Which Editor?

[Chicklet]

Hey There,

About three weeks ago I started writing erotica, and I decided to try to use the volunteer editors from the list...Three weeks and none of about 20 that I emailed wrote back to me. Are there any that you other authors can suggest? Any favorites that stick out in your mind? That list is huge, and I have proven to myself that I am too impatient to email every one before just getting on with it and submitting my stories anyways = p

Thanks everyone!
Chicklet

 

[CHEWEY]

Editors!

Hi Chicklet, wish I could help ya. I tried a few of , supposedly, "the best " editors on the sight. That was last year and 21 stories ago and still have not heard from them. If I need an editor now, I either use my hubby or a friend. No, I understand that it's all volunteer but if they are too busy, they could at least respond and say it'll be awhile. It's just plain rude not to! One of the "editors", and I use the term loosely, did write about a month later to say she hadn't gotten to it yet Well DUH! HEHE. You might email Laurel, give her names of everyone you tried to use. Maybe there is a glitch and the editors are not getting it , who knows But, I hope that helped some. CHEWEY

 

[Chicklet]

Thanks for the input Chewey.

This brings me to another idea, though. Is there anyone out there that wouldn't mind being an editor of sorts? Anyone want to swap stories and scan for grammer or flow? No matter how many times I re-read my own work, I'm afraid I skip over the same things again and again.

Chicklet

 

[CHEWEY]

RE: Chicklet

Your welcome girl. if ya want I'll give it hell As one valley girl to another My addy is chewey@literotica.org Let me know what you want me to look at and I will give you my honest opinion. But it won't be rude Chewey

 

[Sateema Lunasi]

I recently signed on as a volunteer editor and so far have not recieved any stories to edit, but I would like some. Not a whole buch, but a few. If it does not involve beastiality (I would cringe) or watersports (yuk) I would be happy to give it a look and help you. I have worked for magazines as an editor before so I think I could help you out. I will be honest and opinionated but never rude.

Sateema@hotmail.com

 

[Ray Dario]

The last editor I used was Mustang Sally. She did an excellent job for me. I don't know if she is now available or not, but she answered my inquiry quickly and was very helpful.

I didn't ask her before putting her name here, so she may be busy or unavailable right now.

Ray

 

[Chicklet]

Many Thanks, Everyone!

Hey there,

Thank you all so much for replying! This is extra-useful stuff for me. It's so scary to get started, you have to gather all the confidence and stuff...hopefully now with a couple names I'll have an easier time deciding that something isn't going to completely humilate me! = ) = )

Chicklet

 

[Chicklet]

Still Looking!!

Hey People!

Yeah, I can see you there, skimming over this post! I'm still looking for more editors, so please, please, please, more advice!! =) I don't mean to be greedy, I just think that the more offers/options I have will make it all the better.

Thanks again everyone ---<---@

Chicklet

 

[KevBo30]

I Can Help

Hey Chicklet,

With the caveat that I am new at this, and may not be able
to provide adequate advice to get your submission accepted,
I would be more than happy to read/edit/spell check/etc. your
work.

Just yell if you are interested.

Good luck,
Kevin

 

[Wm_Sexspear]

Writing Help

Chicklet, this is my first attempt to use this bulletin board. I find a lot here to be confusing. Re: your plea for help.

I wrote a short article titled 'A Plain English Guide To Better Writing', it is in the How To section. I've had some very nice feedback from some people regarding it being easy, practical things any writer can use to immprove their story.

The most important thing I've learn since I recently posted my first story, is to be sure to read your story out loud to yourself. When you know it's perfect, hit save and close.

The next day or so, repeat the above until you do not find a single thing that you change. ;-)

 

[Quint]

Pay attention to who gives you quality feedback. I make a point occasionally to go through and give very in-depth critique of a story that I read, especially when I think the author has potential. If you get an email that says more than "good job!" or "u suck," you might want to consider emailing the reader back (assuming they provided an address), thanking them for their feedback, and asking them if they'd be interested in reviewing some of your other submissions. Chances are that a person who is willing to spend that much time on a random story will be amenable to doing the same by request.

Incidentally, I'm one such person. ::winks::

 

[Coralee]

Hi Chicklet,

I don't have any experience editing for anyone other than myself but I would be willing to read your stories and give you some feedback. So long as they don't include beastiality, nonconsent or hard core BDSM, I'd be willing to give it a go.

