Authors and Editors

Chao- Hiring another author to look over your work isn't all a bad idea. It's always good having a set of fresh eyes reviewing your work for any mistakes. Some authors, though, make better editors than others. Some are more aware of grammar; plot and characters; tone and style; or working on a macro or micro level (what the story is vs. how it will be told respectfully). How do you know who to choose? Dunno, but here are a few ideas you may want to consider:

• Why are you asking certain authors for help?
• Do you like the way they write their stories?
• Are their stories written well enough for your standards?
• Do you like their attitude in their author notes or when you PM them?
• Have you read their Beta profile if one is available? Do you agree with those guidelines?
• Do they offer an explanation for a correction, or do they merely scratch them in?
• If they do explain, is it in a language you understand, or is it all jargon?
• Is your language their first language?
• Are most repairs correct? Do they truly cover what is grammatically right, or are they relying on outdated rules?
• If you trade a document uploaded by Microsoft Word, do they know how to operate the Comments and Track Changes? If it is done through Word, do they highlight their changes either through the highlight or font color?
• Do they commend you on anything, like writing a good analogy, joke, or action scene, or are they strictly focused on fixing mistakes?
• Are they focused more on grammar, or can they tell you the pros and cons of your story as a whole?
• Do they ask for your views on anything you wrote?
• Do they ask if you want them to look at anything specific? Do you tell them if there's anything specific? Do you mention if you just want a general overview?
• Do they return the work in a good amount of time, or at least send a(n) email/PM if there's been a change?
• As a writer you are free to decline any corrections or advice they give. Are they all right with that, or do they give you negative remarks?
• Are you happy with their work in the end?

Chao- Authors may have experience writing, but not all of them make great editors. One thing to look out is what they edit and how. A big mistake new editors make is that they focus too much on their own style. Editors must be aware and accept tones and styles differ from their own. They may rearrange an entire paragraph without permission and expect you to take their word for it. Is that fair to you, or did you honestly have a reason for that style?


Consider their credibility:

• They've written fan fics or other stories
• They are familiar with the characters you are using
• They know about the original story your fan fic is from
• People who have hired them liked their editing work
• They are aware of and admit their strengths and weaknesses
• They offer you outside sources, like books or web pages

Chao- If you are happy with their work, you can continue asking them for assistance. You are also free to ask other people for help on the same content. Keep in mind that everyone you ask will not always be helpful. And it is ok to change editors!


You may want to change people if:

• what they provided was weak, poor, contradictory or inconsistent edits
• enforced their own style
• wrote mean comments to you or what you have written
• changed your meaning of your work, even rewriting what you have
• ignored or forgot about you
• you have a personal issue with them or vice versa

Chao- Hope this helped those looking for editors to over look their work! Hmm... Maybe Chao should create an entry for beta editors....?