in the way of help. I've stated that several times.

 

[xelliebabex]

I don't make any assumptions how a seeking writer would use the list. One thing is clear. If it were a list given any cleanup attention, the question wouldn't arise. But it isn't.

I don't look at the list. I look at the constant stream of frustrated writers complaining on the editor's forum that the system didn't work for them. The only one who I've seen endorse it, interesting enough, is someone wanting to appear to be an editor.

The profiles of volunteers editors i read were fairly succinct, no one actually claimed to be an editor professionally it was more like experience in school papers or as English teachers. Perhaps those complaining got a bad deal, because if the people like the editors they found they wouldn't be singing their praises. Like most book reviews and comments sections the bad comments and complainers often outweigh the good.

Jury is still out on the guy I chose to contact but i like him as a person and feel i can talk to him about what it is i want and expect. I did note however that the editor who runs the thread for monthly editors in the EF, LadyCieble (I think) was also on the Volunteer Editors list at the beginning of August. Scary profile though. I didn't contact her as i knew my work would not be up to her standard lol.

I did contact someone off the list in the EF and though i got one pm from them they never returned my email or following pm.

 

[ishtat]

My comments in Bold

Those were my favorites too, because I think they skewered you effectively on this issue.

If you think so that's fine Pilot, but remember you wouldn't have an issue at all if I hadn't raised the questions in the first place. And the debate has run to 4 pages in a couple of days which isn't bad for the AH.

I think a lot of the opinions you have expressed have significant substance but sometimes your opinions lose their impact when you attack the legitimacy of another posters right to hold a point of view. The attention of readers becomes focused on the sideshow rather than the main event.

Planning on actually becoming a Literotica author?

No. I have tried, but the results were not good enough (my opinion).

The thread has diverted a little into editing issues and I agree with most of the points you raise because I do some paid editing myself. I only edit mathematics for academics, but it has at least taught me that editor is a title all too carelessly used on Lit.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's my understanding too (on the requirement). I don't think that's the impression writers looking for an editor get from the Web site-sponsored program here.

Folks volunteering to be a second pair of eyes is great. It's even greater if they have editorial training and talent, which some do.

The current program is misleading and dishonest, however. The workaround that has been established (a monthly thread on those available to help and a forum where writers and those willing to help can meet without the false suggestion there is a formal program) is honest and works well. The volunteer editorial program isn't and doesn't. It's sort of a nonbrainer for anyone supportive of the writers here what to do with the current misrepresenting volunteer editor program. Drop it and go with what was put in its place because writers have found the formal system broken and misleading. That's not conjecture. They complain about it all the time on the editor's forum. Anyone who seriously listens to the users of the Web site knows that.

Problem is, not members here come to the boards to see the available this month post.

As for expectations I suppose that depends on the reader. For me seeing Volunteer tells me crap shoot.

Some in their profile admit to simply being good at English and that's about it. Some, I'm sure tout themselves as being better than they are, some are pretty good.

Vetting is unnecessary on a free program, but would be nice is a "report editor" feature where when someone stumbles onto these people who never reply or take your story and you never see it back could be booted from the program.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

So how much editing is really necessary?

Maxwell Perkins boiled down heavy crates of paper for Thomas Wolfe; Marjorie Rawlings got soft suggestions to consider.

We talking spelling, punctuation, and wrong words for most LIT writers? I mean, shouldn't editing be cosmetic detailing rather than a re-build?

 

[MSTarot]

The stories that dampy has done for me she did a switch from present tense to past, a bit of word shuffle in a few places. Suggested a few changes to tighten up the story a bit.

Then the comma scavenger hunt and fixed the odd homonym.

They were old stories for the most part, things I have been trying to self-edit for the past oh... lets say 6 months.

I can tell they read better.

If I was to send her something now a lot of those things would be done. So with that as an example I would say more editing has to be done in the beginning of the 'relationship' between writer and editor than after they have worked together.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Editor program...the first three I got a response from, way back when, wanted to charge me for their services! Don't ask me who, I don't remember. I finally found someone to do it and...well I did a better job on my own stuff than they did.