Author Interview: edrider73

In every case, I credit each editor who made a contribution, no matter how small. If an editor finds only one spelling mistake, I will credit him or her.

One time, a reader of one of my stories, posted a nasty comment, and in the comment pointed out an embarrassing continuity error in the story. I immediately fixed the error and reposted the story.

After thinking about it, I deleted the comment (the only time I ever deleted a comment) and sent a Feedback message to the commenter, who had signed the comment, explaining that I had fixed the error and deleted the comment so it didn't sound stupid. I invited the commenter to repost the rest of the nasty comment, and I wouldn't touch it. Or I could credit the contribution. There was no response from the commenter.

I don't know if readers know this, but whenever a comment is posted, Literotica authors are alerted on our personal pages. So we are aware of all new comments, even when they are made years after the story is posted.

If someone tomorrow reads one of my stories and posts a comment mentioning spelling errors, missing words, inconsistencies in the plot or characterizations -- anything -- it may take a while, but I will look at the story. If I change it, I will credit that person as an additional editor, with the person's permission, of course.

Even better is when a reader or a Literotica editor spots small or big mistakes and uses the contact feature on my member page to tell me. In that case, I will happily work together to correct the story's weaknesses and give my helper major editing credit.

That applies to this interview too. If someone reading it comes up with a good question that wasn't asked, I'll gladly answer it and ask Literoticauthor to add it to the interview, along with the credit to the new "interviewer."

I don't think there are any of my stories left that are the same as when they were first posted. Some of them have changed many times as my editors and I have improved them. I hope when revisiting one of my stories, the reader thinks it's better than she or he remembered it.

If you're an author, your duty is to thank everyone who helped you in any way, especially your volunteer (translation: unpaid) editors. They deserve it.

You really have a thing for editors, don't you?

Do you think it's a fetish? Yes, I really love them. I even have some advice for them.

First, I think they should think hard before they become volunteer editors. Even if they get along great with the writer and get credited, they will never be compensated for all the work they do.

The writer gets comments. Even the bad ones show that someone has read the story and is bothered enough by it to offer feedback. The editor never gets those kinds of strokes. No one but the writer appreciates the editor's contribution. It is a thankless job -- and unlike a professional editor, you aren't getting paid.

Maybe you want to practice your editing skills because you're a student and see that as your career. Maybe you like to be involved in posting stories on Literotica but prefer to help others rather than being in the limelight. Or maybe you're a masochist.

In that case, if you have to be an editor, you still need some survival skills.

First, make sure you don't waste time and effort on those who don't deserve it. This begins with your editor's profile.

The advertisement for a story is the description line. For an author trying to find a good editor, it's the inquiry message. For you, the editor, it's your editor's profile.

If you are looking to be hit on by all kinds of strange creatures, go ahead and be flirty or seductive. If you want to work with a serious writer on stories that you will be proud to see on the website, stick to business. Emphasize all your strengths, not just the ones that are most important, such as spelling, grammar and punctuation. For example, if you have a knack for noticing inconsistencies that make the writer look foolish, say so in the profile. Whatever obscure editing skill you have, there's probably a writer out there who could use it.

Be clear about what you are prepared to do and when. List the categories you'll accept and say if there are things that turn you off so much that you aren't able to read and edit them. Don't be politically correct. A gay writer would much rather know you don't like that kind of subject matter than waste time courting you in vain. It doesn't mean you're homophobic or a bad person.

Also, don't promise turnaround times that you can't deliver. If you have a busy schedule, say that you will work on the stories whenever you can, but a short story might take two weeks and a longer one more than that, or whatever the case is.

After you've finished telling about yourself, describe the kind of author you want to work with. Do you want someone who's a serious writer trying to work on a professional level even though there's no money involved? If so, say that you expect writers to have worked on their stories until they can't think of a way to make them better. That includes rewriting and editing by the author. At that point, you'll be ready to work hard to fix mistakes and do anything to make the story better.

There are many lazy writers out there who will be happy to let you do all their work. Literotica authors, including me, regularly hear from people who send us an idea and then suggest we turn their idea into a story. Story ideas are a dime a dozen. Everyone can come up with hundreds of them. Making them into a good story is the hard part.

Maybe you are the rare editor who gets satisfaction from helping beginning writers and has the patience to be disappointed many times while helping the novice get to the point where his or her writing can be published. My hat's off to you if that's the kind of wonderful person you are. You still need to make sure that your efforts are appreciated. If the writer is both bad and obnoxious, there's no reason to waste your time when there are many eager, courteous newcomers who would appreciate your help.

Once you've finished your editor's profile, put it aside, wait a few days and look at it again with an editor's eyes. Polish it and make sure there are no mistakes.

If you've done a good job on your editor's profile, get ready to be bombarded. When looking at the inquiries, try to judge whether you'd be a good fit with the writer. Don't go by first come, first served.

If someone sounds good, but there are some things in the message that don't sound quite right, ask questions. Be careful of catfish who will cost you dozens of wasted hours.

Pick a couple of promising writers and begin working with them. It's hard to handle more than that. If one of them turns out to be a waste of time, you've got another one left.

If you've made a mistake with a writer, it will soon become evident. Don't agonize about it. Send a brief message that graciously extricates you without mentioning the real reason: "Some things have come up and I just can't work with you now. I'm so sorry. If the situation changes, I'll let you know."

Let's say both writers turn out to be abusive sociopaths and all of a sudden you have no one to edit. You could go back and dig through the other author inquiries you got, but it may be months later, and the good ones probably have an editor by now.

So pretend you're starting all over and submit your editor's profile. But wait, it's already there, buried under twenty pages of more recent editor profiles. How do you get noticed again?

It's simple. Edit your profile and resubmit it. All you have to do is change a word here and there. When you resubmit, it will be posted with all the new editors at the top of the list, and many writers will see it for the first time. I learned this when I was looking for an editor and I found editors that didn't measure up at the top of the list time and again. It's their way of trolling for authors.

I'd like to repeat this to all worthy editors one last time. You are doing the site's authors a wonderful favor by working on our stories for nothing. If we disrespect you and take advantage of your generosity, get rid of us fast.