You Have Been Warned

[Whispersecret]

It has come to my attention that I may have a reputation for being picky in my critiques. That is fine with me, actually. Here's why.

When someone reads MY work to critique it, I WANT them to pick out everything. Usually most of the problems other people find in my writing is stuff that I already was uncomfortable with but was too lazy to fix. The fact that someone points it out as a rough spot too just gives me that kick in the butt to get to work. That being my philosophy about editing/critiquing, that is how I, myself, will critique.

I have volunteered in order to help improve the quality of writing on the site. I give you fair warning that if you ask for my opinion, I will give it honestly. Don't send your manuscript to me expecting me to say, "I liked it. You need a comma here. Great story." and then send it back. Your story will come back riddled with comments. Wordmage sent me one of the best stories I've critiqued so far, and I still pointed out dozens of things, which he thanked me for.

I just want you to know I'm no harder on you than I am on myself. My writing undergoes countless rewrites, because I don't know about you, but if my name is there (even if it's my pseudonym) I want it to be the best I can do it.

So, if you send me your work wanting a critique, expect me to be honest, but hopefully not cruel. I realize it isn't easy laying yourself open to criticism, but it's one of the best ways to improve your writing.

Good luck!

 

[Weird Harold]

Originally posted by whispersecret:
It has come to my attention that I may have a reputation for being picky in my critiques. That is fine with me, actually. Here's why.

I too am 'merciless' when critiquing a story. I don't know why I don't have the same reputation for being picky.

I suspect that years of management/leadership training by the USAF has something to do with it.

Maybe between the two of us we'll exhaust the world's supply of red electrons, and the other editors will get more business because they can't bleed on the stories?

 

[Jenne64]

Ok so you haven't edited my work but Wierd Harold has.
I ask him to pick it to pieces and he did. Boy was I glad he did. It helped me work out my common errors, etc.
If you ask someone to edit your work then you must accept their critism for what it is constructive. They are not being picky, just helpful.
If you have an ego then don't ask for it to be edited is my advice. As you said Whipser you don't always get back what you want to hear or see.
I agree the only way to improve is to get honest editing.
Just my two pence worth,
Jenne64

 

[Whispersecret]

Well, I don't know for sure that I have a reputation. It was more like a friend of a friend of a friend told me - that sort of thing.

Weird Harold, perhaps we see different things in the stories, or I may just be the most critical editor west of the Mississippi. Or maybe you do have that reputation, and you just don't know it.

I am more than able to be sweet and kind when pointing out problems. After all, I am a teacher of young children with fragile self-esteem; however, some of the stories I've received need so much work that it would take me another hour (on top of the two I've already spent) to couch my comments in saccharine terms. Plus, these are presumably adults. They should be able to handle it straight.

I'm going to risk sounding pompous here. (I probably have a reputation for that as well anyway.

) I think that most people don't realize how hard it is to craft a well-written story. It's not just a matter of thinking up some characters, dreaming up some cool sex acts they could perform, and pounding out the words as they come to you, but I think that is what a lot of people do, not knowing any better.

Lastly, I don't really think of this as "business." In fact, I've had so much in the way of editing lately that my own writing has fallen by the wayside. The thing is that once I start working on someone's story, I can't seem to stop until I'm finished, but that's my own problem.

Happy editing, W.H.



[This message has been edited by whispersecret (edited 03-20-2000).]

 

[Weird Harold]

Originally posted by whispersecret:
Weird Harold, perhaps we see different things in the stories, or I may just be the most critical editor west of the Mississippi. Or maybe you do have that reputation, and you just don't know it.

I know for a fact that we do.

You mentioned in a previous post that you were finding a dearth of complex senteces and descriptive phrases. I'm finding just the opposite. On average I break up more long sentences than I compound sentences together.

You look at things from a teacher's perspective, While I look at things from a reader's perspective.

I am more than able to be sweet and kind when pointing out problems. After all, I am a teacher of young children with fragile self-esteem; ...

That is another difference in our perspectives. You've been trained and work with youngsters and expect 'adults' to react differently. I on the other hand spent 21 years teaching adults and supervising adults. I think I prefer the rationality of children.

21 years of stroking wounded adult egos, and being the bearer of bad news beginning with : "we've got orders to ..." has formed the way I make comments on other's work.

Lastly, I don't really think of this as "business."

Neither do I. I think of it as a chance to read new stories before anybody else sees them.

The only thing I do that may be different from what you do is try to find a few 'warm fuzzies' to point out along with the errors. I look for things that I can say "don't change this while you're correcting the rest of this garbage."

We all have our own style and the authors each have a unique tolerance level for criticism.

It sounds to me like you'd be the perfect editor for some of my stories if you've got the time.

 

[Whispersecret]

I'm not completely ruthless, Weird Harold! <chuckles> I do make it a habit to go through and find things I can comment positively about.

I'd be happy to look at one of your stories.

I'm curious to see if you think I'm picky!

 

[Wordmage]

Originally posted by whispersecret:
Wordmage sent me one of the best stories I've critiqued so far, and I still pointed out dozens of things, which he thanked me for.

Some people have asked why I mouth off about writing but I don't post here and it's a valid point, sooooooo:

I'm a professional, freelance writer in a number of genres, not just erotica/porn. My words put food on my table and in my cats' food dish. I care about my writing and I do my best to craft a story. While I'm in no way perfect, my beta readers and editors usually don't have to waste a lot of time on grammar and punctuation.

I don't mean to sound egotistical, but it requires a certain level of expertise to work on one of my stories. You have to edit content and that means ripping the meat off the bone, chewing it up and giving me back the bloody remains of my brainchild. I actually appreciate this and there are a few people here who have done that for me.

If you want to be the best writer you can be, with the best stories you can write, you need good editors. Good editors don't change things because "I wouldn't write it that way," or say "I didn't like it; fix it." Good editors take stories you've killed yourself over and show you how to make them better. Professionals have to learn to suppress their egos.

This is not a professional site and (most) of the writers here aren't professional-level writers. There's a helluva lot of talent here and at the risk of further alienating the good folks who post here, I have one further thing to say about this program:

If you care about your writing, check your ego at the door. YOU are the writer; you don't HAVE to accept anything an editor here suggests. If you don't care enough about your story to run it through a spellchecker and then proofread it yourself, don't be upset if an editor tells you everywhere you fucked up.

I await the barrage of "Wordmage Sucks" posts. It's true; I do. That's why I send all my stories through five reader/editors for comments before I ever submit them to the person who might buy them.

 

[Savage Kitten]

WOW! lots of good info here... puts my concerns to rest actually... just shows how important it is to browse the topics that have moved off the main page

 

[Laurel]

If you care about your writing, check your ego at the door. YOU are the writer; you
don't HAVE to accept anything an editor here suggests. If you don't care enough about
your story to run it through a spellchecker and then proofread it yourself, don't be upset
if an editor tells you everywhere you fucked up.

Exactly... If you just want someone to tell you your story is perfect, show it to a good friend. If you want honest criticism, then you have to learn to separate yourself from your work, to realize that the editor is critiquing your piece, not YOU. You don't have to accept everything the editor said, but you'd be foolish not to consider it. That's how we grow as writers - by learning to look at our work through another pair of eyes and see the flaws we missed. You as the writer benefit because you hone your talent, and the readers benefit because the stories are more vivid and more compelling.

[This message has been edited by Laurel (edited 04-21-2000).]