I got my first edit request recently; I am curious about the time from putting your name on the list to getting that first request.
I got my first edit request recently; I am curious about the time from putting your name on the list to getting that first request.
I can't address that issue directly, but keep in mind that the editors List is not the predominate way that authors find editors on SOL. It's nice in a pinch, especially when you don't have any other options, but I suspect most author's pick up editors either through referrals or direct contact between editor and author.
That's a question for some of the editors, not the authors.
That's probably why he posted it in this forum :)
That's probably why he posted it in this forum :)
I was trying to reduce the number of responses from authors who haven't done any editing by making that point much clearer. Many of the regulars on the SoL forums use the All Forum Threads by Date option to see new posts and they usually don't see which sub-forum the post was in, and few of them have done any editing.
Where I've edited a story the author has contacted me direct for advice on writing and I did the editing as part of helping them learn the trade. Each of my editors has ended up with the job by sending me a bunch of mistakes that got through the system, so I then recruited them.
My experiences as a new author:
I contacted 6 editors over several days with a request to look at my second WIP Novel.
I tried to contact editors who had an interest in the genre I was writing.
- the first retracted his editor availability after he read my mail ^^ lol. Maybe he doesn't have time anymore.
- one read the mail but didn't respond
- one never opened the mail
- the rest (three) responded and were positive to take a look at my WIP
- only one from the three sent back an edited copy. The other two didn't respond after two weeks, maybe my mail got into a spam folder, or their mail got nuked by my provider (i looked at the spam folder) but I don't want to come off as needy and bombard them with mails.
I am currently happy with the one who responded.
I contacted 6 editors over several days with a request to look at my second WIP Novel.
I tried to contact editors who had an interest in the genre I was writing.
- the first retracted his editor availability after he read my mail ^^ lol. Maybe he doesn't have time anymore.
- one read the mail but didn't respond
- one never opened the mail
- the rest (three) responded and were positive to take a look at my WIP
- only one from the three sent back an edited copy. The other two didn't respond after two weeks, maybe my mail got into a spam folder, or their mail got nuked by my provider (i looked at the spam folder) but I don't want to come off as needy and bombard them with mails.
I am currently happy with the one who responded.
Like you, I wouldn't bombard potential editors, but it's fair to send a follow up (after about a week), so they have time to consider the story. As you noted, editors do not always update their listings when they run out of time. When you access the home page, it asks you to update your editing availability, but many don't visit that page often, and even then, you can't delist yourself if you have NO time.
General rules of thumb, along with genre, it's wise to include your story description and a list of story codes (because editors have similar squicks to general readers). That will give editors a feel for whether they'd be interested in the story or not.
A follow-up would allow you to ask the editors whether they still plan to edit, and if so, when they'll be available. And yes, many times important emails end up in Spam folders!
one never opened the mail
You think? I have my email set up to *never* send return receipts, basically because I don't want spammers to know that they wrote to an active mail account.
A lot of people have their emails set up the same way.
This is all sent over the Editor page of SOL.
I don't think that you can set it up like that.
You could always be proactive. Find an ongoing story that you like, read it with a critical eye and send the author a list of corrections.
AJ
I used the service when I first started. I had zero idea what I was doing, so it was nice to be able to see who wanted to help ... and the price was right.
After my first book I had editors start to approach me. The ones that caught me eye would send me feedback on a chapter and point out were the mistakes were and why. You can tell a lot from the feedback they provide and how they explain it. I looked for people that fit my style and didn't make fun of me (which is easy to do if you've ever seen my work before it is fixed).
G Younger
After my first book I had editors start to approach me. The ones that caught me eye would send me feedback on a chapter and point out were the mistakes were and why. You can tell a lot from the feedback they provide and how they explain it. I looked for people that fit my style and didn't make fun of me (which is easy to do if you've ever seen my work before it is fixed).
Even better, if you're a newbie, you can vet one author against what the others say about the same passage, to determine how valid their suggestions are. That's important for authors who may not know the standard grammar or composition rules themselves. It took me a LONG time before I finally found editors who knew both how to properly format commas, and I could tell them how I wanted them formatted and why.
The other nice thing, is often established authors will volunteer as 'introductory' editors, basically telling you all the little shit you need to do to be successful, and then they drop out as soon as you've lined up another editor. Those guys are immensely valuable. (A belated thanks for that initial help, Ernest.)
(A belated thanks for that initial help, Ernest.)
You're welcome. Glad to help. I bet the other editors I put you on to are still a help as well. Also, you're not the only one I helped that way.
It's because I kept getting asked the same questions by newbie authors that I wrote the Writing Guide and made it available free, and I even (shock, horror) put it out on Apple and Amazon. I know it gets lots of downloads each month, but I sure wish I knew why some people download between 12 to 25 copies of it at once. I can make guesses, but I'd love to know for sure.
www.lulu.com/shop/ernest-bywater/fiction-writing-style-guide/ebook/product-23436081.html
I sure wish I knew why some people download between 12 to 25 copies of it at once.
I suspect the down loaders are using it as a textbook for a class they are teaching.
I suspect the down loaders are using it as a textbook for a class they are teaching.
So do I, but I don't know that.
I suspect the down loaders are using it as a textbook for a class they are teaching.
So do I, but I don't know that.
It's either that, or the downloader didn't get it the first time, and had to download the entire story several times to figure it out. Or, it's an author sending copies to his novice editors, or it's an editor sending copies to their various authors. Take your pick.