Comments on: In Praise of Editors

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:09:48 +0000

Being an editor sounds pretty hard. I hope that if one ever gives me some tips on writing, I’ll take them to heart!

By: pcwrede

pcwrede — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +0000

accio_aqualung - Finding an editor or agent is a matter of sending your stuff out, over and over and over. You get the addresses from 1) reference books at the library, like Literary Marketplace or Writer’s Market, or 2) making a list of publishers who publish similar things by looking at your bookshelves and then searching out their websites online. Most publishers these days have web sites; when you get to one, look for “submission guidelines” and follow the directions.

It’s actually a good idea to do both things; the reference books usually have general articles on submitting your story in the front, which give a good picture of the process, but it’s hard to keep an annual reference up-to-date, so cross-checking with the submission guidelines online is a good plan.

By: accio_aqualung

accio_aqualung — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:05:18 +0000

I have a friend who’s hawking her draft out to editors. I think she’s been rejected a few times, but we (her friends and basis for her characters) all swear it’s the best thing ever written. Because it is.

How does one find an editor? my friend said she sent her draft off to editors in her particular genre (chicklit, loosely) but i have no idea where she began searching for options. hm. i could always try asking her..

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:10:40 +0000

This aspect of having someone else proof your work because you are too close to it is so true. It can be applied to different aspects too. I am studying another language, and we have to do presentations in this language often. I will practice and practice my presentation until I have it down pat, but unless I present it to someone else who is fluent in that language, I cannot get the feedback I need to make it more fluid and with less “first language” errors.

Editors are my friends, whether in the writing business, language business, or friend doing me a favor by reviewing this business.

By: Chicoy

Chicoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:06 +0000

Being unpublished, I don’t know how I’d react to editorial input. But I think you make a good point that editors are just people doing their job. I think keeping that in mind is important in any busyness relation. I try to view my collage professors that way, instead of as sadistic ogres who hand out assignments just to watch their students suffer. It helps me have a better outlook, which makes assignments easier to handle, actually.

By: Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:40:44 +0000

I figure if someone can take my writing and tweak it for better saleability, then I say yay! to them. Let me do my job and they can do theirs.

When I’ve had editors edit my pieces for publication, I nod and say “Sure!” or if I disagree I’ll suggest something else that still covers what I think they want but in my voice.

I’m not interested in alienating anyone who’s just as interested as me in making the work shine.

Plus since I HATE proofing, I’d happily pay for someone to get that done.