Do you work with editors and/or beta readers or do you trust your gut?

simpleSH29 2024-05-20 17:44:32 UTC #21

I would work with an editor and/or beta reader for my fantasy story if I could, but I don't have any money to pay them. I just can't afford to spare any for it so I have no choice but to trust my gut. I'll edit my chapter one day. Leave it alone the next day and then I'll come back to it the day after. I'll make edits here and there but I make sure not to overdo it. I'll look it over one more time when I paste it on the dashboard and preview it.

For my haiku collection, I'm just posting it without thoughts and edits.

Leyelle 2024-06-03 18:12:37 UTC #22

How often do people here ask for reviews and such of their writing? I do every time I get the chance, I think I'm getting pretty used to constructive criticism, so I find it helpful without it completely shattering me the way it used to.

CEWashburn 2024-06-03 21:05:48 UTC #23

I'm a one man show. I think it's because I'm too attached to the story itself to allow someone else to make any changes to it that I don't think it needs. If it's for technical purposes, grammar, punctuation, spelling, all that, okay, I'll accept the help. But if someone says, "I don't know about this bit here; maybe change the dialogue a bit there; is this part really necessary?" I'll yeet that person from a three-story window.

I've only ever hired someone to review my books once and I was really happy with what they said. They got the story, the characters, and what the message was trying to be conveyed. However, if I had some independent, not sought for reviews and critiques, that would be awesome. All the comments I've received so far on all three of my books posted here have been amazing, well, excepting one but that's bound to happen, and so many of them make me laugh. I love that people love what I'm doing and that makes me feel like I'm doing something right, even if I have to do it all myself.

Leyelle 2024-06-03 21:08:25 UTC #24

Three stories and only one bad comment? that's a really good track record lol

Leyelle 2024-07-04 15:59:42 UTC #25

Something interesting my editor pointed out in my most recent novel "A Dozen Morning Glories" is the misuse of the main character's passive voice being something commented on, and I chose to make it a consistent theme in the story. My main character is an editor, so she's more finicky about correct grammar (like my editor) so he noted that when she misuses language, it should be something intentional that bugs her, as she tries to come off as more passive. And I think it really built complexity in the character.