Jay Cantrell: Blog

This is why I use editors.

My previous post was not meant to suggest that I plan to depart the site in the near future, nor was it meant to suggest that criticism isn't an integral part of learning to write fiction.

It was meant solely to temper the expectation of the readership - a point it seems I failed to make.

Too many readers log onto a FREE site thinking they're going to be able to read a story worthy of the New York Times Best-Seller List.

That is a silly notion.

Let's be honest: There are some good stories on SOL; there are some bad stories on SOL.

Most stories fall somewhere in the "decidedly average" range. If you've come to the site expecting something better than average, you're deluding yourself and you're going to be disappointed nine times out of 10.

It is ridiculous for a reader to express dismay at the lack of "professional" quality stories here. The mistakes and flaws are why the stories are being given away in the first place!

I tried to use an example of a talented writer that quit SOL rather than have every sentence dissected and every punctuation mark questioned all the while receiving the princely sum of - zilch.

The man who posted under the name Brendan Buckley is a nationally syndicated columnist. He has, the last I spoke to him, three highly-paid, highly-trained editors that go through his writing to fix the mistakes before it gets published. He is compensated handsomely for his writing skill.

On political matters, he is a "professional" writer.

He also is an "amateur" writer when it comes to fiction. But he no longer posts it here or anywhere else for the public to read because he got one too many emails detailing the litany of flaws in his story.

He forwarded some of them to me and most were accurate. There were problems with his stories. There are problems with every story here.

He knew there were errors when he decided to post them. A few of the emails were unjustly harsh - not because of what was said or even how it was said.

There were unfair because of what the readers were complaining about. They failed to understand that they could find his fiction on SOL _because_ of the errors in them.

Criticism, even harsh criticism, is what helps a writer improve. It might come from an editor or a proofer or it might come from a reader.

Sometimes the writer doesn't agree with the assessment; sometimes he or she will find a way to do something better the next time.

Most of the time, at least in my case, he knew it was a problem and decided he could live with it - because he was giving away the story for FREE.

It is exceedingly unfair to hold the writers on this site to the same standard as someone who does this for a living.

The writers here are unpaid; the editors and proofreaders are volunteers. The stories are FREE (and the errors are thrown in for no cost to the reader).

SOL is not the place to find polished works.

There will be missed words, misused words, poorly developed plots and uninteresting characters.

It is an ongoing writer's workshop where those brave enough to post their stories learn and improve as they go along through feedback (positive and politely negative).

Let us always remember what this site really is: a repository for amateur fiction.

It is that and it is nothing more.

Best wishes,
Jay C.

As those of you who have followed my writing for the past few years know, I sometimes get emails that set my teeth on edge.

I like to share those with the masses in order to explain things in long form.

Today is one of those days.

Re: A Toast in an Empty Bar

Message from: (email address redacted):

A good story that hits the sympathy for familial loss and patriotic nerve.

It's a damned shame that you didn't do a better job of proofing reading it. (or take the time to do it)

There are words missing and, in one place, the sentence doesn't make sense.

It's as if you didn't proof read it at all. I wasn't inspired to read any other examples of your 'professional' workmanship.

If you don't take pride in doing a job well, why should I waste my time being aggravated by more sloppy workmanship?

Emailed through StoriesOnline's Mailing System_

Please note that, aside from removing the email address, this is the exact text of message.

Now, I should admit that my reply was something along the lines of "Fuck off, Bozo. This is a free site and you get your money's worth. I don't really give a shit if you read anything else I write. Enough people like what I do that I won't even notice that you're not one of them."

And that, in a nutshell, is why I refuse to attempt to sell what I write (and encapsulates my feelings on the matter).

I am not a 'professional' in the field of fiction writing. I do not claim to be a 'professional' writer. The people that edit my stories and do the proofreading on them are not compensated for the time and effort they put forth. They are not 'professionals.'

It is a hobby that I share with others.

That, however, is not the point of this post - as the title might suggest.

There are many good writers on this site. There are a handful of great writers on this site (and I do not claim to be among either group).

There is no one on this site that can quit his or her job tomorrow because the publishing houses are lining up to pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anyone who believes differently is in for a surprise.

A few years ago, a guy I knew and worked with had me post some of his fiction on the site. I helped with the plotlines and the characterizations. The stories were well received and, to me at least, highly entertaining.

Then, the Grammar Police and Pedant Society excoriated him. So he stopped sending me stories to post. He said that having every single mistake pointed out numerous times was taking the fun out of writing. So he writes his stories and nobody gets to see them.

It's a shame but I get his point.

Me, personally, I'm a legend in my own mind. If you like what I write, great. If you don't, there are thousands of other stories that you might like.

But when I get an email like the one I got today, I think of Brendan Buckley and wonder how many other writers with great potential got tired of dealing with nitwits like this guy and said to hell with SOL.

If it's one more, that's too many.

Folks, let me say it again: There ain't no professionals here. There ain't nobody making more than a bit of pocket money from selling their wares. It's a free site, populated by amateur writers, editors and proofers.

If you want anything better, shell out the $30 for a novel by a named author.

But it seems petty to complain about a lack of 'professionalism' on an amateur site where you get something for nothing.

Regards to all,
Jay C.

This month's bonus chapter has been uploaded and is awaiting moderation.

Hi all,

Part III of Runaway Train will conclude Monday, Sept. 19 and I plan a brief respite before beginning Part IV on Monday, Sept. 26.

Best wishes,
Jay C.

Hi all,

I posted this month's bonus chapter today.

Normal schedule picks up Friday.

Jay C.