Premature submission?

[NoJo]

Do you suffer from it? Are you so eager to see it online you post it when really you know it could do with a few more edits?

Or do you do what all the "Learn To Rite Good' books say, namely put it away for a week or so, come back to it, and tweak it just a leeetle more? And then change font, read it upside down etc to catch every last typo?

 

[TxRad]

Do you suffer from it? Are you so eager to see it online you post it when really you know it could do with a few more edits?

Or do you do what all the "Learn To Rite Good' books say, namely put it away for a week or so, come back to it, and tweak it just a leeetle more? And then change font, read it upside down etc to catch every last typo?

Only if someone is paying money for the story. The rest of the time, you gets what you paid for.

 

[oggbashan]

Not necessarily premature but I want to get a completed story posted so I can move on to the next story in the large pending heap.

 

[sr71plt]

From time to time I'm enthusiastic enough by a story that I'll strive to conceive, write, review, and submit it all in one day. I no doubt have more typos in it than if I'd sent it off for edit as I usually do. But those stories have an urgency, intensity, and flow about them that I'd lose by working them over more, so I've always considered it a wash in the final product.

 

[holliday1960]

Right now, I am pushing myself to write and post as if there is a deadline to meet. First, I'm not a short-story writer by nature. Second, I'm still trying to exercise my imagination so that I CAN become a short story writer, on demand, so to speak. Generally, I edit my own work as I write, and usually, I miss only 1...maybe 2...errors. (which isnt bad for a self edit and for a story intended to post on a free site)
I find that when I shelf something for more than a day, it's difficult to come back to it with the same ideas and inspiration I had when I first started it. When I do that, I start second-guessing, changing... and it quickly becomes a big mess!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I finish it. Put it aside. Two weeks to a month later I run through it fixing stuff that needs to be fixed. Then submit it and the minute it's up, I find three typos and missing punctuation.

 

[EverLux]

I finish it. Put it aside. Two weeks to a month later I run through it fixing stuff that needs to be fixed. Then submit it and the minute it's up, I find three typos and missing punctuation.

Every. Freaking. Time.

On my final edit, I try to match the margin width and font of Lit, and it definitely helps. But it's inevitable that I'll find errors after it's posted.

I recently submitted an edited version of one of my stories, then read through it once it was up and found two more errors. I feel the need to punish my eyes for being so damn incompetent.

 

[sr71plt]

Every. Freaking. Time.

On my final edit, I try to match the margin width and font of Lit, and it definitely helps. But it's inevitable that I'll find errors after it's posted.

I recently submitted an edited version of one of my stories, then read through it once it was up and found two more errors. I feel the need to punish my eyes for being so damn incompetent.

Don't bother to match the margin width (and New Times Roman font does just fine). Assuming you are cutting and pasting into the story box, your margins don't mean anything. You are feeding into Lit's margins. (You probably are feeding into their font too. I've even stopped worrying about changing curly quotes--which I use for the marketplace version--to Lit's straight quotes, because that automatically happens too.)

 

[EverLux]

Don't bother to match the margin width (and New Times Roman font does just fine). Assuming you are cutting and pasting into the story box, your margins don't mean anything. You are feeding into Lit's margins. (You probably are feeding into their font too. I've even stopped worrying about changing curly quotes--which I use for the marketplace version--to Lit's straight quotes, because that automatically happens too.)

I really only do it for editing purposes, since I've learned that my eyes pick up errors more readily once it's in Lit's format.

For submitting, I've never tried using the text box; I've always attached docx files. Of course, it doesn't allow me to see the preview, but the formatting hasn't been a problem, so far.

 

[sr71plt]

I really only do it for editing purposes, since I've learned that my eyes pick up errors more readily once it's in Lit's format.

For submitting, I've never tried using the text box; I've always attached docx files. Of course, it doesn't allow me to see the preview, but the formatting hasn't been a problem, so far.

There is upward of a year from the time I write a story until it appears at Lit. It's been edited by a publisher and published, but I review it again before I submit to Lit. By then it seems like a whole new story. I always find something to correct though. No matter how many times I review something, I find something to correct. So, I just don't assume I'll ever have perfect copy.

I really can't understand, though, why folks aren't just cutting and pasting their stories in the story box and then scanning through the preview to make sure everything is coming out right. I can't think of anything simpler or why one would try to be fancier.

 

[Halin24]

My first story was written and submitted too fast because I wanted to see how my writing would be received. It didn't help that my English was rusty (VERY rusty) and the spell check didn't work.

After that I have taken my time. I have half-a-dozen stories finished that I hesitate to submit because I think they are too weak and in need of re-writes and\or edits. No point in submitting a story you aren't happy with yourself after all.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I really can't understand, though, why folks aren't just cutting and pasting their stories in the story box and then scanning through the preview to make sure everything is coming out right. I can't think of anything simpler or why one would try to be fancier.

Agree. It's a final look see with the para breaks as you will see them when published. Doing it this way usually catches a few glitches, and picks up those returns that coincided with the end of a page in the original Word file, that can otherwise be missed. I write straight into .txt files, and never worry about formatting. Laurel has occasionally put an obvious author's note into italics for me.

 

[NotWise]

I tend to work on a story/chapter until I can't read it any more. Then I post it. I think there are always untrapped errors, but the readers don't seem to care. I don't usually reread stories after they're posted, so I don't much care either.

