2 Name: janna : 2016-03-03 14:06 ID:ObHOO4RR [Del]
Rules.
So obviously some things need to be specified, and some of these rules won't be followed. But it is vital that both parties follow these guidelines not only out of respect for each other, but because there is definitively legal action that can be taken against the both of you if you fail to follow them.
1. Do not, and I repeat, do NOT post your entire chapters/stories/etc on this thread.
If you are attempting to show anyone what you've written, I strongly suggest you take an excerpt from your work instead of posting the entire thing, because there is always the threat of people stealing work. If you don't care about that, then go ahead, but if not, it's important that for the most part you keep the entirety of your writing to yourself and your editor(s) until you are ready to share/publish.
2. Editing should be done through email, google docs, or some chat client.
To be honest, it's whatever works best for you. But Google Docs is an extremely good place to edit because you can suggest changes to the story that the writer can either authorize or deny (and you both can converse through side notes on whether or not it should be changed if needed). Email is the same, you change a few things, send it back, but the original is still there uncompromising.
This is also a rule because on the dollars threads, anything you post could very easily be deleted, so if you do want to make a claim to your story, how would anyone know it was yours in the first place if someone stole it and deleted your first reply?
3. Don't bash your writer/editor.
Seriously. Don't deny every goddamn change made to your work, this is pure constructive criticism and you have to be able to accept that your writing is not perfect. It may be good, it might be wonderful, it might even be groundbreaking, but without some changes, it can't get better.
Editors, the same goes to you. Don't over-mark your assigned story. It's one thing if there are a ton of grammatical errors, or simple mistakes, but if you intend to completely morph a writer's work into your own, then you don't need to edit. This is teamwork, so neither of you should be overpowering one another.
4. Communicate.
If you didn't like the way your editor did something, or your writer is being too hard to deal with, whatever the problem may be, you must TALK to each other in order to solve the problem. Don't discuss your issues here, unless absolutely necessary due to a lack of resources, etc. You both have to lay out nearly everything that may need to be mentioned beforehand, because making novels/books/fan fictions/poems/etc is not something everyone takes lightly. Some of us have dedicated our lives to this and know this is what we want to do with our lives, so if you can't accept that, then you're gonna ruin yourself. Any problems MUST be addressed and discussed, it is the golden rule to making a great piece of work.
5. If your editor/writer is not right for you, don't spread rumors or talk shit about them in the thread.
Because while they might not be a good match for you, they might be great for someone else.
If you want a different editor/writer, come back to the thread and get one. It's that simple. But make sure you explain to your writer/editor that you are doing this, don't just leave them in the cold.
6. Rate your stories.
If you're writing a gay smutty erotica, then say that you're writing a gay smutty erotica. Seriously, while some of us can handle that, you don't want an editor who is not experienced/comfortable with that type of writing to walk into something they really wish they hadn't. Don't traumatize anyone, be specific about what you're writing so that editors know and can work with you better.
7. If you say you're gonna do it, then do it.
The job of a writer is to write, and the job of the editor is to edit. If someone sends you a chapter and you both agree on a time/date to get it done by, then do it. If anything comes up that compromises this, be sure to let them know. Don't just disappear without explanation, even telling them that you can't do it on that day is less disappointing then promising things and not doing it at all, or just leaving.
8. No judging.
Don't you dare judge. If your writer likes to write about LGBT characters, or has characters of color, or even likes to make a particular character talk in a way you might find offensive, you either leave because you're not doing that shit AFTER you inform them that you aren't going to be able to work with them anymore, OR, you put your own thoughts aside and focus on the story. There is no room here for racist/sexist/homophobic assholes here, if you don't want to edit anything with "sensitive" topics, then state what you absolutely won't edit. It's that simple. The writer will find someone else who would love to work with them.
9. Know your limits.
Set deadlines that you can keep, set times to talk that work for the both of you, and don't overwork yourself or allow yourself to break under the pressure. You can do this, but you have to know your strengths and weaknesses.
10. Respect.
Respect one another, the moment you agree to work together, you are now partners that are attempting to create something, not just two strangers over the internet. This is going to be a very personal and close relationship because not only are you sharing your inner thoughts with an editor when you give them your story and trust them to better it, but the editor is rooting for you because they are willing to tell you the things you don't want you to hear in order for your writing to succeed. So respect them, and they will respect you.
That is all, so guys, don't be shy to post though I know it's a lot of rules. I wish the best for all of you, and let me know if you have any problems, I'll check this thread every day and I am a writer, as well as an editor myself if any of you need any help with that.
My email: jnnablck@gmail.com
My kik: bitethebitchbullet
Good luck.
10 Name: Neko !UU8hnqLjMY : 2016-03-06 09:20 ID:qFQkxSYE [Del]
I'll be in your care-------------
Now then, this is just an opening to a chapter so I hope it's fine to post it here? I'd like some opinion on a few passages. So my intention is to create a confusing start, but at the same time stir the reader's curiosity, and he has to be able to follow the rhetoric to some extent. here it goes. Opinions, please.
What? Who? Where? When? Why? How?
Out of all the questions you can possibly ask, the questions that start with why are the both the easiest and most difficult to answer. Why, you ask? It’s simple. Because the answers to those questions, in fact, simply do not exist. It’s not a lie. Ask a scientist how life began and he’d point you to the big-bang theory. Ask him why life began, and he’d likely point you to a priest. Ask that priest and he’d probably say it’s the will of God. Then ask him why God exists at all, and he’d probably be unable to answer, not because he doesn’t know the answer, not because he is afraid the answer would be considered blasphemy, but because the answer simply doesn’t exist.
With that being said, you can also think that it’s because there are too many answers, more than the number of stars in space. So many that they might as well not exist altogether. Like how when too many stars are cramped in one space they often lead to the creation of a black hole, sucking everything and leaving an empty void. When a why question is answered, you ask why that is the answer, and then you will ask why that is so, creating an endless train of questions. Then, why does people still ask those questions?
Yet again another thing with too many possible answers. To rile up your imagination, to stimulate the brain with logic, or they might even just do it out of desperation. Humans are creatures that keep asking why, even though there will never be any satisfying answer to those questions. No, that’s actually not quite true. The answer to a why question doesn’t exist, but still people wish for an answer. And so what do they do? They pick the most satisfying and convincing answer they can imagine. A classic example would be the question of why we live. At first we may answer that with “that’s simply how it is,” but when that answer no longer sates our frustrations, we will turn into more fulfilling answers like “because God wills it to be so.”
13 Name: janna : 2016-03-09 11:59 ID:6gzpQVF7 [Del]
>>10 If you want a simple opinion, I can tell you that the excerpt is good, but that it needs work. If you want to know how, you need to go about the rules as everyone else - leave a genre, rating, and any other background information before I start.
Give me an idea of what this story is to be, is that just the beginning? What do you plan to do with this? What direction are you attempting to go in, and finally, who are your characters and what is your ending.
My best advice to give you is that you have to know your beginning, middle, end, and you also have to know your characters. This isn't a writing help forum, this is an editing forum.
Also
-- If you don't want your work edited, then you shouldn't post.