You can e-mail me at cbg16@hotmail.com

Coralee

 

[Chicklet]

Hi Chicklet,

I don't have any experience editing for anyone other than myself but I would be willing to read your stories and give you some feedback. So long as they don't include beastiality, nonconsent or hard core BDSM, I'd be willing to give it a go.

You can e-mail me at cbg16@hotmail.com

Coralee

thanks Coralee, but most of my interests include hard core BDSM and nonconsent = (

Chicklet

 

[Chicklet]

Pay attention to who gives you quality feedback. I make a point occasionally to go through and give very in-depth critique of a story that I read, especially when I think the author has potential. If you get an email that says more than "good job!" or "u suck," you might want to consider emailing the reader back (assuming they provided an address), thanking them for their feedback, and asking them if they'd be interested in reviewing some of your other submissions. Chances are that a person who is willing to spend that much time on a random story will be amenable to doing the same by request.

Incidentally, I'm one such person. ::winks::

I've tried to respond to everyone that has given me feedback. =) Thanks for the advice, Quint

 

[MistressS]

Editor?

First off, I just found this wonderful website and message board. Just wanted to warn ya that I'm not aware of the rules and protocols around here yet.
After seeing this post about someone looking for an editor, I just couldn't resist. I wanted to find out about how I would go about offering my time and services to such an interesting endeavor?
I would like to exchange my services for the story itself, should I really fall in love with it. I have a website that specializes in bdsm, FemDom, and fetish and I'm in the process of creating an erotica database for my members area. Unfortunately, the quality of some of the member submissions that I recieve can be 'lacking'.
The long and short of my vision for this area is to create a place where authors who are quite serious about their work can submit their erotica/poetry/creative works in exchange for an 'author profile', a link to their website, and (now that I have read this thread) my volunteer editorial services. Is something like this even remotely approaching enticing or allowable for editorial services, or is this not a generally used approach?
The only added bonuses that I can offer to my editorial services are: 1) I have been involved in FemDom/BDSM for almost 10 years, real-time 2) I would love to create an editorial form of sorts to help the author. It would have things on it like: typos I found, word redundancy, etc.. Do you have any ideas about what components that you would like to see on a form like that, that would be given back to you after the reading of your story?
I look forward to reading your thoughts/comments on these questions.

 

[Reshbod]

I think it is great people volunteering to edit other peoples stories. I have sent a few requests but have either heard nothing or got a "do not have time" message, no big deal, I realize folks are busy. My question is for people who do edit stories, do you prefer to read a "completed" story, or are you willing to receive a partial story, give feedback and look at the story again later?

 

[Quint]

I haven't yet been asked to read an incomplete story, although unpolished is pretty close. I'd prefer a "semi-finished" product, as in, it has a beginning, middle, and end. The little details can be worked out, but I like having a complete rough draft.

Geez, you guys are making me regret the feedback that I send, saying "get an editor next time, they'll catch these small problems." Where the hell ARE the editors? Why are they allowed to sit there with a neat little title but do no editing? Yeah, people have lives, but they should take themselves off the list until they, like me, discover that 16 hours of college leaves the entire day of spare time.

 

[Chicklet]

To date, the only people that have gotten back to me about editing are other authors who have read this post. I've still tried the "editors" and none of them have answered yet. So my advice to everyone who wants an editor is to ask a friend before clicking on one of the many, many volunteer editors who I am positive aren't listening.

Chicklet

 

[MistressS]

Ok, now I'm curious. What is it, as an author, that you hope to receive in return from an editor that you contact? I mean if you could REALLY have a wishlist for that, what would be on it? I look forward to seeing your replies.

 

[karmadog]

Fresh eyes to catch mistakes.

Somebody with distance to evaluate whether the story can be followed.

Advice on ways to make individual sentences stronger.

Whether the jokes, if any, are funny.

A chance to find out if it affects a different set of nads.

Another person to decide if the characters are drawn sharply enough.

Someone to tell you that no matter how much you love the section describing the glass menagerie in your heroines bedroom in excruciating detail, that it's boring and detracts from the story.

 

[Reshbod]

Ok, now I'm curious. What is it, as an author, that you hope to receive in return from an editor that you contact? I mean if you could REALLY have a wishlist for that, what would be on it? I look forward to seeing your replies.