 

[EverLux]

I really can't understand, though, why folks aren't just cutting and pasting their stories in the story box and then scanning through the preview to make sure everything is coming out right. I can't think of anything simpler or why one would try to be fancier.

When I submitted my first story here, I didn't know exactly what the text box was for. So when I saw the more familiar Choose File button, I just went with that. Yes, it was a mystery how it would look once it was posted, but it turned out fine.

I don't see how submitting a Word file is the fancier option. So long as you don't try getting too creative with your formatting, it transfers to Lit quite seamlessly.
To me, it sounds like using the text box is more complicated, since you have to manually enter the formatting. I've never tried it, though, and it works for many of you, so I'm not here to knock it.

 

[sr71plt]

When I submitted my first story here, I didn't know exactly what the text box was for. So when I saw the more familiar Choose File button, I just went with that. Yes, it was a mystery how it would look once it was posted, but it turned out fine.

I don't see how submitting a Word file is the fancier option. So long as you don't try getting too creative with your formatting, it transfers to Lit quite seamlessly.
To me, it sounds like using the text box is more complicated, since you have to manually enter the formatting. I've never tried it, though, and it works for many of you, so I'm not here to knock it.

I guess as evidence I can point to the twice-weekly posting of having trouble submitting by the fancy route. You're not supposed to have a lot of fancy formatting in your story. You're not designing a comic book. This is basically an anthology--a collection of works that should follow a pattern, not individually stand out in formatting. Lit. has very basic formatting to keep a uniform read for the reader. Authors should concentrate on the content of their stories, not on being book designers. In publishing, book design belongs solely to the publisher.

 

[SamScribble]

I have half-a-dozen stories finished that I hesitate to submit because I think they are too weak and in need of re-writes and\or edits. No point in submitting a story you aren't happy with yourself after all.

Unless you are being paid - and you are up against a deadline - it's probably a good idea never to post a story you aren't at least 99 percent happy with.

 

[EverLux]

I guess as evidence I can point to the twice-weekly posting of having trouble submitting by the fancy route. You're not supposed to have a lot of fancy formatting in your story. You're not designing a comic book. This is basically an anthology--a collection of works that should follow a pattern, not individually stand out in formatting. Lit. has very basic formatting to keep a uniform read for the reader. Authors should concentrate on the content of their stories, not on being book designers. In publishing, book design belongs solely to the publisher.

The complaint, then, seems to be with needlessly elaborate formatting, as opposed to the method of submission.

 

[sr71plt]

The complaint, then, seems to be with needlessly elaborate formatting, as opposed to the method of submission.

Yep, probably most often the questions about formatting not working out in submissions is related to too much formatting being attempted--needlessly. But if you stick with simple formatting, it takes no time at all just to dump it into the submissions box, let Lit. worry about everything but italics and bolding, look over the preview, submit, and be done with it. I rarely have to do any corrections based on the preview even.

 

[Athalia]

I'm just the opposite. I hold on to stories for weeks, trying to polish them, agonizing over words and plot points. I can't tell you the number of times I've sent a story to my editor, only to send him another version only a few days later. He forgives me, but a little more slowly each time.

 

[Kimikimidoll]

If I haven't submitted it, it means it's incomplete. Like sentences and scenes and words are missing.
When it's done, I know it's done- right after I place the last full stop, I submit it. Whatever editing I'd do would just be to gussy up the writing, or add in (unnecessary) descriptions- so I don't do it.

Since the submissions here are for fun and not work, I'm not worried as long as I get my message through. I thought about finding an editor, then I realized 1. No one will do it 2. I will disagree on everything 3. I'm (therefore my writing is) not that important.

And I just copy paste into the text editor, and run over it once or twice before pressing submit. Add the italics stuff myself, and ask them to note the line breaks or align the title center. It's much easier that way, and faster.

Most people say that I write well and the plot is good.
Now, reading other people's posts here got me wondering if I'm doing everything wrong

 

[sr71plt]

I'm just the opposite. I hold on to stories for weeks, trying to polish them, agonizing over words and plot points. I can't tell you the number of times I've sent a story to my editor, only to send him another version only a few days later. He forgives me, but a little more slowly each time.

When I do a free edit for Lit., I only edit one shot at it. When I do it for pay, the fee keeps mounting every time the work is expanded.

 

[richman3]

I am totally a premature submitter

I get so impatient after I finish a story. I edit it once or twice then after a beta read or two I post it. Even though I get good receptions from most of my stories I can't help but wonder how much better they would be if I just took my time with the stories.

Guilty as charged. But I am working on being more disciplined.

-r

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

I finish it. Put it aside. Two weeks to a month later I run through it fixing stuff that needs to be fixed. Then submit it and the minute it's up, I find three typos and missing punctuation.

Wait, I've not submitted my first yet. Are you not able to go back in and edit it?

 

[oggbashan]

Wait, I've not submitted my first yet. Are you not able to go back in and edit it?

Yes, you can do an edit, but it is the same process as an original submission but takes even longer. It is preferable to get the story right first time.

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

Yes, you can do an edit, but it is the same process as an original submission but takes even longer. It is preferable to get the story right first time.

This is all so stressful.