Howdy, editors, both new and old. Don't know if you'll find this a useful discussion group of not, but I noticed a rise in discussions by editors and figured there might be a demand.
This should also serve as a 'hunting site' for authors in need a new editors. Or just to complain about authors. We'll see how it develops.
"all stripes". Zebras have lots. Skunks only have one. Welcome animals of all stripes. Maybe not the skunks, if you make them angry they spray a noxious compound that is hard to remove. I almost said get off, but didn't want to lead to the obvious joke about getting off. May all your editors not be skunks.
May all your editors not be skunks.
I spent a lot of time in the Northeast U.S., where skunks were plentiful. So much so that I eventually learned to appreciate the smell (in small quantities). The kids in my high school were known to grab a skunk by its tail, walk into school, and toss it into a crowded classroom so school would be canceled for a couple hours.
I ain't worried 'bout no skunk. Don't you know, stripes are slimming, and as anyone who's read me knows, my books can use a little slimming. 'D
There are times where I'm looking not so much for traditional copy or substantive editing -- I have published several nonfiction books and have worked with an assortment of editors.
What I do need sometimes is a sounding board for where a plot may be going. Sometimes, this is a matter of how to resolve a particular subplot. In other cases, where the writing is at least to some extent do-over/what-if/autobiographical, I'd like feedback on plausibility, maybe offering some explanation.
Some of my particular interests are alternate universes where sexuality is a normal part of the workplace -- and was to some extent in the seventies. I also play back and forth about Catholic childhood guilt (can't show sexuality) versus Jewish childhood guilt (touch her only after a notarized contract is in place).
What I do need sometimes is a sounding board for where a plot may be going. Sometimes, this is a matter of how to resolve a particular subplot. In other cases, where the writing is at least to some extent do-over/what-if/autobiographical, I'd like feedback on plausibility, maybe offering some explanation.
That's a structural editor. I think in the U.S. it's called something else, like a content editor.
I never used a structural editor, but from what I gather from author discussions, it can even be done from the synopsis. They look for plot holes, unbelievable characters, etc.
What I do need sometimes is a sounding board for where a plot may be going. Sometimes, this is a matter of how to resolve a particular subplot. In other cases, where the writing is at least to some extent do-over/what-if/autobiographical, I'd like feedback on plausibility, maybe offering some explanation.
LughiIldanach, I've got two points to your question. First of all, the need for a structural editor is quite different in non-fiction and fiction. But, in answer to your question, what you really need is author feedback. I like to keep the emails of a couple authors that I trust. If I run into problematic chapter, where I'm unsure about something, I'll send them a single chapter to review for me.
Authors are more focused on things like pacing, foreshadowing and consistency, and are more willing to suggest alternatives than editors will.
Most authors on this site will likely help out (assuming you stick to the 'one-chapter rule' and don't overwhelm them). They key is to find a couple who share a similar writing style and who you respect.