For me overall quality of a story. Does it have a good opening, body and conlcusion. Is it intersting and realistic. Is it easy to read and follow. Are the chatacters and situations believable. Is the word usage appropriate or is there a lot of repition. Also, are there any glaring grammar mistakes. This seems like a lot but I think it can be summed up as constructive criticism. Let me know what is alright, but also mention what is bad or poorly done and suggest how it could be improved. Often I will think I wrote something very well, but after letting someone else look at it they can often make a few suggestions to help make it better. I am not saying go over it with a fine tooth comb, just read through it and let me know your gut reaction. I am not looking for someone to essentially re-write what I have done. Just read through it once or twice, make a couple of brief comments or suggestions. Then give it back for me to polish it.

 

[Quint]

On Karma's line...

...how to strengthen paragraphs through sentence-structure variation (how many times you started a sentence with a pronoun).

How to improve dialogue through different versions of "said" and adverbs.

What the dialogue says about the character; is he/she cookie-cutter? Does he/she say ANYthing that points to a personality?

The chance of getting a sequel.

Description and detail; vivid and realistic or drowning the story?

Areas that the author THOUGHT made perfect sense because their mind filled in the blanks.

General coherence; does the plot/character fluctuate more rapidly than is likely? Does it make sense to have him attempt to rape her, and 600 words later they're in love?

Advice on fixing these areas, rather than just bringing them to the author's attention--though that's enough for some.

I'm undoubtedly leaving more out.

Edited to add: Resh, you don't want me as an editor. I go through and say practically everything I can find. I believe in being thorough, because that's what I'd want as an author. If I don't see the mistake, I want someone else to and tell me about it. Perfection, perfection, perfection.

 

[Ray Dario]

Originally posted by MistressS
Ok, now I'm curious. What is it, as an author, that you hope to receive in return from an editor that you contact? I mean if you could REALLY have a wishlist for that, what would be on it? I look forward to seeing your replies.

My wishlist

A good proofreader who will catch all the stupid punctuation and grammer mistakes I make while I'm in my heated rush passion writing mode.

Someone who will point out that I started 197 sentences in a row with a personal pronoun.

Someone who will say "Why did that character do that? It doesn't make any sense."

Someone who will say "You like ending's with twists. Where is the twist here." and then after I reply, "Here's the twist", say "Oh, well hell, that was just too damn subtle." or "No, there wasn't a twist because you made it too damn obvious during the story."

Someone who'll say, "Who cares about the tatoo on her leg. Cut it cause it doesn't affect the story."

In other words I want someone who'll read the story, be objective and tough and help me make the story the best that I can make it.

Well you did ask for a wishlist

Ray

 

[Reshbod]

Actually Quint, you are my idea of the perfect editor. I mentioned the least of what I would expect because honestly, I am not sure many people would be willing to spend as much time and effort editing stories for strangers in there spare time. Of course I could be wrong. If I edit a story, I would point out everything I saw as well. Like you said if I miss something, I probably won't catch it unless it is pointed out.

 

[abashed-dreamer]

Chicklet, Ray, and others.

There's certainly a variety of things an editor can do, working at various depths.

As no one can edit his/her own work, I like editor-persons who have a thorough grasp of grammar, genuine writing ability and a filthy mind.

The task of nurturing talent is a hard one. An editor cannot perform miracles, without ceasing to be an editor. And, truth be said, some folks need more a ghostwriter.

As an editor, I try to focus feedback where it will be maximallly effective, though obviously, in these parts (literotica), the first step is always grammar and word choice. The problem of course is the same you have in visiting a medical specialist: how do you know if his/her diagnosis of your brain tumor is accurate? if the operation is performed correctly? Similarly, How do you know the quality of your editor's work? Only by sending it for publication, as some of my clients do, and having it accepted without the comment, 'needs editing.'

Though I don't think one should 'bug' a raft of editors--unless you're paying them all--I don't think it hurts, in the beginning, to show a work supposedly edited by one person, to another editor (self-labeled) or two and ask 'How does it look?'

I look for gifts, or at least honesty and 'punch'. My exclusions are few, except for extreme torture (such as cannot even be posted at literotica in the main section).

Jack
'abashed-dreamer' at literotica